Short answer: It depends on the division. Transportation Division locals may use an electronic voting method that meets Department of Labor secrecy standards (Art. 21B, Sec. 57). Sheet metal locals may vote by electronic means only as approved by the General Executive Council (Art. 12, Sec. 6). Source: SMART Constitution and Ritual, 2024 General Convention.
| Verdict | Electronic voting expressly permitted |
| Ratification / strike votes | Railroad, Mechanical and Engineering Department (Art. 21A, Sec. 9): permits electronic voting with International approval (method 'approved by the General President') for ratification and strike votes. Transportation Division (Art. 21B, Secs. 85, 91): lists specific methods (mail referendum ballot / referendum); electronic not among them. Sheet metal strike votes (Art. 30, Sec. 3): two-thirds secret ballot of members present at a special meeting; electronic not among them. |
| Confidence | Medium |
| Last verified | 21 October 2026 |
What the text says
How local officer elections are run
"Elections may be held under such rules as are not inconsistent with this Constitution and at such times and places following the nominations as the local union may decide, provided (a) that the selection of the times and places shall afford the membership a reasonable opportunity to vote, ... (b) that the election shall be held in the month of June, ... and (d) that absentee ballots shall not be used or accepted."
"Officers stipulated in the Section shall be elected by secret ballot at a November meeting of the Local, or by referendum vote, as provided by existing bylaws or procedures of each Local."
Electronic, internet, phone or remote voting
"For extraordinary elections, a mail ballot or an electronic method for election may be conducted if (a) the membership approves use of either a mail ballot or electronic method by a two-thirds (⅔) vote at a special meeting, and (b) the General President approves use of the mail ballot, or (c) the General President recommends the use of an electronic method to the General Executive Council for its approval. Procedures shall be used to ensure the secret ballot."
"A “secret ballot” vote shall mean the expression by ballot, voting machine or other electronic means approved by the General Executive Council, of a choice by the member cast in such manner that such member cannot be identified with their vote."
"An electronic voting method may be used if it meets the standards of the Department of Labor for guaranteeing secrecy of the ballot."
International approval of local bylaws or election rules
"Local union by-laws shall be filed through an electronic means approved by the General Secretary-Treasurer and no provisions thereof which are objected to by them as being inconsistent with this Constitution, the policies of this Association or the requirements of law shall be made effective or continued in effect."
"Bylaws for their special government, which do not conflict with this Constitution, shall be adopted. ... The proposition shall be subject to approval by a majority of the members present voting by secret ballot, the recommendation of the President Transportation Division and approval of the General Secretary-Treasurer."
Contract ratification and strike votes
"No agreement covering wages, hours and other conditions of employment shall become effective unless and until the same is ratified by the members affected who shall be afforded the opportunity to vote thereon at special membership meetings in each of the respective affected local unions or through an electronic voting method approved by the General President."
"Voting on a strike pursuant to Article Thirty (30), Section 3(a) may be conducted through an electronic voting method approved by the General President. All electronic voting shall be by secret ballot and require the approval of two-thirds (2/3) of all members voting to declare a strike."
"No cessation of work through strike or otherwise shall be permitted or ordered by a local union or regional council or any officer or officers thereof unless it is authorized and approved at a special meeting called for the purpose of voting on the question ... and it shall require two-thirds (⅔) vote by secret ballot of all members present at such meeting to legally declare a strike."
"The General Chairperson must poll the entire membership holding seniority and working in the craft involved on the property by mail referendum ballot prior to signing any system agreements and be governed by the majority of the votes cast."
"...the offer with the committee’s recommendation shall be submitted by referendum to the Membership of the crafts involved in the movement for their acceptance or rejection. ... A majority of the eligible members voting shall be required to ratify the offer of settlement."
Open questions
The verdict differs by division: for Transportation Division locals Art. 21B, Sec. 57 expressly allows an electronic method meeting DOL secrecy standards with no International approval stated, but for sheet metal locals electronic voting appears only as 'other electronic means approved by the General Executive Council' (Art. 12, Sec. 6(b)) and, for 'extraordinary elections', requires a two-thirds membership vote plus General President/GEC approval (Art. 12, Sec. 6(a)), so for those locals the more precise reading is 'with International approval'; 'extraordinary elections' is not defined in the quoted text.
Context
- Mixed membership: SMART represents private-sector building-trades and rail workers (rail under the RLA, still LMRDA-covered) as well as bus/transit operators (smart-union.org lists 'Bus Operators & Mechanics'); public-sector-only locals are outside the LMRDA.
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 and Ritual of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers — Revised and amended by the authority of the 3rd SMART General Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada, August 12-16, 2024. https://www.smart-union.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/87636_SMART_Constitution_Update_2024_TXT_Digital_R10.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21)
Not verified: No separate International election manual or TD election guidelines were found on smart-union.org. The constitution page also links Spanish, Portuguese and Vietnamese versions, which were not reviewed.
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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