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2022 Election Campaign Rules
Annual Post Election: Wednesday 11 May 2022

Authorization and Governance 

Post 291 Bylaws, Article 5.7., Election and Appointment of Post 291 Officers, governs the annual Post 291 election of Post 291 Officers. 

Post 291 Bylaws, Article 5.7.2., Campaign Rules and Election Voting and Process Rules, and Article 5.7.2., Election Rules, govern campaigning for office for the annual Post 291 election and the election of Post 291 Officers: 

  • Candidates for office may campaign based on their experience, philosophy, plans and ideas, and goals and objectives. All candidates must treat other candidates with respect as members of The American Legion. 

Specific Rules for 2022 Campaigning 

Here are specific campaign rules that all candidates for Post 291 officer positions must follow and comply with this year. These rules are established to foster and ensure a fair, equitable, and civil campaign and the integrity of the election. 

Authorized Campaign Activities 

  1. Campaign Speech. Each candidate will be allowed three minutes at the General Membership Meeting on the evening of final nominations on Wednesday 13 April to speak to the membership about his/her qualifications and platform. 
  2. Campaign Materials. 

a. Candidates may post flyers, handbills, or other printed campaign materials no larger than 8½ inches by 11 inches, on the Election Committee designated bulletin boards or display areas — but only after final nominations are closed on Wednesday 13 April 2022. 

b. Candidates and their supporters may hand out campaign materials — e.g., flyers, handbills, business cards, trifolds, or other printed campaign materials no larger than 8½ inches by 11 inches — directly to interested and receptive members or guests at the Post. 

c. Candidates and their supporters may wear campaign buttons or badges of no more than four inches in diameter on their clothing. 

Prohibited Actions and Restrictions — Campaigning 

  1. 1. Campaign materials may be posted only on Election Committee designated bulletin boards or display areas outside the Main Building and only after the close of final nominations on Wednesday 13 April 2022. Each candidate may post no more than one flyer on the Election Committee designated bulletin boards or display areas, and the flyer shall be no larger than 8½ inches by 11 inches. 
  2. 2. No other campaign materials are allowed to be posted on any boards, walls, glass, windows, mirrors, fences, or other surfaces in Post rooms and property — including but not limited to the Bar, View Room, Fireside Room, patios, kitchen, Front Office, restrooms, Hut, and marina, as well as on any boat in the marina. 
  3. No printed campaign materials, holders, or stacks (piles) of campaign materials are allowed to be left on tables, bars, or other horizontal surfaces in Post rooms and property — including but not limited to the Main Hall, Bar, View Room, Fireside Room, patios, kitchen, Front Office, restrooms, Hut, and marina. 
  4. No campaign materials are allowed to be posted on any City or public property visible from the Post — including but not limited to Veterans Park, the public beach, and the public dock, and the pump-out dock. 
  5. No one is allowed to move, remove, or deface a candidate’s posted materials. 
  6. Flyers, handbills, and other printed campaign materials may be no larger than 8½ inches by 11 inches. 
  7. Negative campaigning is strictly prohibited. Candidates must run on their own merits and record at the Post or other American Legion offices or positions. 
  8. Although events and gatherings at the Post offer opportunities for candidates to campaign, candidates and their supporters must be sensitive to those members and guests who are not interested or do not wish to engage in political or campaign discussions — and not annoy nor be aggressive toward those individuals. 
  9. Other than the three-minute speech allowed on the night of final nominations of Wednesday 13 April, candidates will not use Post audio/visual equipment — e.g., microphones, display screen, etc. — for campaign-related statements or announcements. 
  10. Candidates will not use audio/visual equipment of post-hired bands nor the Hootenanny — e.g., microphones, display screen, etc. — for campaign-related statements or announcements. 
  11. Election “tickets” or slates (exclusive list of candidates) are not allowed to be posted or distributed unless the Election Committee has received written permission from each slate candidate to use his/her name on the election slate for the candidate. 
  12. Endorsements are not allowed to be used for a candidate or a candidate slate unless the endorsing person or endorsing organization has submitted a written statement of endorsement to the Election Committee. An endorsing organization must also include with its written statement a copy of approved minutes of the organization showing the organization’s approval of the endorsement. 
  13. All campaign materials must be removed from the Post, and specifically the designated bulletin boards or display areas, no later than 3:00 pm Tuesday 10 May, the day before the election. 
  14. On Election Day, