Committees - election of officers
From Lights of Guidance[edit]
(Should be further subcategorized or possibly moved to another category)
All Committee Members Must Be Given Opportunity to Cast Ballot-- Election of Officers by Majority, Not Plurality [(See also: No. 101. Any Officer Elected Must Have Received at least Five Votes, in Lights of Guidance, no. 554)][edit]
"Concerning the question of the election of committee officers, the House of Justice has instructed us to explain that provided all members of the committee have been given the opportunity to be present at the meeting or to send their ballots by mail, the election of the committee's officers is valid, even if a member does not avail himself of the opportunity to vote. Of course, as you are no doubt aware, election of officers must be by majority vote, not plurality. The House of Justice also points out that it is preferable to have an odd number of members appointed to a committee. This would lessen the chance of a tie vote result."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Mexico, September 2, 1981, in Lights of Guidance, no. 552)
If Member Has a Good Reason, He is Free to Suggest He Should Not Be Elected to Office[edit]
"...With regard to your question whether members of an Assembly and/or a committee may excuse themselves from being elected to serve as an officer:
"On several occasions the beloved Guardian pointed out that before the election of officers, if any member had a good reason in his own opinion why he should not be elected to one of the offices of the Assembly, he was free to suggest that he should not be so elected. The House of Justice also feels that as the work of the Faith expands and the duties of officers, particularly on National Spiritual Assemblies, acquire more importance, it is permissible and at times advisable to discuss the duties incumbent upon and required of each officer before ballots are cast."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Bolivia, August 18, 1985, in Lights of Guidance, no. 553)
