ARTICLE XV.

Elections 

Section 1.

Elections of officers, i.e., Executive Board Members, shall be held by secret ballot in November or December, but not earlier than thirty (30) days after the nomination meeting or meetings.  The Executive Board shall designate the month, date or dates, time and place of such elections and whether such elections shall be at a General Membership meeting, or at Unit and Shop Industry Unit meetings, or other than at a meeting, or any combination thereof.  In any event, balloting shall be open for a period of not less than six (6) hours between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on at least one day during the month in which elections are scheduled.

Section 2.

Where elections of officers have been designated to be held at a meeting or meetings, such elections shall be the first order of business thereat.

Section 3.

If elections are designated to be held at Shop or Industry meetings, before a vote is taken the Shop or Industry Unit Chairperson shall select from among the membership present not less than four (4) members who shall act as a Tellers Committee for that Shop or Industry Unit for that election.  They shall distribute, collect and tally the ballots cast at the particular Shop or Industry Unit meeting.  They shall fill out and sign a tally sheet together with the Shop or Industry Unit Chairperson which will indicate the votes cast for each candidate and the total votes cast by the Shop or Industry Unit.  They shall verify the correctness of their count.  They shall have the authority to void ballots when in their opinion the ballot has not been properly marked.

Section 4.

Adequate safeguards to insure a fair election shall be provided, including the right of any candidate to have an observer, other than himself/herself, at the polls.  Candidates shall have the right to be present at the counting of the ballots or to appoint an observer for the same purpose.  Observers must be members of this organization.  The Executive Board shall have the authority to establish all rules and regulations for the conduct of the election to supplement the provisions of the International Constitution and this Local Union's By-Laws, including the authority to use mail referendum balloting or absentee balloting without membership approval.  If votes are challenged, such challenge shall be made in writing at the time of the election with specific reasons for such challenge.

Section 5.

The votes cast for each candidate shall be counted separately and published separately to the membership.  Publication may be in writing or orally and at or prior to the regular membership meeting following the date of election.  The ballots and other records pertaining to the election shall be preserved for at least one year.

Section 6.

Each member in good standing shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote for each office open for election.

Section 7.

The qualified candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for any office shall be declared elected.

Section 8.

Voting by proxy shall not be permitted, nor shall persons be permitted to write in the names of persons who were not nominated.

Section 9.

To be eligible to vote in the election, a member must have his/her dues paid through the month prior to the month in which the election is held but dues checked off or to be checked off by an employer shall not be considered a delay or default of the member.

Section 10.

Any member who desires to challenge a ruling on eligibility to run for office shall appeal, in writing, within forty-eight (48) hours after receipt of the ruling to the General President or his/her designee.  Any other protest or charges made concerning an election by any member prior to the holding of the election, shall be made in writing by registered or certified mail by such member within forty-eight (48) hours of his/her knowledge of the event complained of and shall specify the exact nature and specifications of the protest.  Such protest or charges shall be made to the Local Union Secretary-Treasurer who shall refer the protest or charges to the Local Union Executive Board for disposition.  The decision of the Local Union Executive Board shall be appealable pursuant to the provisions of the International Constitution concerning such appeals.

Section 11.

In the event there shall be any protest or charge by any member concerning the conduct of the election, after the election has been held, such protest or charge shall be made in writing by registered or certified mail by such member within seventy-two (72) hours after the final tally of ballots, setting forth the exact nature and specification of the protest and his/her claim as to how it has affected the outcome of the election.  Such protest or charges shall be made to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Joint Council with which this Local Union is affiliated and the protest or charges shall be referred to the Joint Council Executive Board for disposition as provided in the International Constitution.  The decision of the Joint Council Executive Board shall be appealable in the manner and to the extent provided in our International Constitution.

Section 12.

No member shall resort to proceedings before any court, administrative agency, or governmental official until he/she has exhausted the remedies provided for above.  Provided, however, his/her duty to exhaust his/her internal remedies shall expire and cease to be binding upon him/her if a final decision has not been rendered within three (3) calendar months after he/she has invoked them.  Provided further it shall be the duty and obligation of every member to pursue his/her internal remedies with promptness and dispatch so that a final decision may be rendered within three (3) months.

Section 13. 
Term

Term of office for all officers, i.e. Executive Board Members, shall be elected for a period of three (3) years.

Section 14.

Officers-elect shall take office at the end of the term of the incumbent officer, regardless of the date of installation which installation may take place at either the same meeting at which they are elected or, if not elected at a meeting, at the next meeting following their election.