Election Update - Presidential Runoff Required
Upon further review, we learned that our local is required to conduct a run-off Election for President.
Per our Constitution, ARTICLE VI, Section 6 states: All matters concerning nominations and elections in this local union shall be subject to the provisions of Appendix D, entitled Elections Code, of the International Union Constitution.
Appendix D, entitled Elections Code, of the International Constitution, Section 2.K states: Upon completion of the voting, the ballots shall be tabulated and the candidate for each office receiving a majority of the votes cast for that office shall be declared elected.
Page 21 of the AFSCME Local Union Election Manual defines majority as:
“the candidate for each office receiving a majority of the votes cast for that office shall be declared elected. Any remaining unfilled offices shall be filled through a run-off election . . .”
The word majority, by dictionary definition, means “more than one-half.”
“Majority” does not mean “fifty-one percent.”
“Majority” does not mean “fifty per cent plus one.”
“Majority” means “more than one-half.”
By our math, we had a total of 818 votes for President. By definition of majority per the Local Union Election Manual, one candidate needed a total of 410 votes to win the election.
Article 4 Section 36 of the International Constitution, states: A majority of the votes cast for any office shall be required to elect. If fewer than the number of candidates to be elected to any office receive a majority, then a new ballot shall be prepared, and a run-off election shall be held. If one person is to be elected to the office, the new ballot shall contain only the names of the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes. If more than one person is to be elected to the office, the new ballot shall be prepared as follows: (1) if any candidate receives a majority, that candidate shall be declared elected, and the ballot shall contain only the names of the number of candidates equal to twice the number remaining to be elected who received the greatest number of votes but did not attain a majority; (2) if no candidate receives a majority, the ballot shall contain only the names of the number of candidates equal to twice the number to be elected who received the greatest number of votes.
Next Steps:
1. A new mailer will go out to the dues paying membership. We called our printer to see how soon they can send out a mailer. We are awaiting a response.
2. Our external vendor, Yes Elections, will need to build a new election. We called Yes Elections to find out how much development time they need. We are awaiting a response.
3. Once responses are received from the vendors, the Election Committee will communicate the Presidential Election Runoff timeline.
We recognize that this is not easy for the membership, especially the candidates. We appreciate the membership's participation and patience with this process.