28Election of Council members

28 Election of Council members

(1)  If there are more nominations than the required number of candidates for a region, an election is to be conducted in the region by ballot, in accordance with this Division.

(2)  Subject to subclauses (3) , (4) and (5) , the Council may hold an election under subclause (1) in any form and manner that it considers reasonable, including electronically, if –

(a) at least 21 days before the election, the Council gives notice, to each full member who is eligible to vote in the election, of the manner in which the election is to be held; and

(b) the Council ensures that there is a means for each full member, who is eligible to vote in the election, to be able to so vote in a confidential manner, if the member chooses to vote and it is reasonably practicable to provide such a means.

(3)  If an election is held under subclause (1) in respect of a region, a full member may only vote in the election if the principal place of practice of the member is within that region.

(4)  The procedure of an election held under subclause (1) in respect of a region is as follows:

(a) the secretary of a regional committee, or the Executive Director, is to prepare and give to each full member who is eligible to vote in the election, a ballot paper containing the following:

(i) the names of the candidates nominated, in the election, in alphabetical format;

(ii) a box next to each candidate's name;

(iii) the number and nature of any office, on the regional committee, to be filled;

(iv) a statement of the requirement on the member to number the boxes in accordance with paragraph (c) ;

(v) the address to which the ballot paper is to be returned once filled by the member;

(vi) the day by which the ballot paper is to be returned, being the last business day in the region before the day fixed for the annual meeting of the regional committee;