Short answer: Yes. The SPFPA Constitution (as amended June 2021) says local elections "may be conducted in person at a meeting, by mail or by electronic balloting consistent with International Union election rules" (Art. XXV, Sec. 2), and allows mail or electronic contract ratification votes at the local's discretion (Art. XIX, Sec. 2(c)). A June 2026 convention edition was not yet available.
| Verdict | Electronic voting expressly permitted |
| Ratification / strike votes | Expressly permits electronic voting (contract ratification by mail or electronic balloting at the Local Union's or Unit's discretion, Art. XIX, Sec. 2(c); no method stated for strike votes beyond Art. XXXVII) |
| Confidence | Medium |
| Last verified | 21 October 2026 |
What the text says
How local officer elections are run
"The election of Local Union Officers shall take place by Secret Ballot during January to February 15 of each election year and installation of officers shall take place within ten (10) days following the election, except as otherwise authorized by the International Executive Board."
Electronic, internet, phone or remote voting
"Elections may be conducted in person at a meeting, by mail or by electronic balloting consistent with International Union election rules."
"At the discretion of the Local Union or Unit, the ratification vote may be by mail or electronic balloting conducted in a manner consistent with International Union election rules. Any contract proposal recommended by the bargaining committee that is not rejected by a Local Union through a valid and timely ratification vote conducted in which at least 50% of eligible voters cast valid ballots automatically shall be deemed ratified."
International approval of local bylaws or election rules
"All subordinate bodies shall submit any and all By-Laws governing said subordinate bodies to the International Executive Board for ratification of same."
"It shall decide all questions involving the interpretation of this Constitution and By-Laws between Conventions."
"This Constitution and By-Laws shall govern this International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) and its affiliated Local Unions"
Contract ratification and strike votes
"After the initial contract, all contracts shall be submitted within time constraints required to protect new contract terms and in no event more than 10 days to the Local Union or unit involved for ratification by a majority vote of members in good standing who cast a ballot."
"the Local Union or Unit involved shall call a meeting of all its members to decide by Secret Ballot whether the proposed contract or any supplement thereof shall be accepted or rejected. The majority vote of those present and voting on the question shall decide. If the Local Union or Unit involved rejects a contract or any supplement thereof, such rejection shall constitute an authorization to declare a strike subject to approval of the International Executive Board."
"Before a strike shall be called off, a Special Meeting of the Local Union or the Unit involved shall be called for that purpose, and it shall require a majority vote by Secret Ballot of all members present to decide the question either way."
Open questions
Art. XXV, Sec. 2 expressly allows local officer elections 'by electronic balloting consistent with International Union election rules', but those International election rules were not located, and for contracts Art. XXXVII, Sec. 1 still describes a secret-ballot vote at a meeting of all members while Art. XIX, Sec. 2(c) permits mail or electronic ratification - counsel to reconcile; the 2021 text may also have been amended at the June 2026 convention.
Context
- Mixed public/private jurisdiction: Art. V covers security employees 'for private and governmental employers' (LMRDA reaches only locals with private-sector members; locals of purely state/local government employees may fall outside it).
- Pending/recent convention amendment not confirmed: spfpa.org shows a 2026 convention (pages dated June 7-10, 2026); the latest constitution on file with OLMS and posted on spfpa.org is the June 9, 2021 edition, and any 2026 amendments could not be obtained.
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 By-Laws, International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) (spfpa.org 'FINAL-2021-Consitution-and-By-Laws.pdf'; text-searchable; text used for quotes) — As Amended, Orlando, Florida, June 9, 2021 (Seventeenth Constitutional Convention). https://spfpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FINAL-2021-Consitution-and-By-Laws.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Same document as filed with OLMS (attachment '2021 By-Laws.pdf', 'Constitution, Bylaws and Other Attachments', filed with the LM-2 for 2022 by SECURITY POLICE, FIRE PROF, IND National Headquarters, OLMS file no. 000-001, received 2022-06-28; scanned image, no text layer) — As Amended, Orlando, Florida, June 9, 2021 - cover and the pages carrying Art. XIX, Sec. 2 (p.38) and Art. XXV, Sec. 2 (p.54) visually compared against the spfpa.org text and match. https://olmsapps.dol.gov/query/orgReport.do?rptId=50973&rptForm=attachment (accessed 2026-10-21)
Not verified: SPFPA national HQ = OLMS file no. 000-001; latest constitution attachment is '2021 By-Laws.pdf' (50973, scanned, no text layer; no OCR tool available in this environment), so quotes were taken from the text-searchable copy on spfpa.org and the key pages (cover; pp.38, 54) of the OLMS scan were visually compared and match. Earlier filings: 2016 (10403), 2010 (2919/3630/7013/8349). The 'International Union election rules' referenced in Art. XIX and XXV were not found on spfpa.org (Resources page) or by web search. Page numbers are printed page numbers (OLMS scan PDF page = printed page + 8).
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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