Chapter Elections
Chapter elections are held every year at the December chapter meeting. Shown below is the election procedure as described in Article 4 of the CSEA 262 Constitution.
If you are interested in running for a Chapter office, you can submit your nomination at either the October or November Chapter meeting. What are the Executive Board positions? If you want to know more about your Chapter 262 officer positions and the duties they entail, click here.
Chapter Election Procedures
Article IV Section 4
Nominating and Election Procedures
Revised: June 2019
(a) A Nominating Committee, appointed as hereinafter provided, shall provide its nominations to fill the elective offices of President, 2nd Vice President, Treasurer, and Communications Officer in the even-numbered years and nominations to fill the elective offices of 1st Vice President, Secretary, Chief Union Steward, and Site Representative Coordinator in the odd-numbered years. Said nominations shall be submitted at the October Chapter meeting.
(1) The Executive Board shall cause appropriate notice to be provided to each member in good standing at least ten (10) working days in advance of the October meeting. The notice will include the offices open for nomination, the qualifications for the offices, and date, time, and place of the Chapter meeting.
(b) Nominations for these offices shall also be accepted from the floor at the appropriate October and November chapter meetings.
(c) If, after nominations are closed at the November chapter meeting there is only one nomination for an office, the single nominee shall be declared elected to the office, and no balloting or other action shall be required. The Executive Board shall so notify the membership in writing as soon thereafter as possible.
(d) When there is more than one (1) nominee for an office, the Elections Committee, as selected pursuant to Article VIII of the constitution, shall oversee the election process, retrieve the results of the online balloting, and tally any paper ballots cast.
(1) The Elections Committee shall request an online ballot from the CSEA Executive Department. Upon verification that the online ballot is available, the Elections Committee shall prepare an election notice
(e) The Chapter President shall set the dates and times for online balloting, which shall begin no sooner than ten (10) days prior to the December Chapter meeting, except that election shall not begin sooner than December 1. The online balloting shall be available on the same day the election notice is mailed and shall remain open until the date set to close.
(f) The election notice shall be sent at least ten (10) calendar days in advance of the date set for online balloting to close. Notice must be mailed via U.S. First Class mail to each CSEA member in good standing who is eligible to vote in the election at his/her last known home address, except that notice may be e-mailed to such members who have an e-mail address on file with the chapter. The notice shall contain:
( 1) the appropriate information needed to cast an on line ballot, such as the dates of balloting, instructions on how to access the online ballot via the internet, the member's identification and password code, and communication of the option to vote by a paper ballot.
(2) instructions for requesting an alternative paper ballot through the Chief Teller, and
(3) the contact information members can use to request a paper ballot.
(g) Members who are eligible to vote in the election shall be given the option to vote by paper ballot at the designated site(s).
( 1) Any member eligible to vote may request a paper ballot. Such request must be made at least five (5) days prior to the date set for the online ballot to close.
(2) The Elections Committee shall immediately inactivate a member's online ballot upon his/her request for a paper ballot.
(3) If required, the chapter executive board shall schedule a time and place for paper balloting which shall be held at some point during the last four (4) days of online balloting.
(4) At least two (2) election tellers will be present at each designated site to verify voter eligibility and secure the balloting process. Listings of members in good standing eligible to vote who requested an alternative paper ballot shall be provided to tellers.
(5) The paper ballot (or ballots) shall be pre-folded in such a manner so that when ballot is cast there will be no chance of accidental observance of the member's vote.
(6) The election tellers shall deliver the ballot boxes, sign-in sheets, and related materials to a pre-determined location where the tally will take place.
(h) The Chapter President shall provide advance notice to all candidates so that they or their representative may be present to observe the entire balloting process, including the preparation and distribution of the online election notices and requested paper ballots.
(i) It shall require a plurality vote to elect. If a tie exists, the Executive Board shall contact the tied candidates and inform them of the tie and the time and location of a lot (draw) tie-breaker. Each candidate shall be given the option to witness the tie-breaker. Write-in votes shall not be accepted. The official ballot tally shall be provided in writing to all candidates and notices posted accessible to all Chapter members within five (5) working days and shall be announced at the next following Chapter meeting at which the presiding officer shall officially declare the winning candidates or announce such other action as may be necessary.
(j) All procedural matters relating to the online balloting process and tally shall be conducted in accordance with Association Policy 618 and Robert's Rules of Order.
(k) All election documents, including notices of nomination and election procedures, shall be retained by the Chapter Secretary for one (1) year, or until any and all challenges to the election or charges of misconduct in running the election have been resolved, whichever is the longer period.