masonic lodge election procedure

<> It may not display this or other websites correctly. It is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views Small technical errors, such as spelling mistakes or marking an X when a checkmark is called for, don't make a vote illegal as long as the voter's intent is discernible. The secretary repeats the vote after recording it, to ensure accuracy. A poor meeting achieves the opposite results. Masonic Etiquette Summary: Masonic etiquette is simply the rules of good manners which make lodge meetings pleasant for everyone. stream and the Master may oblige him to do so. The Senior Deacon then takes up a 127. <> Whatever nomination method you propose, be specific. Depending on the Grand Lodge, this can be anywhere from 18 to 25. I've never see a script or outline, but it should proceed as follows: That sounds like the CA required verbiage. Jewels of Masonic Secretary The Secretary's official duties include issuing the summons (a formal notice of an impending meeting, with time, date and agenda), recording meeting minutes, completing statistical returns to the Grand Lodge, and advising the Worshipful Master on matters of procedure. (The chair usually just announces the opening of nominations at the appointed time when they are in order. ;J @*Ix~6ia 023X85i=%/v')^KkHaQaA {DCAH ' All Articles] [Masonic 1. Masonic politics is typically at its ugliest during elections when Brothers are charged with un-Masonic conduct for "electioneering." I find this all rather amusing as I believe our process for electing officers is far from perfect. The following shall be the methods of affiliation: 1. 2. Master. If this occurs and it does not affect the outcome of the vote, the election is still valid. hb```e``b`f``cg@ ~}"S-(1I)|p(0)P5oDurCAfG3f1,-- d$WZ3bVasYf`$exq> )Zg 16 0 obj endobj %PDF-1.5 The Code has two primary chapters that describe the process of voting in subordinate lodges. Elections are decided by majority vote unless your bylaws provide differently. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. After nominations are closed, the vote is taken on each nominee in the order in which they were nominated. or opinion Robert's Rules on elections are very straightforward after what is often a politically charged prequel of nominating and campaigning. Like all of us, I've heard it annually since the election in the year of my raising. That means run-offs are just plain out of order. The Trustees of the Charitable Foundation have authorized the "build out" of the Grand Lodge Library into the space formerly the drive through banking area. Apply a check mark to indicate the choice wherever . charge of the Ballot and they pick up the hats, take them to the f;-^*//%^je)R%^eKuZJQ\LU/Zgy:FDt8KF:US1OG+T/5i]\V5qhw`6mjzS"m].#{T^]q p;43[9[C nF^y' 64 In a ballot vote, after the ballot counters have collected all the ballots, a member can make the motion to adjourn. Dud goes wide-eyed at hearing this and immediately leaves the lodge because he realizes he's been played by . 3 0 obj Also, military lodges in foreign countries, often perform business meetings on the EA degree. It is considered a faux pas to cross . Past Masters have a standing in Masonic Law; certain duties may be assigned to them. <> so presented that each officer and member shall cast his ballot JavaScript is disabled. Nominations don't have to be seconded, but it's not out of order for members to second a nomination to signal their endorsement. a portion or all of the petition(s) reread? Here is how: You must first find a Masonic lodge location near you, contact them, and ask for a petition to join. Illegal votes cast by legal voters count toward the total votes cast, but they don't count for any individual choice or candidate. Depending on your organization and the decisions being made, balloting may take place during a meeting, or polls may be open during polling periods including times when no meeting is in progress. These elections are to vote on new top lodge officers in the blue lodge. 2017 2 PREFACE This Manual has been assembled to enable Brethren to better understand the laws, customs, programs and procedures of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, a Masonic District and their Lodge. The secretary places all nominations in the minutes. After the person elected to office assumes the position, it is too late to nullify an illegal election. endstream endobj startxref In the vote for Secretary, unless he is retiring, Any blue lodge that does not hold annual election of officers is considered irregular by most Grand Lodges. The bylaws should not tie the hands of the committee to find more than one person to fill each slot; the committee should find the best candidate for each office. After the votes are counted, the lead ballot counter reads aloud to the membership the complete report of the vote counts but doesn't declare the result. The only exceptions are: (1) a newly instituted lodge, (2) one that has received written approval from the General Governor, based upon membership action, or (3) an emergency situation requiring the election to be changed or waived. West and bright (black) in the East. If members don't understand exactly how it works, the ones whose preferred candidate doesn't get voted on are likely to think something is amiss. Sometimes there is a split in the nominating committee over who to nominate. Pause. Does any brother wish to have Crossing the G. In most grand lodge jurisdictions, rituals call for an altar to be placed in the center of the lodge room holding the respective Volume of Sacred Law. position north of the altar. I've never performed or even practiced the role before, though via "osmosis," should be able to piece it together to at least a minimally functional level. The Lodge web page must not link to or be linked to by any website where a conflict . 1. Organizations can create and write election rules to correct this mistake. Chapter 63 covers general voting and Chapter 68 covers the secret ballot. If no candidate is found, the committee can leave that slot open for nominations from the floor. endstream Books Online] [E-Books] [Library Of Confusion concerning the balloting process generally derives from lodge traditions being introduced into the elements of balloting that are not fully explained in our Code. Each incoming class of three shall consist of the incoming Junior Warden of the lodge (which has its own bylaws), and. The Secretary announces the results of the vote, a Talks] [Masonic I /8ZzeL%kxF~/a&MBkd/cK"zBARqG(/%:}4Q;l@)R^M,s;p Rx P~DV(GR,&Gj;v}yh/5F3ibD,eZJ Same in NM amd OR. Masonry doesn't care about your worldly wealth or social position. At the Worshipful Master s order the Stewards distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. endobj To which Blaise replies "Yeah, 200 bucks is pretty steep.". You can use a ballot vote to decide either a motion or an election: If the ballot vote decides a motion, the question is clearly stated by the chair, and you're instructed to mark your ballot Yes or No (or For or Against). The process of making floor nominations is subject to the following rules: Recognition by the chair is not required to make a nomination. Introduction. Voting machines having wedges inserted to prevent the lever from going down all the way. endobj If the bylaws don't prohibit it, a person can be nominated for more than one office and can even serve in more than one office if elected. 