Short answer: Possibly, with International approval. The UFCW Constitution (2023) lets a local's election chair "conduct a vote by other method approved by the International Executive Committee" (Art. 35(C)(10)), and Art. 23(D)(9) says the same for ratification and strike votes. Neither provision names electronic voting specifically.
| Verdict | Electronic voting permitted with International approval |
| Ratification / strike votes | Electronic voting permitted with International approval |
| Confidence | Medium |
| Last verified | 21 October 2026 |
What the text says
How local officer elections are run
"Elections shall be conducted during the six-month period preceding the expiration of the term of office, as provided in the Local Union's bylaws. ... The elections shall be conducted at such times and places as will afford all active members a reasonable opportunity to vote. If the Local Union members are so widely dispersed that they must travel an unreasonable distance to vote at a single polling place, the Local Union shall provide for multiple polling places."
"The general chairperson shall establish the applicable dates, times, places, manner, and procedures for the nominations and election. The election committee shall maintain custody of all ballots and election registers during the conduct of the elections."
"Each eligible member desiring to vote shall sign an election register authorized by the general chairperson of the election. The voter shall be given a ballot authorized by the general chairperson and shall be provided an opportunity to vote the ballot in secrecy. ... Alternative procedures for voting by machine, adequate to ensure the secrecy of the ballot, may be provided."
"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..."
Electronic, internet, phone or remote voting
"The general election chairperson may determine to conduct a vote by other method approved by the International Executive Committee."
"The election shall be conducted at polling places, by mail referendum, or other method approved by the International Executive Board."
International approval of local bylaws or election rules
"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."
Contract ratification and strike votes
"The proposal judged by the President of the Local Union or negotiating committee to be the employer's final proposal for a collective bargaining contract or renewal of an existing contract shall be submitted to the affected membership for its consideration. A majority vote of those present and voting shall be necessary to accept or reject the proposal."
"No strike or other economic action shall be taken by any Local Union in connection with a contract proposal, unless the affected membership, at a meeting or meetings thereof, has approved the same through a two-thirds majority vote of members voting on the action separately or combined with the question of approval of the contract proposal."
"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."
Open questions
The constitution never uses the words electronic, internet, online or telephone for voting; the only route beyond in-person/machine/mail is 'other method approved by the International Executive Committee' (Art. 35(C)(10); Art. 23(D)(9)), so whether electronic voting is available depends on an IEC approval that the text does not itself grant.
Context
- LMRDA (private-sector) union; constitution also covers Canadian locals, which LMRDA does not reach.
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
- 2023 UFCW International Constitution (Constitution of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union) — 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)
- Constitution of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (prior edition, comparison only) — 2018. https://www.ufcw.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/61/files/2020/09/2018-Constitution-FINAL.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21)
Not verified: No UFCW International local-election manual or guideline was found on ufcw.org or via web search, so topic (e) has no quote; whether the International Executive Committee has approved any electronic method under Art. 35(C)(10) or 23(D)(9) is not stated in the constitution. 'Machine' in Art. 35(C)(6) is not defined. The 2018 edition (ufcw.org) contains the same 'other method approved by the International Executive' language in the local-election and contract-vote provisions.
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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