Balloting a Candidate 4/18/2019

Section 315.5 of the Rules and Regulations of DeMolay International contains the rules and procedures for electing new and affiliate members for Chapters.

Section 315.5 Election for Membership. Election for membership or for affiliation must be only at a meeting of the Chapter and unless otherwise directed by the Executive Officer, after a visitation committee has reported. A secret ballot shall be conducted in the following manner:

(a)The Master Councilor reads the name of the applicant and the facts set out in his application. If applicable, he states whether the report of the committee is favorable or unfavorable and may give any information reported by the committee. If applicable, an unfavorable report by a committee of visitation or any members thereof, or an objection to an application by any member of the Chapter before balloting on the application, shall be referred to the Chapter Advisor, or in his absence to a member of the Advisory Council. The Advisory Council shall decide if the unfavorable report or objection itself constitutes a rejection.

(b) A collective ballot may be taken if there is more than one applicant to be balloted on. If no more than one black cube appears, the applicants are elected. If two or more black cubes appear, there must be an individual ballot on each application.

(c) When there is an individual ballot, if no more than one black cube appears, the applicant is elected. If two black cubes appear, the ballot shall not be declared, but shall lie over until the next meeting when another ballot shall be taken. If three or more black cubes appear, the applicant is rejected.

(d) When a ballot lies over, an applicant is rejected if three or more black cubes appear on this second ballot, otherwise the applicant is elected.

During the meeting, there is a procedure for taking the ballot, which begins when the petition and investigation forms are read. The Master Councilor then calls for the vote to be taken.

1. 1.) The Senior Deacon takes the ballot box to the Master Councilor’s station. The Master Councilor makes sure there are enough white balls and black cubes for each member to vote however they would like.
3. 2.) After making sure that there are no balls or cubes in the box (having a clear ballot), the Master Councilor declares the ballot open and casts his own vote.
4. 3.) The Senior Deacon then takes the ballot box to the Senior and Junior Councilors at their stations for their votes.
5. 4.) The Senior Deacon takes the ballot box to the altar and then steps away from the altar toward the Senior Councilor’s station far enough to ensure privacy of each member voting. He turns toward the South and becomes the point where the Brethren wait in line to vote.
6. 5.) The Master Councilor directs the members of the Chapter who have passed their proficiency examination to vote, usually starting with those on his right. The Brethren line up at the point where the Senior Deacon is standing and wait to go to the ballot box one at a time.
7. 6.) After all others have voted, the Senior Deacon casts his vote.
8. 7.) The Master Councilor directs the Senior Deacon to display the ballot.
9. 8.) The Senior Deacon takes the ballot box to the Junior Councilor, who reviews the votes cast without allowing anyone else to see them. The Senior Deacon takes the ballot box to the Senior Councilor and Master Councilor and the same process is repeated.
10. 9.) The Master Councilor asks the Junior Councilor how he found the ballot in the South.
    1. (a) If all white balls or 1 black cube, it is “favorable”
    2. (b) If 2 or more black cubes, it is “unfavorable”
    3. 10.) This process is repeated with the Senior Councilor and Master Councilor.
    4. 11.) Depending on the result of the ballot, the Master Councilor declares the result according to the requirements of the statute.
    5. 12.) The Master Councilor “destroys” the ballot by pouring all votes cast back into the ballot box without allowing anyone else to see them.