Article I Definition
Article II Membership
Article III Governance Positions
Article IV Board of Directors
Article V Stewards and Stewards Council
Article VI Committees
Article VII Elections and Recall
Article VIII Meetings
Article IX Fiscal and Membership Year
Article X Goals, Budget, and Dues
Article XI Affiliation
Article XII Rules for Amending
Article XIII Rules of Order

By-Laws

ARTICLE VII

ELECTIONS AND RECALL

SECTION I – ELECTIONS

Election Procedure
The election procedures of OESPA shall provide for an open nomination procedure by which every eligible OESPA member shall have the opportunity to nominate any eligible OESPA member subject only to the limitations contained in these Bylaws, which shall be uniformly imposed. The rules of the affiliate organization shall also be followed when electing any member who shall hold voting rights to represent OESPA members within the affiliate organization.

Revised May 28, 2002

Only active members of OESPA shall be eligible to participate.
Approved June 25, 1994

Elections shall be conducted by the Elections Committee according to the written Policies of OESPA, which shall at least include the Committee’s responsibilities, a procedure for the handling of nominations and ballots, and an appeal process to the Board of Directors as the final determiner of all disputes regarding the conduct of any election.
Approved June 25, 1994

All elections for officers, vice presidents, and directors shall be conducted by secret ballot. Ballots placed in courier, U.S. Mail, or other Board of Directors approved regular distribution system shall be considered appropriately distributed and received by members unless it can be shown that such ballots were purposely tampered with to affect the outcome of an election. Such elections must be completed prior to May 20.
Revised May 28, 2002

A simple majority of the votes cast by eligible voters shall be required to determine those elected. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast on the first ballot, the two candidates with the highest number of votes shall be placed on a run-off ballot.
Approved June 25, 1994

5. In any election where there is only one nominee or fewer nominees than positions, the Election Committee Chair shall declare that candidate elected.

Revised May 28, 2002

6. All candidates for office of President shall simultaneously run for the position of delegate to all national affiliates.

Approved May 28, 2002

B. Elections of Officers, Vice Presidents, and Directors shall be staggered in the following manner:
The President and, Vice-Presidents and Directors of Custodial, Maintenance, and Secretarial/Clerical shall be elected in odd years.

The Secretary/Treasurer and, the Vice-Presidents and Directors for Food Service, Para-Professional, and Transportation shall be elected in even years.

Approved May 28, 2002

C. Special elections shall be conducted with the approval of the Board of Directors.

Approved June 25, 1994

D. To implement the change in the election cycle, the Secretary/Treasurer and, the Vice-Presidents and Directors for Food Service, Para-Professional, and Transportation shall be elected for a one year term for the 2003-04 school year. This section shall automatically delete August 1, 2004

Approved May 28, 2002

SECTION II - RECALL

Any officer, vice president, director or lead steward not performing his/her duties may be recommended for removal from office for malfeasance, misfeasance, or neglect of duty by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors. Such vote must be sustained by a simple majority of those members of the Council present at the Stewards Council meeting called for said purpose.

Approved June 25, 1994