Section 1: Network Elections

A. Ballot
As AFAN is a communications Network not centered in any particular locality, a ballot can be sent to all members via email, regular mail, or the newsletter in lieu of an annual meeting. The ballot return deadline shall be set by the SC and publicized with issuance of the ballot. An annual meeting may be held at a conference or other Network event in addition to the mailed ballot, but attendance at an annual meeting shall not be mandatory or required to vote. If a meeting of Networkers is held, no action shall be taken except to refer a proposed action to the SC or to the members for determination by written ballot.

B. Annual and Other Regular Elections
In addition to such other business as may appear on the ballot, members of the SC shall be elected for four year terms in even-numbered years, with no more than nine positions being replaced during any election. (To begin the staggered election process, one half [6] of the SC elected in 2002 shall by assent or lottery serve a four year term instead of the two-year term to which they were elected.)

Section 2. Special Elections.

A. Persons Who May Call Special Elections
Special elections by the Networkers may be called by resolution of the SC, by twelve (12) Advisors, by four Coordinators or by ten percent (10%) of the Networkers with voting rights.

B. Rules Governing Special Elections
Special elections by the Networkers shall be conducted according to the provisions set forth in this Article and in Article Four above.

Section 3. Conduct of Elections and Meetings

All elections, ballots, and confirmations shall be conducted and supervised by the Presiding Officer, in cooperation with the Membership Chair and the SC. General Meetings, if any, shall be presided over by the Presiding Officer, in cooperation with any members of the SC present at the meeting, or in the absence of the Presiding Officer, by the eldest member of the SC present at the meeting. The Recording Secretary shall file all meetings of members, provided that in his or her absence, the Presiding Officer shall appoint another person to act as Secretary of the meeting. Meetings shall be governed by rules to be set by the SC and published in advance of a meeting, insofar as such rules are not inconsistent with or in conflict with these Bylaws, the Articles of Incorporation of the Network, or any provision of law.

Section 4. Required Number of Ballots

Approval by written ballot of the membership shall be valid only when the number of votes cast by ballot within the time period specified equals or exceeds ten percent (10%) of the membership. If a sufficient number of ballots is not received within the time period specified, the membership shall be informed of such insufficiency, and an additional thirty (30) days shall be allowed for receipt of additional ballots; ballots received within the original time period shall be kept secure and uncounted until a sufficient number of ballots is received.

Section 5. Votes Required for Passage of Issues

An issue shall have been approved by the membership when the number of approvals exceeds five percent (5%) of the membership or half of the votes cast regarding the issue, whichever is greater, except if the Network's Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, or Standing Rules would be changed thereby, in which case the number of approvals must exceed two-thirds (2/3) of ten percent (10%) of the membership or two-thirds of the votes cast regarding the issue, whichever is greater.

Section 6. Manner of Giving Notice for Elections

Notice of an election by members shall be given by mail, addressed to the member at the address of such member appearing in the records of the Network. If any notice so mailed is returned by the United States Postal Service (USPS) marked to indicate that the USPS is unable to deliver the notice to the member at such address, all future notices or reports shall be deemed to have been duly given without further mailing if the notices or reports shall be available for the member upon written demand for a period of one year from the date of giving of notice or report to all other members.

Section 7. Notice of Annual or Regular Elections

At least thirty-five (35) days and not more than one hundred eighty (180) days before the annual ballots are to be counted, each Networker shall be informed of the subject matter and procedures of the election. At least thirty-five (35) days and not more than ninety (90) days before the ballots are to be counted, each member shall be provided with an appropriate ballot and with election materials specifying

1. the election date;

2. the positions and/or issues to be voted upon, including statements for and against each issue of not more than two hundred fifty (250) words each for each issue;

3. the number of voted ballots required to meet the requirement for quorum;

4. except for the election of members of the SC, the percentage of approvals needed to pass the measure under consideration; in the case of election of members of the SC, the names, addresses, and campaign statements of all those who are nominees at the time the election materials are mailed.

Section 8. Notice of Special Elections

When an election is required according to the procedures outlined in Articles Eleven and Twelve below,

1. The chair of the Membership Committee shall, within ten (10) days after receipt of a petition, verify that the signatures on it have been placed there by the required number of Networkers with voting rights.
AND
2. Within twenty (20) days of receipt of the petition, the SC shall set the election date and the Presiding Officer shall notify the Network that an election is to be held on said date.

3. The election date shall not be less than thirty-five (35) nor more than ninety (90) days after receipt of the petition. At the time a special election is called, the SC may resolve to place additional issues on the ballot, but only if notice for them is given with notice of the special election. Notice for a special election shall contain

a. the election date,

b. a statement of the issues to be voted upon,

c. the number of voted ballots required to meet the requirement for quorum, and

d. the percentage of approvals required to pass the measure under consideration.

4. The ballots for a special election shall be mailed to Networkers eligible to vote at least fifteen (15) days before the election date, and the election materials sent with the ballots shall contain statements for and against each issue limited in length to two hundred fifty (250) words for and two hundred fifty (250) words against each issue.

