How Council Elections Work at Your AGM
How do council elections and ballots work
Want to understand how council elections work at an Annual General Meeting (AGM)? It can seem daunting, however, its a fairly straightforward process once you know what to expect.
Council Election Process
Council elections take place at the AGM and the following is based off the process as per the Standard Schedule bylaws:
Determine Number of positions
Before calling for nominations, owners must first vote on the number of Council positions to be filled.
This ensures the election is fair and determines whether a ballot is required. The number of positions should not be changed after nominations are received simply to accommodate the number of candidates, as this could influence the election outcome.
Nominations
The Chairperson calls for nominations, this could be from the floor or there could be owners who have nominated prior to the meeting. Each person nominated must agree to their nomination, either in writing or verbally if they are at the meeting. Company-owned lots must nominate an authorised individual to represent the company. Co-owned lots may only nominate one co-proprietor.
The Chairperson calls for nominations, this could be from the floor or there could be owners who have nominated prior to the meeting. Each person nominated must agree to their nomination, either in writing or verbally if they are at the meeting. Company-owned lots must nominate an authorised individual to represent the company. Co-owned lots may only nominate one co-proprietor.
When is a Ballot Required?
If the number of nominees equals the available Council positions, those nominees are declared elected.
If there are more nominees than available positions, a ballot must be held.
How Does the Ballot Work?
The Chairperson announces the candidates and provides ballot forms or a blank piece of paper to those entitled to vote. Owners may be invited to introduce themselves and any history or experience they have that they could use to contribute to a position.
A valid ballot must:
- List the candidates being voted for, up to the number of available positions, without repeating names.
- Identify the relevant lot (who is voting) and whether the vote is cast by an owner, first mortgagee or proxy.
- Be signed and returned to the Chairperson.
Counting the Votes
The Chairperson, or an appointed person, counts the valid votes. Candidates receiving the highest number of votes are elected, based on number of lot votes or unit entitlements (only if demanded before the vote is taken).
What Happens if There is a Tie?
If candidates are tied for the final position, the result is decided by a show of hands of those entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy.