Can Teamsters locals vote online? What the International Brotherhood of Teamsters constitution says

"The election shall be held at such place or places and at such time, not earlier than thirty (30) days after the nominations meeting, as may be designated by the Local Union Executive Board. The election shall be by secret ballot to be placed in boxes, unless the Executive Board of the Local Union has authorized the use of some standard type of election mechanical device insuring a secret ballot by machine vote, the election box or boxes or machine or machines, however, to be located at a place or places designated by the Local Union Executive Board."

"The Local Union Executive Board shall have the authority to establish all rules and regulations for the conduct of the election to supplement the provisions of the International Constitution and the Local Union Bylaws, including the authority to use mail referendum balloting or absentee balloting without membership approval."

"In the event the U.S. Department of Labor, or any governmental agency that prescribes procedures for conducting the elections of officers of Local Unions or other subordinate bodies, permits such elections to be conducted through electronic or digital voting, the General Executive Board shall have authority to issue guidelines the Locals or subordinate bodies may adopt to comply with those regulations. The Executive Board of the subordinate body shall retain its discretion to determine the type of voting method that will be utilized."

"The General President shall also have the authority to direct the use of mail referendum balloting or absentee balloting without membership approval, any action of the Local Union Executive Board to the contrary notwithstanding."

"The General Executive Board shall have the authority to prescribe alternate procedures for conducting nomination meetings and making and accepting nominations to supplement these procedures in the event Locals are unable to conduct in-person meetings as a result of a national emergency or to comply with federal, state, or provincial regulations."

"The General President is authorized to change the time and place of nominations and election provided for in this Section."

"Bylaws of Local Unions and other subordinate bodies, and amendments thereto, shall be effective upon approval by the General President."

"During negotiations, the Local Union Executive Board may order a secret ballot vote to be taken to determine whether the affected members authorize a strike or to obtain the members' views on an employer proposal."

"When the Local Union Executive Board has determined that an offer is “final”, such offer must be submitted to the involved membership for a secret ballot vote as hereinafter provided:"

"Such negotiating committee may order, during negotiations, a secret ballot strike vote to be taken on such basis as it shall determine. Votes may be held or facilitated by the use of electronic video conferencing, at the discretion of the negotiating committee. Such vote shall be conducted in the manner as provided in accordance with this Section."

"Once a strike is called, a contract thereafter may be accepted by a majority vote of the involved members voting in the manner directed by the bargaining committee."

"Finally, please note that Local Union elections shall NOT be conducted by internet or other electronic voting procedures. Many Local Unions have inquired about conducting elections of officers by internet or other electronic voting procedures. The Department of Labor has indicated that it may approve such procedures in the future. To date, however, it has not approved any method of voting by telephone, computer or other electronic digital procedure."

"As a result, while many Local Unions have utilized such procedures for conducting votes on collective bargaining agreements, Bylaws, and other referenda, no such procedure is acceptable under the International Constitution or applicable U.S. law for elections of Union officers."

"If the Local Union uses a “hybrid” voting method where both walk-in and mail ballot voting are used in the same election, mail ballots should be due the later of thirty (30) days after the Nominations Meeting or the last date for walk-in voting."

"Outside Voting Agencies. For Local Unions that retain outside agencies to conduct their election, please also note that the Local Union Executive Board is still responsible for ensuring that the outside agency follows the requirements of the Local Union Bylaws and the International Union Constitution."