Short answer: Not expressly. The UBC Constitution (effective October 1, 2025, as filed with the Department of Labor) provides for ballots prepared in advance, polling places and voting machines (Sec. 31F-G), and does not mention mail or electronic voting for elections. Local bylaws need General Vice President approval (Sec. 25B).
| Verdict | Lists methods that don't include electronic voting |
| Ratification / strike votes | Leaves the method to the Regional or District Council (or to an unaffiliated Local Union): 'The method of contract ratification, which may include a vote of the membership, shall be decided by...' (Sec. 42J). |
| Confidence | Medium |
| Last verified | 21 October 2026 |
What the text says
How local officer elections are run
"Nomination of officers and delegates of Local Unions shall take place in May, and the election shall take place in June. All members shall be notified by mail of the time, date and place of the nominating meeting and of the election, and the notice(s) shall specify all offices to be filled."
"The election of officers and delegates shall be by secret ballot. Ballots shall be prepared in advance listing the names of all candidates nominated for election. The nominees receiving a plurality of votes shall be declared elected. Write-in votes shall neither be authorized nor permitted in the election of Officers or delegates in any Local Union or District, Regional, State or Provincial Council."
"If more than one polling place is used, a list of eligible members shall be available at each location."
"All subordinate bodies and members shall comply with the election procedures set forth in § 401 of the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, as amended (“LMRDA”), 29 USC 481, and regulations issued thereunder."
Electronic, internet, phone or remote voting
"When voting machines are used the Tellers shall examine the machines before the start of the voting to see that they are properly set. A candidate, or his or her observer, may also examine the machines in conjunction with the Tellers."
International approval of local bylaws or election rules
"Local Unions shall be governed by applicable uniform bylaws and have the power to make laws and trade rules, which, in no way, conflict with the Constitution and Laws of the United Brotherhood, and must be approved by the General Vice President before becoming law, and shall be filed with the General Vice President; likewise, all future amendments must be submitted and filed."
"The General Executive Board may establish uniform Bylaws to govern State Councils, Provincial Councils, Regional Councils, District Councils and Local Unions, not inconsistent with the Constitution and Laws, which shall be in full force and effect pending ratification or modification by the next General Convention."
Contract ratification and strike votes
"The method of contract ratification, which may include a vote of the membership, shall be decided by the Regional or District Council where such a Council exists or by the Local Union if such Local Union is not affiliated with a Regional or District Council and is not mandated by the Constitution and Laws."
Open questions
Sec. 31 describes secret ballots 'prepared in advance', polling places and voting machines and does not mention mail or electronic voting, but it is not phrased as an exclusive list, and local laws additionally require General Vice President approval and are subject to GEB uniform Bylaws (not located) - counsel to confirm whether the list is exclusive.
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
- Constitution of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and Rules for Subordinate Bodies Under its Jurisdiction (OLMS attachment 'cONSTITUION.pdf', 'Constitution, Bylaws and Other Attachments', filed with the LM-2 for 2025 by CARPENTERS IND National Headquarters, OLMS file no. 000-085, received 2026-03-31) — Constitution as Amended at the 43nd [sic] General Convention, Effective October 1, 2025. https://olmsapps.dol.gov/query/orgReport.do?rptId=74365&rptForm=attachment (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Constitution of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and Rules for Subordinate Bodies Under Its Jurisdiction — Constitution as Amended at the 42nd General Convention, Effective October 2020 (scanned/OCR copy hosted by UBC Local 2790; not available publicly on carpenters.org) - superseded; retained for comparison only. https://www.local2790.org/s/Constitution.pdf (downloaded from https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fb3fd4793d3562c38ce9b27/t/62ab78a56f404e1601b427a8/1655404717657/Constitution.pdf) (accessed 2026-10-21)
Not verified: Update 2026-10-21: the current edition (amended at the 43rd General Convention, effective October 1, 2025) was obtained from the DOL OLMS OLPDR (UBC national HQ file no. 000-085, attachment 74365, filed with the 2025 LM-2, which answers Yes to constitution/bylaws change). All quoted provisions (Secs. 25B, 26I, 31E-H, 42J) were re-verified against this text; they are unchanged from the 2020 edition except that Sec. 31F now also bars write-in votes. Full-text search found no electron/internet/online/telephone/remote voting language for elections (electronic references concern dues cards, payments, email notices; 'telephone/videoconference' applies only to GEB meetings, Sec. 6N). Still not found: the GEB 'uniform Bylaws' for Local Unions/Councils (Sec. 26I) - not among the OLMS attachments for 000-085 and not public on carpenters.org (constitution URL re-tried: 404). The OLMS PDF is text-based (no OCR). Page numbers are printed page numbers.
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.
Running an election under these rules? Talk through your next election — 15 minutes.