iGLPi
THE MW INDEPENDENT GRAND LODGE OF F & A.M. OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
PRIMER ON GRAND LODGE ELECTION
Date of Grand Election
Second (2nd) day of the Annual Grand Assembly.
THE MW INDEPENDENT GRAND LODGE OF F & A.M. OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
PRIMER ON GRAND LODGE ELECTION
Date of Grand Election
Second (2nd) day of the Annual Grand Assembly.
This year 2007, it is on 30 November.
Who shall be elected?
The Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Senior Grand Warden, Junior Grand Warden, Grand Treasurer, Grand Secretary and Grand Auditor for Masonic year 2008. The elective Grand Officers shall be elected through secret balloting by majority vote of the qualified electors.
How are nominees for Junior Grand Warden selected?
It starts with Lodge initiatives. A subordinate Lodge may submit a name of a probable nominee to the position of Junior Grand Warden (JGW) for consideration of the District Council. When such initiative is taken the District Grand Supervisor shall secure from the Election Board, official recommendation forms and a list of all requirements in order to comply with submission standards and the preliminary screening process. A Lodge may name any Past Master, not necessarily from its own roster.
· The official recommendation form consists of three parts: an endorsement page marked top sheet, and official data sheets marked A and B which shall contain the personal and Masonic service data of the recommendee.
· For this election Lodges may submit the names of their probable nominees starting September.
· Lodge initiatives shall be screened by the District Council. The screening shall consider the basic eligibility requirements and qualifications of the persons named, as written and/or attached to their submissions. From among the names submitted by the Lodges, the District shall select and endorse its official recommendee(s).
· For this election the EXECOM shall advise the District of the maximum number recomendees it may pass for submission to the Election Board.
· The District shall forward their endorsed official recommendation forms duly signed by the respective nominees, together with all required documents to the Election Board for pre-qualification. For this election, all endorsements shall be submitted immediately after the October 21st district meeting but not later than 30 October.
· No nominations for any elective position shall be allowed from the floor during the Annual Grand Election.
Qualifications required of all Grand Lodge positions
For an elective position, membership in good standing in a subordinate Lodge for at least ten (10) years and Past Master for at least five (5) years.
No record of any conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction involving disloyalty to the Republic of the Philippines, culpable violation of the Philippine Constitution, dishonesty, violation of human rights, misconduct or commission of any offense involving moral turpitude.
No record of having been found guilty, after due process, of disloyalty to the Grand Lodge or culpable violation of IGLPI Constitution .
No record of suspension for unmasonic conduct or any Masonic offense tried by any trial commission, either in this or in any grand jurisdiction.
No record of having violated any provisions the Election and Appointments Code, other codes, laws, ordinances, edicts, and general regulations of Masonry; or having committed any act or matter inimical to the Fraternity.
Possessing leadership qualities, management skills, human relations skills, and knowledge of Freemasonry
PRIMER PAGE 2
The Election Board
The Election Board shall prepare, conduct and safeguard the annual grand election. Part of its duties is to examine the forms and documents of the recommendees endorsed by the district or region. It may disqualify recommendees for insufficiencies in the forms and documents submitted, incorrect or false entries or derogatory records that may be damaging to the recommendee or the Fraternity. The present Election Board is composed of:
MW Jaime V. Bantolo - Chairman
VW Javier G. del Rosario - Member
VW Redentor G. Aranas - Member
The Panel of Peers
It is a temporary body of not more than five (5) members non-voting Past Masters from accredited subordinate Lodges to be created on the first day of the Grand Assembly. Each Lodge shall submit a name of a non-voting Past Master during the registration period. The Election Board shall collect them and conduct a raffle at the Peer deliberation room to select its members. Once organized, the Panel of Peers shall evaluate the recommended nominees to the position of Junior Grand Warden passed by the Election Board. The deliberation shall be strictly administered. No cell phones shall be allowed and the Panel members shall be asked to remain in the deliberation room until the proceedings are over.
Its evaluation shall be submitted to the Council of Elders through the Election Board, for final evaluation.