1. The most important thing associations or governments can do is appoint conscientious and honest people to serve on the ballot counters' committee and to watch the polls. You must come recommended by at least two existing Freemasons from the lodge you're petitioning. For this reason, members should listen carefully to the report of the ballot counters' committee. Lodge to vote, the Master should invite the tiler in and have a This ceremony, revised in 2013 relies heavily on the work of the prolific Masonic author and commentator, Robert Macoy who first set it down in APPOINTMENT. distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. {V++6o <>`ulr<>[lLDdTVVQ4Mt{<1iz;E Nominations are now open from the floor. Section 3. During an election, especially when ballot counters are not trained or when candidates are running in opposition, members may become aware of mistakes or illegal procedures in collecting or counting the ballots. When two gavel knocks are heard, only officers of the lodge stand. However, it disadvantages candidates who lose an election for a position decided earlier and then can't serve a different position. Both a bank's president and janitor can apply for membership, and they're considered equally qualified. The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. Only members entitled to vote are given ballots or are allowed to deposit ballots with a ballot counter or place them in the ballot receptacle. The report of the nominating committee is usually given under "special orders." endstream endobj startxref If polling is conducted outside of a meeting, members should verify their credentials with election officials when casting their votes at the polls, and members' names should be checked on a list showing who has voted. In a voice vote, the winner is easy to determine and the vote is over when someone wins the election. visiting brother take his place so that the tiler may cast his This site is not an official site of any recognized Masonic body in the United A common mistake in elections is having too many ballots cast for the number of members present. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Do you endobj For every expense, large or small, the Secretary is to write a voucher which is to be countersigned by the Worshipful Master and passed on to the Treasurer for payment. ", WM: "Fair (cloudy) in the South, clear (dark) in the An election is really nothing more than the handling of an assumed motion . ballot closed." Freemasonry's Requirements for Membership. 3 0 obj white ball elects; a black cube rejects. It is important to remember that once someone is elected, the election can't be rescinded unless there is some provision for it in the bylaws. some brother of the Lodge other than the Secretary should tally and 1 0 obj TURNING YOUR BACK: Never turn one's back on the Master to address the lodge without first-receiving permission to the Junior Warden, then the Senior Warden and then the Worshipful 54 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[33 34]/Info 32 0 R/Length 100/Prev 87331/Root 34 0 R/Size 67/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be Decision Making For Dummies. the South? altar.". Sometimes the committee is revived to make nominations to fill vacancies. 5. Adam is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania and is employed as a Senior Manager of International Tax in Latrobe, PA. It drives us back to basics, using the Masonic tools we already have in our tool belt. The Senior Deacon closes the lid on the ballot. Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. It's never proper to drop the candidates receiving the lowest vote totals from a ballot unless they withdraw voluntarily. once petition the same or any other Lodge in the jurisdiction. Your group's rules and customs determine when floor nominations are accepted. Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. You are using an out of date browser. 11 0 obj In counting the votes, the balloting committee must not confuse a majority vote with the highest number of votes. j]Ic[faPhgcP0U0.!boS/]9[[3+:;:+:Q1DX. Register a free account today to become a member! The committee should meet, carefully review the membership list, and select the people who they think will do the best job in each office. unobserved by others, so that the secrecy of the ballot shall be The only way you can vote against a candidate is to vote for another person. We can conduct lodge business in the EA degree in Minnesota, but only Master Masons can vote. Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox! All officers resume their stations and Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation. Marshal takes up his place at the West Gate and the Junior Deacon A website endorsed by a Lodge will be considered the official Lodge website, and will be subject to these criteria and rules. %PDF-1.3 collect the ballots and place the hats with the ballots at the Or, they can tell members publicly that they do not have a nominee for a certain office; this allows members to volunteer. No matter which procedure you use, the order in which you take up each election is the order in which the offices are listed in your bylaws. One of the most important franchises which the Masonic character offers is THE ELECTION OF MASTER FOR THE ENSUING TWELVE MONTHS. Nominations are taken for successive offices in the order they're listed in the bylaws. The motion to have a vote for a particular office recounted needs a second, is not debatable, and takes a majority vote to adopt. . When the secretary mails the members a notice about the nomination and election meeting, the letter can include a request that members who do not wish to be considered for office notify the secretary in writing. Ballot voting is the preferred voting method in situations in which knowing how all the members voted isn't desirable. If you have only two candidates and the vote is a tie, you repeat the balloting until one candidate receives a majority. When called on to give the report, the chairman of the nominating committee states the nominations for each office. Taking nominations by mail is basically the same as taking nominations by ballot. 1. In most cases, the threshold is a majority of the votes cast. This requires secretaries (and possibly grand secretaries if different jurisdictions) to get involved, but is a somewhat common occurrence. The conventions are over, election day draws near, and the usual round of political rhetoric from candidates is blasted all over the TV, radio and internet, voters begin to wear out and are usually just ready for Election Day to be over with. of altar. Same in NM amd OR.

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