Page:Robert's Parliamentary Practice.djvu/159

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VOTING AND ELECTIONS
137

vote. If the vote is to be by ballot the chairman appoints tellers to distribute, collect, and count the ballots, and to report the vote to the society. The number of tellers is dependent upon the number of voters, the number of offices to be filled, the number of candidates, and the possibility of attempted fraud. In a small society two tellers are usually all that are required, but if there is any danger of fraud there should be four. In large conventions twenty or more divided into small groups may be advisable. In all cases the tellers should be very careful, accurate persons who have the confidence of the society, and who represent the different prominent candidates.

In using paper ballots for voting on the reception of a member, if there is only one candidate, the chair directs the tellers to distribute slips of paper, one to each member, and directs the members to write on their ballots "Yes" or "No." The same method is adopted in voting on the expulsion of a member.

If there are several candidates for membership and only one vacancy, the president directs that each member write on his slip the name of the candidate for whom he votes. This latter method is also adopted in the election of officers when each officer is voted for by a separate ballot which is not printed. In the case of electing an officer the voting is not limited to candidates that have been nominated.

When the ballots have been prepared the president directs the tellers to collect them. This should