Can RWDSU locals vote online?

Short answer: It's up to the local's bylaws, which must conform to both the RWDSU Constitution (2022) and the UFCW Constitution. RWDSU's text requires secret-ballot elections but names no method. If UFCW's rules apply, a local election chair may use "other method approved by the International Executive Committee" (UFCW Art. 35(C)(10)). Neither text settles which governs.

Verdict	Method left to local bylaws
Ratification / strike votes	Leaves the method to local bylaws (RWDSU text requires majority ratification and a two-thirds secret-ballot strike vote but names no voting method; UFCW Art. 23(D)(9) allows mail referendum or 'other method approved by the International Executive Committee' if it applies)
Confidence	Low
Last verified	21 October 2026

What the text says

How local officer elections are run

"Unless otherwise authorized by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, each local union and other affiliate shall elect, at least once every three (3) years ... All elections of the local union or other affiliate shall be held by secret ballot."

— RWDSU Art. X, Sec. 10 (Local Unions), p. 32

"The general chairperson of the election may determine to conduct the election by a mail referendum in its entirety or in outlying areas in lieu of or in addition to the election procedures specified in Article 35(C). If a mail referendum is conducted, members shall be provided with two envelopes for returning mail ballots, one of which shall be a secret ballot envelope with no identifying number or marks..."

— UFCW Constitution (2023), Art. 35(C)(9), p. 26

Electronic, internet, phone or remote voting

"Each local union shall hold a special meeting or special meetings, as may be required, within thirty (30) days from the date of the notice of the referendum, at which time the vote will be taken. The vote shall be by secret ballot, prepared by the RWDSU Secretary-Treasurer."

— RWDSU Art. XXII, Sec. 6 (Referendum - RWDSU-wide referenda), p. 51

"The general election chairperson may determine to conduct a vote by other method approved by the International Executive Committee."

— UFCW Constitution (2023), Art. 35(C)(10), p. 27

International approval of local bylaws or election rules

"Each local union and other affiliate shall enact and enforce such constitution and/or bylaws as it may consider necessary. Such constitution and bylaws shall conform to and not conflict with the provisions of this Constitution and Bylaws and the Constitution of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union unless previously approved in writing by the RWDSU Executive Board and the UFCW."

— RWDSU Art. X, Sec. 1(b), p. 29

"The governing constitution and bylaws of any affiliate shall not be inconsistent with, and shall be subject to, this Constitution and Bylaws, except as specifically exempted herein."

— RWDSU Art. II, Sec. 3 (Jurisdiction), p. 7

"This organization, international in scope, shall be known as the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, a District Council of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union."

— RWDSU Art. I (Name), p. 6

"Local Unions shall adopt bylaws, which shall in no way conflict with the Constitution and laws of the International Union, or interpretations of either. Bylaws and bylaw amendments properly adopted by the membership or as required by the Constitution must be filed with and approved by the International President to be effective."

— UFCW Constitution (2023), Art. 32(A)(1), p. 23

Contract ratification and strike votes

"The result of negotiations, the employer's final offer and/or the agreement shall be subject to ratification by the membership of the local union ... if a majority of those voting ratify the results of the negotiations, the contract shall be properly compiled, drafted and signed by proper officers of the local union and thereupon it shall be binding upon all members."

— RWDSU Art. XIX, Sec. 3 (Collective Bargaining), p. 47

"A strike may be called by a local union provided that the affected members of the local union approve by a two-thirds majority secret ballot vote the calling of such strike."

— RWDSU Art. XX, Sec. 1(a) (Strikes), p. 48

"No local union shall engage in a strike or other economic action without first receiving the authorization of the RWDSU President and the authorization of the UFCW International Executive Committee."

— RWDSU Art. XX, Sec. 1(b), p. 48

"Whenever in the judgment of the Local Union President it would be preferable to conduct a vote by mail referendum or other method approved by the International Executive Committee for contract ratification, strike, or other economic action, the Local Union President may direct the conduct of such a vote in accordance with this Constitution. ... Any such vote shall be conducted in accordance with procedures established by the International President."

— UFCW Constitution (2023), Art. 23(D)(9), p. 17

Open questions

The RWDSU Constitution itself requires only that local elections be 'held by secret ballot' and names no method, but it requires local bylaws to conform to the UFCW Constitution, whose Art. 35(C) sets local election procedures (polling places, machine voting, mail referendum, or 'other method approved by the International Executive Committee'); neither text states expressly whether UFCW Art. 35(C) governs RWDSU local elections directly - counsel to confirm. Local bylaws are not subject to a stated RWDSU approval requirement, except that deviations from the RWDSU/UFCW constitutions need prior written approval of the RWDSU Executive Board and the UFCW.

Context

Affiliate structure: the RWDSU is 'a District Council of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union' (Art. I); the UFCW Constitution's provisions may also apply to RWDSU locals.
Pending/recent convention amendment not confirmed: the RWDSU 25th Convention was held August 4-6, 2026 (Orlando, FL, per rwdsu.org convention reports); the latest constitution on file with OLMS is the July 2022 edition, and no amended text could be obtained (rwdsu.org daily reports for Days 1-3 mention no constitutional amendments).

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 Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, United Food and Commercial Workers Union (OLMS attachment 'RWDSU CONSTITUTION - 2022.pdf', 'Constitution, Bylaws and Other Attachments', filed with the LM-2 for 2022 by RETAIL WHOLESALE, DC, UFCW National Headquarters, OLMS file no. 000-071, received 2023-03-30) — As adopted May 1937 and revised at the Twenty-Fourth Convention of the RWDSU at Atlanta, GA, July 2022. https://olmsapps.dol.gov/query/orgReport.do?rptId=65740&rptForm=attachment (accessed 2026-10-21)
2023 UFCW International Constitution (Constitution of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union) - consulted because the RWDSU Constitution requires affiliate bylaws to conform to it — As amended and revised at the 9th Regular Convention 2023. https://www.ufcw.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/61/files/2023/09/2023-UFCW-Constitution.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21)

Not verified: Obtained 2026-10-21 from the DOL OLMS OLPDR (RWDSU national HQ = file no. 000-071; constitution attachments: 2022 (65740), 2018 (16223), 2014 (8081), 2010 (3374)); the LM-2s for 2023-2025 report no constitution change. RWDSU publishes no constitution on rwdsu.org that was found. No RWDSU or UFCW local election manual was found. The UFCW quotes are from the UFCW 2023 Constitution as verified in UFCW.json (same session). 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.

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