Page:Robert's Parliamentary Practice.djvu/160

138 be done in such a way that the tellers do not see for whom the votes are cast. The tellers then retire and count the ballots, bringing back for the assembly's decision any question about which there is difference of opinion. The decision by the tellers themselves must always be unanimous.

At the annual or periodical election of officers most societies have a nominating committee previously appointed which submits a ticket with the name of a nominee for each office. At the time the committee reports, additional nominations may be made from the floor. The ticket may or may not be printed. It is obvious that it cannot be printed when the election is held immediately after the nominations are made. If the ticket is not printed, and the officers are all voted for at one time, the following method may be used: The names of the nominees for the first office are repeated by the chair and each member writes on his blank ballot the name of the office and of the candidate for whom he votes. Then the chair repeats the names of the candidates for the next office, and so on. Where it is feasible, the names of the candidates may be written on a blackboard.

When the ballot is printed with only one candidate for each office, the voter makes no mark upon it unless he wishes not to vote for a candidate. In this case he crosses out the printed name and replaces it, if he wishes, by the name of his choice. If the names of more than one candidate for an office are printed, he