Can AFGE locals vote online?

Short answer: Yes, if the local's own constitution or bylaws provide for it. AFGE's National Constitution (as adopted at the 43rd Convention, 2024) lets locals elect officers by "manual ballot or mail ballot or secure and electronic option(s)" as their constitution or bylaws prescribe (Appendix A). AFGE locals that represent federal employees are governed by 29 CFR Part 458, not the LMRDA.

Verdict	Electronic voting expressly permitted
Confidence	High
Last verified	21 October 2026

What the text says

How local officer elections are run

"These rules herein are integral provisions of the AFGE National Constitution. ... If a provision within the constitution or bylaws of the AFGE entity conducting the election concerns a matter also addressed by these rules, to the extent that provision is inconsistent, these rules shall control."

— 2024 Constitution, Appendix A, Part I (Direct Elections: Local Officers and Delegates), Sec. 1(b), p. 42

"Officers shall be elected by secret ballot."

— 2024 Constitution, Appendix A, Part I, Sec. 1(c), p. 42

Electronic, internet, phone or remote voting

"Nominations and elections may be conducted either separately or combined at a meeting called for such purpose or by mail or secure and electronic option(s) as may be prescribed in the constitution or bylaws of the AFGE local conducting the election."

— 2024 Constitution, Appendix A, Part I, Sec. 3(a)(1), p. 43

"The notice shall specify the positions to be filled in the election, the time (including split-polling times if applicable), date, place, or manner of election (i.e., mail or manual ballot or secure and electronic option(s)), and provisions for runoff elections..."

— 2024 Constitution, Appendix A, Part I, Sec. 3(a)(4), p. 43

"The election shall be conducted by one of the following methods, as prescribed by the constitution of the local conducting the election: manual ballot or mail ballot or secure and electronic option(s)."

— 2024 Constitution, Appendix A, Part I, Sec. 5(a), p. 44

"The local shall prescribe in its bylaws the manner by which its elections will be conducted (choose one): manual ballot or mail ballot or secure and electronic option(s)."

— 2024 Constitution, Appendix B (Standard Local Constitution), Art. VII, Sec. 3, p. 55

International approval of local bylaws or election rules

"Every local of AFGE shall adopt an approved constitution. Effective January 1, 1985, all new locals, or existing locals whose constitutions have not been approved on or after September 1, 1979, shall be governed by a standard local constitution as set forth in Appendix B of the AFGE National Constitution."

— 2024 Constitution, Art. XIX, Sec. 3(a), p. 27

"Any local not under the standard local constitution wishing to amend provisions of its constitution and/or bylaws may do so in accordance with the amending provisions of its current constitution. Prior to amendments taking effect, NEC approval must be obtained..."

— 2024 Constitution, Art. XIX, Sec. 3(c), p. 27

"Bylaws shall be adopted and amended only after a one month notice to the local's membership and by two-thirds vote of members, either present at a membership meeting and voting, with provision for absentee vote, or by mail ballot. Such bylaws do not require NEC approval."

— 2024 Constitution, Appendix B (Standard Local Constitution), Art. XI, Sec. 3, p. 56

International election manual or guidelines

"Finally, the delegates to the 2006 AFGE National Convention amended the AFGE Rules to provide for election by secure and electronic option(s)."

— AFGE Election Manual (rev. 10-10-2006), Step 3, p. 9 of 97

Open questions

Appendix A permits 'secure and electronic option(s)' only 'as prescribed in the constitution or bylaws of the AFGE local', and the text does not define 'secure and electronic option(s)'; locals not under the Standard Local Constitution need NEC approval of the bylaw/constitution amendment that adopts it (Art. XIX, Sec. 3(c)), whereas Standard-Constitution locals' bylaws 'do not require NEC approval' (App. B, Art. XI, Sec. 3).

Context

Federal sector: AFGE locals representing federal employees are governed by the CSRA standards of conduct (5 U.S.C. 7120; 29 CFR Part 458), not the LMRDA.
Preamble also refers to 'all other persons providing their personal service indirectly to the United States Government'; whether any AFGE local has private-sector members (which would bring that local under the LMRDA) was not verified.

The federal rules still apply

Federal law sits on top of every constitution. For unions covered by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA), officer elections must meet Title IV's secret-ballot, notice and observer requirements however members vote. The Department of Labor's Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) addresses remote electronic voting in its Compliance Tip Electing Union Officers Using Remote Electronic Voting Systems (updated December 10, 2024). The Tip describes safeguards for secrecy, observation and records, says it "does not offer unions safe harbor," and says each system is evaluated case by case. Federal-sector unions follow 29 CFR Part 458, which applies the same standards; postal unions are covered by the LMRDA. Locals made up entirely of state or local government employees are generally outside Title IV and follow state law and their own rules. OLMS Compliance Tip

Sources

American Federation of Government Employees AFL-CIO Constitution (Constitution and Rules), incl. Appendix A: AFGE Rules of Conduct for an Election; Appendix B: Standard Local Constitution — As adopted at the Forty-third AFGE National Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada, August 12-16, 2024. https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/d9121e97-2c75-4247-aacc-c3eafcaba8ed/afge-national-constitution-2024.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21)
American Federation of Government Employees AFL-CIO Constitution — As adopted at the Forty-first AFGE National Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada, August 13-17, 2018. https://educationtraining.afge.org/AFGETrainingEducation/Doc/afge-national-constitution.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21)
AFGE Election Manual (Prepared by the Office of the General Counsel in conjunction with the Legal Rights Committee of the National Executive Council) — Revised 10-10-2006. https://educationtraining.afge.org/AFGETrainingEducation/TrainersExchange/NewLeaders/New_Leaders_Supplemental_Materials/AFGE%20Election%20Manual.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21)

Not verified: The official afge.org copy of the current constitution is behind a members-only login; the 2024 text was taken from a third-party-hosted copy and corroborated against the official AFGE-hosted 2018 edition (identical Appendix A electronic-option language). The AFGE Election Manual found (rev. 2006) is old; no current edition located. The constitution does not specify a contract-ratification or strike-vote method.

This page summarizes the published text of a union's governing documents. It is not legal advice and not an official interpretation by the union. Constitutions change at conventions, and locals' own bylaws matter. Confirm with your International and your counsel before changing how members vote. Spotted an error or a newer edition? Tell us at info@votem.com and we'll correct it.

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