In-Person Voting Process

  1. Directed Election or Stipulated Election: 

    If the Board’s decision orders an election to be held, that election will normally be held within 45 days from the date of the decision, constituting a Directed Election. A conference call will be scheduled within a week after the decision has been issued to set up the time and date of the election.

    If during the initial conference call, the parties have reached an agreement on the bargaining unit without having to go to a hearing, they will stipulate to the election. The procedures are similar on all cases.

  2. Conference call: Parties will meet with the State Board of Mediation by telephone or in-person to discuss the details of the upcoming election and choose a date within the 45 days of the decision to hold the election. The voter list is due 10 days from the date the decision was issued.  During this call parties will decide the best route to take when conducting the election, whether it is an in-person election or a mail ballot election.

  3. Voter List: Once the Board has received the voter list from the employer, it will be supplied to the other party(s). This list will be used at the election.

  4. Notice of Election: The Notice of Election shall contain the date, hours and place of election; the eligibility period; the details and procedures for an election; the appropriate unit, and a sample ballot. They are to be posted no less than six (6) business days prior to the opening of the election polls.

    If the election is to be a mail ballot election see Mail Ballot Elections below.

  5. Observers: Each party is allowed up to two observers if they choose to be present at the election site to assist the Authorized Officer in identifying voters. Each party is allowed one observer to assist with the count itself. 

  6. Observers at Election Site: Upon arrival of the observers at the election site, they will be given a list of instructions for them to follow, once they have had the opportunity to read over the list, the Authorized Officer will then swear the observers in.

  7. Polls Setup: The Authorized Officer will set up the voting booth(s) away from open doors and windows if possible to give as much privacy as possible for the voters.

    Select Deluxe Voting Booth, NO Light
  8.  Election: Each employee in the bargaining unit is given the opportunity to vote by secret ballot during the poll times listed on the Notice of Election.
  9. Voting: The Authorized Officer will conduct the election under “laboratory conditions” so that the opportunities for filing objects are at a minimum.  The Officer is to maintain control over the voters, observers, and the voting area.
    Voters will be asked to form a single line, identify themselves and give ID as requested. The Authorized Officer will hand the voter their ballot and instruct them to mark their ballot in the voting booth using the pencil provided and then to place their vote in the ballot box.
    Sample ballot
    Ballot box
  10. Closing the Polls: The Authorized Officer will promptly close the voting polls at the designated time. Voters that are currently in line at the time will be allowed to vote. The Officer will remove all Vote here signs outside the voting room.
  11. Counting the Ballots: Each observer, if any, will assist in tallying the ballots. Tally Sheets will be given to the observers to mark as the “yes” and “no” ballots are called out by the Authorized Officer from the ballot box.
  12. Tally of Ballots: The Authorized Officer is responsible for completing the Tally of Ballots form once the count is complete. Each party's representative will receive a copy. If there is no one there for a party, it will be mailed to that party.
  13. Ten Day Letter:  This letter is provided to each parties’ representative advising them that they have ten (10) business days after the tally of ballots has been furnished to the parties to file with the board any objections they may have to the conduct of the election or conduct affecting the results of the election.
  14. Objections to Conduct of Election: Within ten (10) business days after the tally of ballots has been furnished to the parties, any party may file with the board objections to the conduct of the election or conduct affecting the results of the election. If objections are filed the Chairman shall investigate them, if necessary, the Chairman will set a hearing to make a decision on the objections.
  15. Certification of Election Results: If no objections have been filed, the Chairman of the State Board of Mediation will certify the election results following the ten (10) day objection period.