Section 9. Ballots

Ballots shall set forth the proposed action, provide an opportunity to specify approval or disapproval of each proposal, provide that where the person solicited specifies a choice with respect to any such proposal the vote shall be cast in accordance therewith, and provide a reasonable time within which to return the ballot in order for it to be counted. Ballots shall be mailed in the manner required for giving notice of meetings specified in Section 6 of this Article. Ballots or the election materials provided with the ballots shall also indicate the number of responses needed to meet the required number of ballots and, except for ballots soliciting votes for the election of members of the SC and for the confirmation of Coordinators, shall state the percentage of approvals necessary to pass the measure submitted. The ballots must specify the time by which they must be received by the Network in order to be counted. A ballot may not be revoked after its receipt by the Network or its deposit in the mail, whichever comes first.

Section 10. Procedures for Nomination and Election of Members of the SC

The Network shall make available to members reasonable nomination and election procedures with respect to the election of Members of the SC.

Section 11. Voting

Except for the election of members of the SC, each Networker with voting rights is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote by the members. When electing Members of the SC, each voter may vote for one person per announced vacancy up to a maximum of nine (9), including write-in candidates. Cumulative voting for members of the SC shall not be permitted. Networkers are urged to vote and return their ballots. Networkers whose annual dues have expired and not been renewed within sixty (60) days of the election date, are urged to pay their dues, vote, and return their ballots.

Section 12. Voting Procedures

Only Networkers eligible at the time ballots are mailed shall receive ballots. Voters shall be provided a personalized envelope for return of their ballot. Ballots shall be returned to the Presiding Officer.

Section 13. Verification of Ballots

The Presiding Officer and the Membership Chair shall cooperate to verify that ballots counted have been voted only by Networkers eligible to vote, and that each eligible Networker has voted only once.

Section 14. Receipt and Counting of Ballots

Returned ballots shall be kept secure until the date fixed for counting ballots. Ballots shall be counted under the supervision of the Presiding Officer, with at least two others present who may or may not be members, in such a place and at such a time that any Networker might reasonably be present should he or she desire to make the effort to do so. Members of the SC and candidates for election or recall shall not receive, count, or participate in counting the ballots.

Section 15. Announcement of Results

The results of an election shall be announced immediately after the ballots are counted and shall also be published in the Newsletter following the election.

Section 16. Challenge to an Election

The conduct of an election may be challenged according to the procedure for initiative.

Section 17. Initiatives

This process is included herein to assure that the concerns of any Networker or group of Networkers have an avenue of expression and redress within the organization.

A. Informal Procedure
Any member may cause an issue to be placed on the agenda of the SC by contacting a member of the SC, expressing his or her concern, and requesting that the issue be placed on the agenda of the next SC meeting.

B. Formal Procedure
If the SC declines to consider an issue after being asked informally to do so, or if after consideration, the issue is being ignored or handled wrongly by the SC, the concerned member(s) may require the SC to consider or reconsider the issue at its next meeting, with the concerned member(s) participating in the discussion, by submitting such request in writing to the entire SC. If several Networkers are concerned about the same issue, they shall appoint a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of five (5) persons to serve as a negotiating committee and spokespersons for the group. If the concerned members are unable to agree upon a negotiating committee ("negotiators"), the SC may adopt reasonable procedures to select five (5) persons from the group of concerned members to so act.

C. Speedy Resolution
The SC may call a special meeting to consider the issue but if a special meeting is not called, or if the SC and the negotiating committee cannot agree on a date and time for a special meeting, the SC shall address the issue at its next meeting.

D. Petition
If after discussion including the negotiating committee, no agreement can be worked out between the concerned Networkers and the SC, the concerned Networkers can cause the issue to be voted upon by the membership by gathering on a petition, stating the issue and a supporting statement for it, the signatures of at least ten percent (10%) of all Networkers with voting rights and by submitting such petition to the Presiding Officer. A petition signed by twelve (12) Advisors, or by twenty-five percent (25%) of all Coordinators which number of Coordinators need not exceed ten percent (10%) of the Networkers, shall also require a special election to be held.

E. Wording on the Ballot
The issue shall be worded as a question that can be answered "yes" or "no," with a "yes" vote representing the desire for a change to occur and a "no" vote representing the wish to retain the status quo. The election materials shall also contain statements for and against the issue, each limited to two-hundred-fifty (250) words.

F. Immediate Special Election
If the concerned Networker(s) wish(es) to bypass discussion and negotiation with the SC, and wish to cause a special election to be held, they may at any time submit a petition stating the issue and a supporting statement for it and containing the signatures of at least ten percent (10%) of all Networkers with voting rights.

G. Passage of an Initiative
An affirmative vote from a majority of the Networkers voting on the issue shall pass the initiative, except if passage would mean changing the Network's Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, or Standing Rules, in which case passage shall require affirmative vote from two-thirds (2/3) of the Networkers voting in the election. If an initiative passes, it shall become policy of the Network and shall be executed and administered in good faith by the SC.