When to Conduct Elections
The league must conduct elections during a meeting before distributing awards, unless the league board decides they are to be conducted before the start of the league schedule.
This requirement is waived in youth leagues where a majority of the membership is comprised of youth 13 years of age or younger and for high school conference leagues.
Who Conducts Elections
The board of directors shall be responsible for electing league officers unless the league rules vest this authority in the general membership.
Nominating Committee
The president and/or Youth league supervisor should appoint a nominating committee, which prior to an election develops a slate of officers from those choosing to run for office. Each league must elect a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. The office of secretary and treasurer may be combined. The slate should include one or more candidates for each office.
Notice of Meeting
The league secretary and/or Youth league official must give advance notice of the meeting. This can be by simple written notice or a specified date in the league rules with a reminder announcement. The secretary and/or Youth league official also makes arrangements for a meeting room.
Separate Elections
Each office has a separate election to enable an unsuccessful candidate for one position to run for another. The presidential election is first, with the vice president and/or Youth league supervisor presiding. After the nominating committee presents its candidate(s), nominations are accepted from the floor.
When nominations close, members should vote. Absentee and proxy voting are prohibited. Members should use written ballots if there is more than one candidate. Elections for other offices follow in the same manner, with the president and/or Youth league supervisor presiding.
Ballot Counts
Officers are elected by majority vote. A majority vote is more than one-half of the votes cast by those members entitled to vote, excluding blanks or abstentions. For example, if 19 votes are cast, a majority is 10.
At the meeting and after the ballots are counted for each election, the sergeant-at-arms, chairman of the tellers committee or Youth league official reports:
« Total number of votes cast (Illegal ballots are counted to determine the number of votes cast.)
« Total votes needed for majority
« Number of votes for each candidate
« Number of illegal votes
If a candidate receives a majority vote, the presiding officer declares the winner of each election. Meeting minutes should reflect the number of votes cast, and names and number of votes each individual receives.
Helpful Reminders
1. Nominations do not require a second.
2. Nominating committee reports are accepted by the league and do not require a motion and second.
3. A nominating committee member may be nominated.
4. The league president and candidates nominated for election are entitled to vote.
5. An election takes effect immediately if the candidate is present and does not decline, or if they are absent and have consented to their candidacy. However if an election is held before the league schedule ends, the current officers continue in office until the conclusion of the season. At that time, the new officers begin their terms of office.