Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006

i Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 S.R. No. 27/2006 TABLE OF PROVISIONS Regulation Page 1. Objective 1 2. Authorising provisions 1 3. Definitions 1 4. Election manager 3 5. Deputy election manager and other election officials 3 6. Election officials not to be candidates 3 7. Electoral rolls 4 8. Last day of voting 4 9. Change to last day of voting 4 10. Notice of election 5 11. Nominations 6 12. Candidate's personal statement 6 13. No or insufficient nominations 7 14. Uncontested elections 8 15. Contested elections 8 16. Preparation and form of ballot-papers 9 17. Candidate's indication of preferences 9 18. Dispatch of polling material 10 19. Marking a vote 11 20. Return of ballot-papers 12 21. Issue of replacement ballot-papers 12 22. Withdrawal or death of candidate 12 23. Place where votes are to be counted 13 24. Scrutineers 13 25. Receipt of return envelopes before close of voting 14 26. Scrutiny of votes 15 27. Adjournment of scrutiny 15 28. Notification and publication of results 15 29. Recounts 16 30. Disposal of ballot-papers 16 __________________ -- 1 of 21 -- Regulation Page ii SCHEDULE 17 Form 1—Nomination Form 17 Form 2—Ballot-paper 18 Form 3—Appointment and declaration of scrutineer 19 ═══════════════ -- 2 of 21 -- 1 STATUTORY RULES 2006 S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession Act 2004 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 The Lieutenant-Governor as the Governor's Deputy with the advice of the Executive Council makes the following Regulations: Dated: 14 March 2006 Responsible Minister: ROB HULLS Attorney-General RUTH LEACH Clerk of the Executive Council 1. Objective The objective of these Regulations is to prescribe matters relating to the conduct of elections for elected members of the Legal Services Board. 2. Authorising provisions These Regulations are made under section 7.2.17 of, and clause 8 of Schedule 1 to, the Legal Profession Act 2004. 3. Definitions In these Regulations— "Act" means the Legal Profession Act 2004; "ballot material" means the material sent to a person under regulation 18(2); -- 3 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 2 "candidate's indication of preferences" means an indication of preferences prepared by a candidate under regulation 17; "candidate's personal statement" means a personal statement prepared by a candidate under regulation 12; "close of roll day" has the meaning given in regulation 10(2)(b); "close of voting" means 5.00 p.m. on the last day of voting; "declaration envelope" has the meaning given in regulation 18(2)(f); "election official" means— (a) a person appointed as an election manager under regulation 4; or (b) a person appointed as a deputy election manager or election official under regulation 5; "electoral rolls" means the roll of advocates and the roll of non-advocates; "Form" means a form in the Schedule; "last day of voting" means the day fixed by the election manager under regulation 8 or as altered by the election manager under regulation 9; "nomination day" has the meaning given in regulation 10(2)(d); "return envelope" has the meaning given in regulation 18(2)(g); "roll of advocates" means the roll kept under clause 1(1)(a) of Schedule 1 to the Act; r. 3 -- 4 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 3 "roll of non-advocates" means the roll kept under clause 1(1)(b) of Schedule 1 to the Act; "working day" means a day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday within the meaning of the Public Holidays Act 1993. 4. Election manager From time to time the Board may appoint an election manager to conduct elections of elected members to the Board. 5. Deputy election manager and other election officials (1) The election manager may appoint a deputy election manager to assist the election manager or to act in their absence and may appoint election officials to assist in the conduct of elections. (2) An appointment under sub-regulation (1) must be in writing and signed by the election manager. (3) A deputy election manager may exercise any power or perform any function of an election manager under these Regulations, other than the power of appointment under sub-regulation (1). 6. Election officials not to be candidates The election manager, deputy election manager and any election officials appointed under regulation 5 must not be candidates in the election. r. 4 -- 5 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 4 7. Electoral rolls (1) An electoral roll must include the following information— (a) the year of the roll; (b) the number of local legal practitioners on the roll; (c) the name of each local legal practitioner on the roll; (d) the address to which ballot material is to be sent to each local legal practitioner on the roll. (2) Only a local legal practitioner who is enrolled by 5.00 p.m. on the close of roll day for an election is entitled to vote at that election. 8. Last day of voting (1) For the purpose of an election, the election manager must fix a day by which postal votes in that election must be received by the election manager. (2) The last day of voting— (a) must be a working day; and (b) must be at least 6 weeks after the day on which notice of the election is published in the Government Gazette under regulation 10(1). 9. Change to last day of voting (1) If special circumstances exist, the election manager may alter the last day of voting and fix a different later day by notice published in the Government Gazette. (2) If ballot material has not yet been issued, the notice must indicate the week in which it is likely to be issued. r. 7 -- 6 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 5 (3) No later than 7 days after the publication of the notice in the Government Gazette, the election manager must cause a copy of the notice to be published in a daily newspaper circulating throughout Victoria. (4) For the purposes of sub-regulation (1), a special circumstance includes— (a) an unforeseen delay in printing ballot material or in the processing of candidates' personal statements or indications of preferences; or (b) a postal strike or any disruption to the postal service— that would, in the opinion of the election manager, necessitate altering the last day of voting. 10. Notice of election (1) The Board must cause a notice of each election to be published in the Government Gazette. (2) The notice must specify— (a) the vacancy for which the election is to be held; and (b) the day by which a local legal practitioner wishing to vote must have applied for enrolment ("close of roll day"); and (c) the address at which a local legal practitioner may apply for enrolment; and (d) the day by which nominations of candidates for the election must be received by the election manager ("nomination day"); and (e) the name of the election manager; and (f) the address at which the election manager will receive nominations; and (g) the last day of voting. r. 10 -- 7 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 6 (3) The nomination day must be a working day that is at least 14 days after the day the notice of election is published in the Government Gazette. (4) The close of roll day must be a working day that is at least 7 days before the nomination day. (5) No later than 7 days after the publication of the notice of election in the Government Gazette, the Board must cause a copy of the notice to be published in a daily newspaper circulating throughout Victoria. 11. Nominations (1) A person wishing to be a candidate in an election must deliver or cause to be delivered to the election manager a nomination in accordance with Form 1 before 12 noon on the nomination day. (2) A nomination must be signed by the candidate and by 2 other local legal practitioners entitled to vote at the election. (3) The Board must confirm that the person nominated is entitled to be a candidate and that the nominators are entitled to vote in the election. (4) If requested, the election manager must issue a receipt for a nomination. 12. Candidate's personal statement (1) A candidate may lodge with the election manager a personal statement for inclusion in the ballot material. (2) A personal statement— (a) must be no longer than 250 words; and (b) must not refer to another candidate standing in the election without that person's written consent; and r. 11 -- 8 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 7 (c) may be accompanied by a recent photograph of passport-photograph size for distribution with the statement; and (d) must be lodged before 12 noon on the nomination day. (3) A consent under sub-regulation (2)(b) must be lodged with the personal statement. (4) A candidate who provides a photograph under sub-regulation (2)(c) must write their name on the back of the photograph. (5) The election manager may— (a) liaise with any candidate with respect to the form and content of a personal statement; (b) amend a personal statement in accordance with the written authorisation of the candidate. (6) The election manager must keep a record of any amendments made under sub-regulation (5)(b). (7) A candidate who lodges a personal statement is responsible for the accuracy and integrity of all statements contained in it. 13. No or insufficient nominations (1) If no valid nominations are received in an election— (a) the election manager must notify the Board immediately after the nomination day; and (b) the Board must cause a notice to be published in the Government Gazette within 7 days— (i) stating that no valid nominations were received in the election; and (ii) giving further notice of election in accordance with regulation 10. r. 13 -- 9 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 8 (2) In the case of an election of the non-advocate members, if only one valid nomination is received— (a) the election manager must notify the Board immediately after the nomination day; and (b) the Board must cause a notice to be published in the Government Gazette within 7 days— (i) stating that the candidate whose nomination was received is elected; and (ii) in relation to the vacancy that has not been filled, giving further notice of election in accordance with regulation 10. 14. Uncontested elections If the number of nominations received for an election is equal to the number of vacancies to be filled, the election manager must— (a) publish a notice in the Government Gazette declaring the candidate or candidates elected; and (b) forward a copy of the notice to the Board. 15. Contested elections If the number of nominations received for an election is greater than the number of vacancies to be filled, the election manager must— (a) announce the full name of each candidate on the nomination day; and (b) publish a notice of each nomination in the Government Gazette within 7 days after the nomination day. r. 14 -- 10 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 9 16. Preparation and form of ballot-papers (1) In the event of a contested election, the election manager must hold a ballot immediately after the nomination day to determine the order of candidates on the ballot-paper. (2) Candidates may be present at this ballot. (3) A ballot-paper— (a) must be in accordance with Form 2; and (b) must show the names of the candidates in the order determined under sub-regulation (1); and (c) must not contain a candidate's title, qualifications or reference to any political or other affiliation or allegiance. 