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Executive Council Election Process

Policy Adopted by the 2022 Convention

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Executive Council Election Policy (1)

The open seats for the Executive Council are elected using Instant Runoff Voting (IRV), with a “No Confidence” option in addition to the nominees. Voting will occur sequentially for each open seat on the Executive Council. Winners must also beat the “No Confidence” option. The result of each vote will be announced to Convention before the next vote.

Instant Runoff Voting is a Ranked Choice voting system where electors rank their preferences in candidates from 1 (most preferred) to N (least preferred), for a ballot with N choices. Repeated numbers are not allowed and result in a spoiled ballot. Not ranking some options is allowed, but results in those choices being effectively abstentions (and/or “below” all others).

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Executive Council Election Policy (2)

In IRV, the top ranked nominee (e.g. #1) on each ballot is initially tallied. If any nominee receives the majority of votes, they are elected. If no nominee receives a majority, the nominee with the fewest votes is eliminated from this round of voting. Votes are re-tallied with the top-ranked, non-eliminated, nominee on each ballot receiving the vote from that ballot and the process repeats until a nominee receives a majority.

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Executive Council Election Policy (3)

If the “No Confidence” option receives the majority, all nominees that were on that ballot (both eliminated and non-eliminated) have lower voter preference than “No Confidence” and are eliminated from consideration for election at the current Convention. Additionally, they may not be appointed by the Executive Council. In this case, nominations proceed in accordance with Const. Art X. Sec 2(d).

The “No Confidence” option ensures that any elected Councillor has the support of a majority of voters.

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Ranked Choice voting method using only a single ballot per EC position.
To vote, delegates rank their choices.
If the #1 vote getter does not receive majority, then the nominee with the fewest #1 votes is dropped from consideration for this position, and those ballots shift to voting “for” their #2 choice.
This repeats until a single nominee has a majority.
Recommended by Robert’s Rules when the traditional method is impractical.
Ranking: #1 being the most preferred and ‘N’ being the least, for ‘N’ options.
Repeated numbers are not allowed, and delegates are encouraged to rank all nominees.

Instant Runoff Voting (IRV)

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Vote of No Confidence

At Convention, having the ability to vote “no confidence” in a candidate is an important safeguard.
Any proposed policy should support the ability for the Convention to express “no confidence” in a candidate, specify what happens if candidates receive a “no confidence” vote, and how to find new nominees when necessary.
Including a “No Confidence” option ensures the majority of voters support the candidate, without extra rules requiring a majority of quorum.

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Single-Winner vs. Multiple-Winners with each Vote

Saving time by reducing the ballots from three to one.
More time would likely be spent explaining the extra rules than simply taking the two extra votes using a simpler system.
Another technical reason to choose the multiple vote-single winner approach is it allows voters to be more expressive with their preferences for who represents the Association.

Tau Beta Pi—The Engineering Honor Society