ELECTIONS:

General Principle:  A candidate for local council office in the Knights of Columbus is expected to conduct himself as a Catholic gentleman.  While he may promote his candidacy by highlighting his own qualifications, he may not comment negatively about any opponent.  A candidate is responsible for any third parties acting on his behalf.  All elections must be conducted in a manner that is consistent with the principles of charity, unity, and fraternity.

A candidate for local council office may:

  1. Receive a nominating speech from another member of the council in which the nominating member sets forth the character and qualifications of the candidate; and (hold to three minutes)
  2. Make a brief statement accepting the nomination, in which he states his own qualifications. (hold to 3 minutes)

A candidate for local council office may not:

  1. Use, accept, or receive council funds to support his candidacy in any manner whatsoever;
  2. Distribute campaign buttons, t-shirts, pins, hats, bumper stickers, or any other souvenirs or promotional items;
  3. Send mailings or e-mails, or use social media to support his candidacy;
  4. Arrange or participate in debates with other candidates or their supporters;
  5. Campaign or have promotional items in the chambers of any business meeting, or within close proximity to the entrance of any business meeting;
  6. Campaign or have promotional items at or outside any religious ceremony;
  7. Disseminate any type of derogatory information concerning another candidate; or
  8. Hold a fund-raising event to finance his candidacy.

If a candidate or member knowingly and willfully violates these guidelines, he may be subject to disciplinary action.

Rev. April 2014

Assembly By-Laws   ARTICLE II – Elections

Section 1. All officers shall be elected at the first regular meeting in May of each year. The officers shall hold office for a term of one year, beginning July 1, and until their successors are elected and qualified. Trustees shall be elected for a three year staggered term, as provided in Article VIII, Section 24(i) of the Laws and Rules of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.

Section 2. The election of officers shall be by ballot. A majority of all the votes cast shall be necessary to elect. When only one candidate is proposed for a particular office and no further nominations have been made from the floor, the presiding Faithful Navigator shall declare the individual elected by acclamation.

Section 3. The Faithful Navigator shall appoint two members who shall not be candidates in the election to act as Tellers. After all who are entitled to do so have voted, the ballot shall be declared closed and the Tellers shall then proceed to count the votes. One of the Tellers shall examine each ballot singly and pass the same to his associate, who shall read aloud the name or names written or printed on all legal ballots. The Scribe shall tally the same and the result thereof shall be announced by the presiding officer.

Section 4. Each officer elected must qualify and fill the office to which he is chosen, with or without installation, at the first regular meeting in the month of July succeeding his election, unless excused by a vote of the Assembly, and must present himself for installation at the time specified in the notice issued by or through the District Master, unless excused by such officer. Otherwise such office shall be considered vacant.

Section 5. Vacancies in elective offices shall be filled, after notice to the members, by election at the regular business meeting next succeeding the regular meeting at which the vacancy was created.

CLICK HERE FOR OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES

Notice that nominations of officers for the coming Columbian Year will be in order will be announced at the March Assembly Meeting.  Contact Ronn Knowles if you wish to run –pgkronald@gmail.com  The Nominating Committee shall render its report at the meeting in April.

Election will be held as the first item under new business at the May Assembly Meeting.  At that time other nominations may be made from the floor and nominations may not be closed until the election meeting has convened and the members are ready to ballot.  Members nominated from the floor must be present and accept the nomination or in case of an excused absence, present their acceptance of the nomination in writing.

Nominations do not require a second. Nominators will have 3 minutes to speak and the candidate will have 3 minutes to speak.