Can assembly delegate election to the Board?

Parliamentary Procedure Q&A

Q: I am a member of a volunteer fire department which just had an election for Chief that ended in a tie vote.

Does the Board of Directors have the authority to decide the election if requested to do so by the membership? This is not covered in our bylaws. - Anon., Jan. 8, 2000

A: No. In the case of no candidate receiving a majority of the votes, (or if the bylaws allow plurality voting, then in the case of a tie for most votes), the assembly must continue to re-ballot until an election is achieved. (See RONR p. 433.)

The assembly does not have the right to delegate this decision to the Board. (However, it could ask the Board its opinion. Nothing stops an assembly from basing its vote on a recommendation.)

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