17. Candidate's indication of preferences (1) A candidate may lodge with the election manager an indication of preferences containing the candidate's preferred order of voting. (2) A candidate's indication of preferences— (a) must be in the form of a ballot-paper; and (b) must be lodged in person by the candidate, or a person authorised by the candidate, no later than 3 days after the nomination day. (3) In an indication of preferences a candidate must— (a) identify each candidate in the form and order in which they appear on the ballot-paper; and (b) place once only the figures 1, 2, 3, 4 (and so on as the case requires) in the squares opposite the names of the candidates so as to indicate the candidate's preference for them. r. 16 -- 11 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 10 18. Dispatch of polling material (1) No later than 7 days after the nomination day, the Board must supply the election manager with the electoral roll for the election. (2) At least 14 days before the last day of voting the election manager must post or deliver to each person on the electoral roll for the election— (a) a ballot-paper made of a marked security paper; and (b) any candidate's personal statement lodged in accordance with regulation 12; and (c) any photograph lodged with a candidate's personal statement in accordance with regulation 12; and (d) any candidate's indication of preferences lodged in accordance with regulation 17; and (e) if a candidate has not lodged a personal statement or indication of preferences that complies with these Regulations, a statement to that effect; and (f) an envelope for the ballot-paper, indicating a place for the voter to sign and date it ("declaration envelope"); and (g) a prepaid envelope bearing the election manager's address ("return envelope"); and (h) instructions on how to vote; and (i) notice of how and when the ballot material must be returned; and (j) any other material that the election manager thinks is appropriate. r. 18 -- 12 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 11 (3) The election manager may specify formatting limitations that will apply to the publication of candidate statements and may alter the format of statements lodged in accordance with regulation 12 to comply with those limitations. (4) An election is not invalidated only because ballot material has been forwarded to a person who is not entitled to vote. 19. Marking a vote (1) Subject to this regulation, a voter must mark their vote by placing once only the figures 1, 2, 3, 4 (and so on as the case requires) in the squares opposite the names of the candidates so as to indicate the voter's preference for them. (2) If there are only 2 candidates at an election, the requirements of sub-regulation (1) are sufficiently complied with in the case of any ballot-paper marked with the figure 1 opposite the name of only one candidate to indicate the voter's first preference. (3) If there are more than 2 candidates, the requirements of sub-regulation (1) are sufficiently complied with in the case of any ballot-paper marked with the figures 1, 2, 3, 4 (and so on as the case requires) opposite the names of all the candidates on the ballot-paper except one. (4) In the circumstances set out in sub-regulation (3), the voter is to be taken to have given their last preference vote to the candidate opposite whose name no figure is marked. r. 19 -- 13 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 12 20. Return of ballot-papers (1) A voter must— (a) insert the marked ballot-paper in the declaration envelope and seal that envelope; and (b) sign and date the declaration envelope; and (c) place the declaration envelope in the prepaid return envelope. (2) The voter must post or deliver the return envelope to the election manager at the address on the envelope, or at another address notified to the voter by the election manager, so as to reach the election manager by the close of voting. 21. Issue of replacement ballot-papers The election manager may issue a replacement ballot-paper to a voter if the voter gives the election manager a declaration to the effect that— (a) the voter has not received a ballot-paper or the ballot-paper has been lost, spoilt or destroyed; and (b) the voter has not already voted in the election. 22. Withdrawal or death of candidate (1) A candidate for an election may withdraw their consent to the nomination by lodging a notice of retirement with the election manager at any time before the commencement of the scrutiny of votes in the election. (2) If a candidate withdraws or dies after the close of nominations but before the commencement of the scrutiny of votes in an election, their first preference votes are to be distributed amongst the other eligible candidates next in order of the r. 20 -- 14 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 13 voters' preference and are deemed to be first preference votes for those candidates. 23. Place where votes are to be counted The election manager must designate the place where the votes are to be counted and must advise each candidate of that place. 24. Scrutineers (1) A candidate may appoint one or more scrutineers to scrutinise the electoral activities set out in sub- regulation (2), but only one scrutineer for a candidate may be present at an electoral activity at any one time. (2) The electoral activities referred to in sub- regulation (1) are— (a) the opening and emptying of the ballot box or other container in which the declaration envelopes are kept; (b) the processing of declaration envelopes; (c) the counting and recounting of ballot-papers. (3) An appointment of a scrutineer must be in accordance with Form 3. (4) The election manager may have a scrutineer removed if— (a) more than one scrutineer for a candidate is present at an electoral activity at the one time; or (b) the scrutineer touches a ballot-paper or otherwise interferes with or obstructs an electoral activity; or (c) the scrutineer fails to obey a lawful instruction from an election official. r. 23 -- 15 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 14 (5) A person cannot be appointed as a scrutineer in an election if they are— (a) a member or employee of the Board; or (b) a candidate in the election; or (c) a candidate in any other election being held simultaneously with the election. (6) For the avoidance of doubt, a reference in sub- regulation (5) to a member of the Board includes a reference to the chairperson of the Board. 