Ofc. of Labor-Management Standards, Labor § 452.99

does not, however, prescribe in detail secrecy requirement to open these en- election procedures which must be fol- velopes and count the ballots one at a lowed. Labor organizations are free to time in such a way that each vote establish procedures for elections as could be identified with a voter. long as they are fair to all members (c) In a mail ballot election, a union and are consistent with lawful provi- may require members to sign the re- sions of the organization’s constitution turn envelope if the signatures may be and bylaws and with section 401. The used in determining eligibility. How- rights granted to members in section ever, it would be unreasonable for a 401(e) refer to individuals, not labor or- union to void an otherwise valid ballot ganizations. For example, while locals merely because a member printed rath- may be members of an intermediate er than signed his name if the union body, they are not entitled to the does not use the signatures to deter- rights granted ‘‘members’’ in section mine voter eligibility. 401(e). § 452.98 Outside agencies. § 452.97 Secret ballot. There is nothing in the Act to pre- (a) A prime requisite of elections reg- vent a union from employing an inde- ulated by title IV is that they be held pendent organization as its agent to by secret ballot among the members or handle the printing, mailing, and in appropriate cases by representatives counting of ballots in such elections if who themselves have been elected by all the standards of the Act are met. secret ballot among the members. A se- cret ballot under the Act is ‘‘the ex- § 452.99 Notice of election. pression by ballot, voting machine, or Elections required by title IV to be otherwise, but in no event by proxy, of held by secret ballot must be preceded a choice * * * cast in such a manner by a notice of election mailed to each that the person expressing such choice member at his last known home ad- cannot be identified with the choice ex- dress not less than fifteen days prior to pressed.’’ 47 Secrecy may be assured by the election. 48 For purposes of com- the use of voting machines, or, if paper puting the fifteen day period, the day ballots are used, by providing voting on which the notices are mailed is not booths, partitions, or other physical counted whereas the day of the elec- arrangements permitting privacy for tion is counted. For example, if the the voter while he is marking his bal- election is to be held on the 20th day of lot. The ballot must not contain any the month, the notices must be mailed markings which upon examination no later than the 5th day. The notice would enable one to identify it with must include a specification of the the voter. Balloting by mail presents date, time and place of the election and special problems in assuring secrecy. of the offices to be filled, and it must Although no particular method of as- be in such form as to be reasonably cal- suring such secrecy is prescribed, se- culated to inform the members of the crecy may be assured by the use of a impending election. Specification of double envelope system for return of the offices to be filled would not be the voted ballots with the necessary necessary if it is a regular, periodic voter identification appearing only on election of all officers and the notice so the outer envelope. indicates. A statement in the union by- (b) Should any voters be challenged laws that an election will be held at a as they are casting their ballots, there certain time does not constitute the should be some means of setting aside notice required by the statute. Since the challenged ballots until a decision the Act specifies that the notice must regarding their validity is reached be mailed, other means of transmission without compromising the secrecy re- such as posting on a bulletin board or quirement. For example, each such bal- hand delivery will not satisfy the re- lot might be placed in an envelope with quirement. A notice of election must the voter’s name on the outside. Of be sent to every member as defined in course, it would be a violation of the section 3(o) of the Act, not only to

47 Act, sec. 3(k). 48 Act, sec. 401(e).

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