Article VIII - Election

Section 1. Committee on Election (COMELEC). – The COMELEC shall be elected by the General Assembly before any regular or special election.

Section 2. Composition. – The COMELEC shall be composed of a Chairperson and two members.

Section 3. Duties and Functions of the COMELEC. To ensure a free, clean, honest and orderly election whether regular or special, the COMELEC shall:

1. Secure the official list of voters and publish the same together with the assigned proxy voters for Regular Union Members on Leave;
2. Call for nomination and determine the eligibility of the candidates to run;
3. Prepare official ballots;
4. Facilitate an orderly election;
5. Officiate the canvassing of the ballots;
6. Proclaim official winners of the election; and
7. Facilitate the settlement of election related disputes.

Section 4. Dissolution. – The COMELEC shall be automatically dissolved thirty (30) days after the duly elected officers are proclaimed.

Section 5. Regular Election. – Every five (5) years, the election of officers of the Union shall be done during the regular general membership meeting.

Section 6. Eligibility to Vote and to Run for Elective Positions. – All regular members of the union in good standing shall be eligible to vote in union elections and qualify for any elective position of the union. Members-on-leave are not allowed to vote nor to run for office.

Section 7. Nomination of Union Officers. – Nominations shall be made during the regular general membership meeting. Once nominations have been closed, no more nominations may be made.

Section 8. Form of Ballot. – An official ballot shall be prepared and distributed by COMELEC during the general assembly. The Union members shall write the names of the candidates on the blank ballot.

Section 9. Voting. - Voting shall be by secret balloting and the election shall be decided by plurality of votes (highest number of votes).

Section 10. The duly elected officers shall meet within one (1) week following their proclamation, at which time the outgoing administration shall turnover all records and properties of the Union to the new administration.

Section 11. Special case. In the case of resignation or impeachment of a Union officer, the COMELEC through the Executive Board shall call a special membership meeting after receipt of resignation or impeachment decision stating the need to elect a new Executive Board member. The general assembly shall choose through secret ballot and majority vote shall declare the new Executive Board member.