by wagionvigil » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:20 am
Your Lodge should send out an election Team.
Elections should be run by a Unit Elections team from the Lodge or Chapter. At least 50% of the troop's active members must be present for there to be an election. Each unit may hold ONE election a year. The unit leader will provide the team with a list of all youth who meet the eligibility requirements including attitude and participation (this is part of the "approval by the Scoutmaster" eligibility requirement listed above). All Scouts under the age of 18 have a vote. Since the majority of unit members are not OA members, the OA is unique in that its membership is controlled by non-members.
All eligible youths who receive votes from at least 50% of those turned in are elected. If no one is elected a second vote may be held immediately, and the result of this vote is final.
A voter may list on his ballot any combination of names, including all eligible candidates who he believes are worthy to become members of the Order of the Arrow.
Several points should be stressed by the Unit Elections team:
Select the candidates who, in your opinion, have set the best examples of brotherhood, cheerfulness, and service.
Vote only for those who you believe will continue in unselfish service to the troop.
If you feel no one is worthy, turn in a blank ballot.
If you are new in the unit and do not know the candidates well enough to vote wisely, you may abstain by not turning in a ballot at all. This will not affect the final result.
Youths eligible for election also vote, and they may vote for themselves if they feel they are worthy.
After the voting is finished, the Unit Election team counts the number of ballots turned in, figures out the minimum number of votes needed to be elected (half of an even number of ballots, if the number of ballots turned in was odd, then add 1, then divide by 2). The votes are counted in private with the team and the unit leader or his designee to determine who has been elected. All votes count equally. If at least one has been elected, this vote is final. If no one is elected, the team may announce that a second election will be held. At no time is any information as to the number of votes any candidate received revealed.
Adults in troops are selected by the Troop Committee, who may recommend one adult a year as a candidate for membership, if the troop holds an election and at least one youth is elected.
The unit leader has the option of announcing those elected, or waiting until they can be called out in a public ceremony.
After election, a youth or adult remains a candidate until the
NER Area 4 COPE/Climbing Chairman
NE Area 4 Venturing Chairman
"If You Ain't a Bear, You're a Meal!"
