ELECTIONS
"The fact that the election is in respect of officers of a spiritual organisation is not to he held to justify casual methods "(Legion Handbook (1993 Edition), Ch 28, I , 13.) While officers of praesidia are appointed by the council to which the praesidia are affiliated, officers of a council are elected by the members of the council. It is important that these elections be carried out according to the procedures laid down in the handbook, therefore, it is desirable that the relevant sections of the handbook be consulted when elections are due to take place. It may he useful to quote here the following points from the chapter, Government of the Legion:
  1. The officers of a council shall be elected at an ordinary meeting of the council by the members of the council
  2. All elections of officers shall be Subject to ratification by the next-highest council
  3. Notice of the taking of nominations and the holding of an election shall be given to the members, if at all possible at the meeting prior to that of the election. It is desirable that nominees should be made aware of the duties of the office.
  4. The election shall be made by secret ballot. The manner of such election shall be as follows:
    The election for each officership is to be taken separately, and in descending order. Each name put forward must be formally proposed and seconded. If only one name be put forward, it is of course unnccessary to proceed to a ballot. If two or more names are duly proposed and seconded, a ballot shall be taken. A voting paper is to be given to each member of the council (including the Spiritual Directors) who is present and entitled to vote. Careful attention is to be given to the latter requirement; only members of the council are entitled to vote, When filled up, the papers are to be folded carclullv and then collected by the scrutineers. The name of the voter is not to appear on the voting paper.
    If the count shows that one candidate has obtained a clear majority of the votes, that is, a number greater than those of all the other candidates added together, then that candidate is to he declared elected. But if no one has secured a clear majority, the results of the voting are to be read out; then the same candidates are to be re-voted for. Should this second ballot fail to yield a clear majority to one candidate, then the candidate who has secured the lowest number of votes is to be eliminated and a re vote taken on the remaining candidates. If this third ballot is also ineffectual, procedure is to be by way of successive eliminations and re-votes until one candidate has secured the necessary clear majority of the votes.
  5. The elections must be carried out in strict and proper form, and with due regard to the secrecy of the individual voting paper.
  6. It is necessary that a complete record of the elections, including the names of the proposers and seconders and the number of votes received by each candidate (when there is more than one candidate) be included in the minutes of the meeting and be submitted to the next-highest council so that ratification may be considered.