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Nomination for election as bencher

4.01 (1) Nomination of a member of the society eligible to serve as a bencher shall be made in writing, on a nomination paper, in form 4.01A, setting forth the full name and addresses of the proposer and seconder, and the nomination paper shall be signed by the three parties.

(2) The completed nomination papers shall be filed with the vice-president not later than forty-five days before the annual general meeting of the society.

(Rule 4.01(2):Amended Summer Term Convocation, June 6, 2003)

When ballots required

4.02 If more members are nominated than there are positions to be filled then within fifteen days of the close of nominations the vice-president shall prepare forms of ballots containing the names of the barristers nominated pursuant to rule 4.01(1) and shall forward, by mail or otherwise, one of each such ballots to each member of the society.
(Rule 4.02:Amended Summer Term Convocation, June 6, 2003)

Voting

4.03 (1) Each member of the society may vote for a number of candidates in each district equal to the number of vacancies to be filled by election for that district at that election.

(2) Members wishing to vote in the election may do so by

(a) mailing his or her ballots to the offices of the society not less than 7 days before the first day of the annual meeting,

(b) by delivering it:

i) to the offices of the society at any time prior to the first day of the annual general meeting, or

ii) on the first day of the annual general meeting to the executive director before 12:00 noon on that day.

Counting of ballots

4.04 (1) The ballot papers shall be counted by three scrutineers consisting of members present at the meeting, all of whom shall be appointed by the president or the person presiding at the annual general meeting.
(Rule 4.04(1):Amended Summer Term Convocation, June 6, 2003)


(2) A plurality of votes cast shall decide the members elected as benchers. In the event of a tie occurring for the last position of a bencher to be filled the meeting shall be advised of the names of the members who are tied, and the members present at the annual general meeting and qualified to vote shall vote on a paper to be supplied by the executive director and the person receiving the plurality of votes shall be declared elected.

(3) Any votes cast for any person who is ineligible to be an elective bencher or any ballot paper containing more than the number of votes to be cast in respect of any district shall be null and void in respect of that district and the election shall be declared as if such votes had not been cast.

Results of elections

4.05 The president or the person presiding at the annual general meeting shall advise the meeting of the results of the votes for each district and shall cause the result of the election and names of the elected benchers to be published in the issue of the Gazette next ensuing after such election.

(Rule 4.05:Amended Summer Term Convocation, June 6, 2003)