Short answer: Not under the 2022 text. The UAW Constitution requires local executive-officer elections at "a specified polling place or polling places where each member shall personally cast their vote" (Art. 38, Sec. 10(b)), with absentee ballots under an International Executive Board policy. We could not confirm whether the June 2026 convention changed this article.
| Verdict | Lists methods that don't include electronic voting |
| Ratification / strike votes | Contract ratification (Art. 19 Sec. 3): vote at a meeting called for the purpose 'or through such other procedure, approved by the Regional Director, to encourage greater participation' - method left to Regional Director approval; electronic voting neither named nor excluded. Strike votes (Art. 50 Sec. 1): two-thirds secret-ballot vote of those voting, method not specified, unless an IEB-approved alternative ratification procedure governs. |
| Confidence | Medium |
| Last verified | 21 October 2026 |
What the text says
How local officer elections are run
"The election of Local Union Executive Officers shall take place by secret ballot during May and June and installation shall take place at the regular meeting following the election, except as otherwise authorized by the International Executive Board."
"The following rules shall be mandatory in all Local Union elections for executive officers, and insofar as these rules are not inconsistent with any provisions of Article 8, for International Convention delegates:"
"Such elections shall be held during specified dates and hours at a specified polling place or polling places where each member shall personally cast their vote. The use of absentee ballots is not permitted in Local Union elections, except as allowed by a uniform policy established by the International Executive Board."
Electronic, internet, phone or remote voting
"In a number of Local Unions situated in communities where voting machines are used in public elections, the Locals have been making use of voting machines in Local Union elections."
"A Local Union may make provisions for members to vote in their Local Union elections, as indicated above, at its option wherever practical. Should the Local Union determine that it desires or requires such provisions, the Local Union may, by affirmative action of the membership, provide for such voting."
"A member who will be away from their Local Union during the entire period of an election of executive officers or Convention delegates on a work assignment for their employer or on Local Union business may apply for an absentee ballot by filing with their Local Union, by mail (registered or certified) or in person, a signed statement"
International approval of local bylaws or election rules
"It shall be mandatory for all Local Unions to establish bylaws and submit them to the International Executive Board for ratification. Bylaws, although enacted by a subordinate body, are not effective until submitted to the International Executive Board except for those enacted pursuant to Section 5 of this Article. Bylaws, once submitted remain effective unless repealed by the International Executive Board"
Contract ratification and strike votes
"After negotiations have been concluded with the employer, the proposed contract or supplement shall be submitted to the vote of the Local Union membership, or unit membership in the case of an Amalgamated Local Union, at a meeting called especially for such purpose, or through such other procedure, approved by the Regional Director, to encourage greater participation of members in voting on the proposed contract or supplement."
"When a dispute exists between an employer and a Local Union concerning the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement or any other strikeable issue the Local Union or the International Executive Board may issue a call for a strike vote. All members must be given due notice of the vote to be taken and it shall require a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote by secret ballot of those voting to request strike authorization"
"Where a different ratification procedure for a Local Union or an Intra-Corporation Council has been properly applied for under terms of Article 19, Section 3, and after the International Executive Board has approved such ratification procedure, the method for accepting or rejecting contract changes and the taking of strike votes shall be governed by the terms of the procedure approved by the International Executive Board"
Open questions
The verified text predates the June 2026 39th Constitutional Convention (700+ amendments/resolutions reported), and whether Art. 38 Sec. 10 was amended could not be confirmed; separately, 'except as allowed by a uniform policy established by the International Executive Board' leaves room for IEB policy not contained in the constitution.
Context
- Pending/recent convention amendment not confirmed: the 39th UAW Constitutional Convention (Detroit, June 2026) adopted constitutional amendments (uaw.org reports e.g. new local standing committees, a revised retiree definition); uaw.org still posts the 2022 (updated 6/7/24) constitution, so whether Art. 38 (local elections) was amended is unverified.
- Mixed public/private membership: the UAW includes some public-sector units (e.g., public university employees); the LMRDA covers only locals with private-sector members.
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 International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, UAW (with Interpretations of the Constitution) — Adopted at the 38th UAW Constitutional Convention, July 2022; file 'Updated-2022-Constitution-6-7-24' (updated June 7, 2024). Does NOT reflect the 39th Constitutional Convention (Detroit, June 2026).. https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Updated-2022-Constitution-6-7-24-1.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21)
Not verified: No 2026-amended UAW constitution was found on uaw.org (Constitution page, convention page and 39th Convention news checked on 2026-10-21) or via web search; local-union newsletters summarizing the convention did not mention Art. 38. No separate International local election manual was located publicly. Page numbers are printed page numbers of the PDF.
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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