25. Receipt of return envelopes before close of voting (1) The election manager, with the assistance of any election officials, may on the receipt of return envelopes at any time before the close of voting— (a) remove the declaration envelopes from the return envelopes; and (b) separate the signed declaration envelopes from the unsigned declaration envelopes and record receipt of each declaration envelope on the electoral roll; and (c) accept any declaration envelopes that are undated but disallow the unsigned declaration envelopes; and (d) place each signed declaration envelope in a sealed postal ballot receptacle. (2) As soon as practicable after the close of voting, the election manager must, in accordance with sub-regulation (1), deal with all ballot-papers received on or before the close of voting that have not already been dealt with under that sub- regulation. (3) The election manager must reject any declaration envelope not received in accordance with regulation 20(2). r. 25 -- 16 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 15 26. Scrutiny of votes As soon as practicable after the close of voting, the election manager must— (a) produce unopened all signed declaration envelopes containing ballot-papers received by the close of voting; and (b) open each signed declaration envelope, withdraw the ballot-paper and deposit it in the ballot box; and (c) when all ballot-papers have been deposited in the ballot box, withdraw the ballot-papers and count the votes in accordance with the Act and these Regulations. 27. Adjournment of scrutiny The election manager may from time to time adjourn the scrutiny of votes to a day and time fixed by the election manager and notified to the scrutineers. 28. Notification and publication of results (1) The election manager must notify each candidate of the result of the election within 7 days after the day on which the scrutiny of votes in the election is completed. (2) Not less than 7 days after all candidates have been notified in accordance with sub-regulation (1), the election manager must declare the result of the election by notice published in the Government Gazette. (3) The election manager must send a copy of the notice published in the Government Gazette to the Board. r. 26 -- 17 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 16 29. Recounts At any time before notice of an election result is published in the Government Gazette, the election manager may (and must, if requested in writing by a candidate) conduct a recount of the votes in the election. 30. Disposal of ballot-papers At the end of the period of 60 days after notice of an election result is published in the Government Gazette, the election manager must destroy all ballot-papers, declaration envelopes and return envelopes used in the election. __________________ r. 29 -- 18 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 17 SCHEDULE FORM 1 Regulation 11(1) NOMINATION FORM Legal Services Board Advocate/Non-advocate(1) Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006, regulation 11(1) CANDIDATE Name Postal address for correspondence Date of admission Form in which given names are to appear on ballot-paper(2) To the election manager: We, the local legal practitioners named below, being enrolled on the roll of advocates/roll of non-advocates(1) , nominate the local legal practitioner of not less than 5 years' standing referred to above as a candidate for election to the Legal Services Board. NOMINATORS Name Postal address for correspondence Signature Date Name Postal address for correspondence Signature Date Candidate's declaration of consent: I consent to be nominated as a candidate for election to the Legal Services Board as an advocate/non-advocate member to represent electors on the advocates'/non-advocates' roll(1) . I declare that I am qualified to be a candidate under the provisions of the Legal Profession Act 2004(3) . Signature of candidate Date (1) Delete whichever is not appropriate (2) You may use an initial or initials or common abbreviation or alternative for your given names (3) A candidate should ensure that he or she is qualified to be a candidate. __________________ Sch. 1 -- 19 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 18 FORM 2 Regulation 16(3)(a) Dimensions of ballot-paper: 105 mm × 210 mm. __________________ Sch. 1 BALLOT-PAPER Legal Services Board [Advocate/Non-advocate] Roll Number the boxes from 1 to [insert number of candidates] in the order of your choice. You must number EVERY box. You must NOT use any number more than once. [Candidate name] [Candidate name] [Candidate name] [Candidate name] [Candidate name] [Candidate name] -- 20 of 21 -- S.R. No. 27/2006 Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 19 FORM 3 Regulation 24(3) APPOINTMENT AND DECLARATION OF SCRUTINEER Legal Services Board Advocate/Non-advocate Roll(1) Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006, regulation 24(3) Candidate Name Address Scrutineer Name Address Appointment I, a candidate for election as an elected member of the Legal Services Board at the election to be held on [insert date], appoint the person named above to be my scrutineer. Candidate's signature Date Scrutineer's declaration: I, the scrutineer named above, undertake to be a scrutineer for the candidate named above and declare that I am an eligible person to be appointed as a scrutineer(2) . Scrutineer's signature Date in the presence of Name and signature of witness Date (1) Delete whichever is not appropriate (2) Regulation 24(5) of the Legal Profession (Board Election) Regulations 2006 provides that a person cannot be appointed as a scrutineer in an election if they are— (a) a member or employee of the Legal Services Board; or (b) a candidate in the election; or (c) a candidate in any other election being held simultaneously with the election. ═══════════════ Sch. 1 -- 21 of 21 --