Meeting Procedure for Election of Party Office Bearers
The Meeting Procedure for the election of Electorate Branch and Council officer-bearers shall include the following steps.
1. The meeting shall elect a Returning Officer to conduct the election. In the case of any dispute as to the conduct or scrutiny of the ballot, the decision of the Returning Officer shall be final.
2. The Returning Officer shall then determine by lot the order in which the candidates will be heard by the meeting. No other candidate shall be present while a candidate is being heard.
3. Where the number of candidates is the same as the number of vacant positions, or is less than the number of positions, the Returning Officer shall ask “should the election proceed with the candidate(s) to be declared as ‘elected unopposed’?”
(a) The question shall be resolved on the voices.
(b) If at least five voting members then call for a formal vote, the candidate(s) shall be entitled to address the meeting and answer questions, and then ballot papers shall be issued for a yes/no vote on each candidate.
(c) Each candidate who receives a majority of formal yes votes shall be declared ‘elected unopposed’.
4. Where there are more candidates than the number of vacant positions, or where the meeting still proceeds to a formal vote, each candidate shall be entitled to individually address the meeting for a maximum of 10 minutes. Each candidate may give a speech for up to 5 minutes, and then may answer questions during the remainder of their 10 minute maximum allocation.
5. The meeting shall then proceed to a secret ballot if required.
6. A candidate may appoint a member of the meeting to act as his scrutineer for the purposes of the election.
7. The Returning Officer shall see that a ballot paper validated with a distinguishing mark is received by each voting member participating in the election. Voting and counting shall proceed in accordance with the method in appendix X.
[Several systems may be used for casting and counting votes in preselections. Some systems can be used for electing single candidates and multiple candidates. Each system has its advantages and disadvantages. Generally, those that spread the vote more "fairly" are more complex and difficult to administer. See Choosing a Voting System]
8. After each occasion a vote is conducted, the result will be announced to the meeting.
9. Any unfilled positions may be filled by the subsequent ordinary meeting as if it was a casual vacancy.