The Council of Elders
From the order of ranking submitted by the Panel of Peers, the Council of Elders shall conduct final evaluation of the top five (5) recommendees and nominate three (3) as official candidates for Junior Grand Warden. In case any of these candidates become ineligible, incapacitated, or is disqualified before the balloting, the other two (2) recommendees may be reconsidered. The present Council of Elders is composed of:
VW Edgardo N. Reyes - Chairman
VW Evaristo A. del Mundo - Vice Chairman
VW Cesar D.L. Go - Member
VW Valeriano M. Espiritu - Member
VW Federico M. Aquino - Member
VW Regalado Manimtim - Member
VW Francisco E. Expectation - Member
With the assistance and presence of the Election Board, the Council of Elders shall make official announcement and presentation of candidates not later than 10:00 A.M. on the second day of the Annual Grand Assembly.
The Election Tribunal
The ad hoc Electoral Tribunal shall be created by the Election Board and its members sworn in, as soon as the first recommendation for nomination to the position of Junior Grand Warden is formally received. It shall be automatically dissolved after the elected Grand Officers shall have been installed.
Prohibited Practices during the electoral process
· Electoral Process in the Grand Lodge starts as soon as Lodge initiatives are filed and ends with the installation of officers.
· Electioneering is defined as any act that tends to subvert or unfairly influence the outcome of an election in favor of a nominee or candidate.
· Primary acts of electioneering consist of endorsements, campaigning or advertising using any form of media, distribution of give-away items, bribery and influence peddling.
· Collateral acts which may be considered electioneering consist of :
· Paying dues, fees and/or other assessments of a Lodge or its members for grand election accreditation purposes
· Sponsoring any expenses of a subordinate Lodge or its members to the Annual Grand Assembly; volunteering vehicles to ferry delegates
· Sponsoring socials, entertainment, fellowships or other events
· Donating or sponsoring food, refreshment, gifts, prizes, equipment or facility during any meeting, social gathering or fellowship and/or
· Donations and contributions to fund raising, for which act a nominee or candidate may be identified
PRIMER PAGE 3
Charges and Complaints
Complaints relative to the violation of the Election Code may be filed by any brother of good standing with the Election Board, addressed to the Electoral Tribunal. Complaints may be filed upon the creation of the Electoral Tribunal and until the day of the scheduled convening of the Council of Elders.
Post Election Complaints
Complaints appertaining to alleged violation of this Code or to improper acts committed during the actual Election, and those remanded to the complainant by the Electoral Tribunal for lack of time, may be given due course if filed with the Judicial Council within seven (7) days after the Annual Grand Assembly.
Sanctions and Penalties
Electioneering and other violations of the Election Code shall carry the penalty of reprimand, suspension, nullification of election or nomination, and/or perpetual disqualification from office, without prejudice to other sanctions that may be imposed for other charges that may be filed in the proper venue.
Lodge accreditation
Only accredited subordinate Lodges shall be able to participate in the Annual Grand Election. Election Accreditation Certificate shall be issued by the Committee on Credentials to a Lodge who has submitted its annual report and paid its dues and other Grand Lodge assessment. A Lodge without Election Accreditation shall not be entitled to vote during the election but may participate in other deliberations.
The Committee on Accreditation and Credentials
The present Committee on Accreditation and Credentials is composed of:
RW Armando L. Quion - Chairman
VW Conrado R. Barcega - Member
VW Amorico M. Alvarez - Member
VW Edilberto D. Esperat - Member
WB Francisco A. Carranza - Member
WB Apolonio S. Toledo - Member
Voting Representation
Only qualified voting delegates duly accredited, who have registered in the Annual Grand Assembly, and who are in attendance to personally cast their ballots during the election shall be entitled to vote. Only one (1) vote per voting delegate is allowed. No voter shall be allowed to fill up the ballot and cast the vote for and in behalf of any other voter.
Qualified Electors:
· The six (6) Incumbent Elected Officers of an accredited subordinate Lodge: Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer, Secretary, Auditor .
· The immediate Past Master of an accredited subordinate Lodge, in representation of all Past Masters of his Lodge
· The elected Grand Officers
· The Regional Grand Deputies
· The District Grand Supervisors
Election and Appointments Code
All proceedings, rules and regulations governing the Grand Election are contained in the Election and Appointments Code of the IGLPI. This primer contains abridged version of some of its provisions. For more information, consult the Code.
