On December 9, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) issued updated guidance on the use of remote electronic voting systems in union officer elections. This guidance, available on the DOL’s website, is designed to help unions comply with the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA).
The document highlights key considerations for selecting an electronic voting vendor, focusing on technological features OLMS deems favorable for meeting the secret ballot requirement under the LMRDA. It also offers recommendations for ensuring elections remain observable, another critical statutory requirement.
While OLMS notes that each election is evaluated individually and does not offer “safe harbors” for electronic voting systems, this guidance reflects a greater openness to electronic elections when compliance with legal standards is ensured. The emphasis is on robust voting technology and transparent procedures to meet statutory obligations.
For unions considering electronic voting, this guidance is a must read and offers practical advice on adopting modern election technology while maintaining compliance with the law. To review the full guidance, search the document’s title on Google or the DOL’s website: Electing Union Officers Using Remote Electronic Voting Systems.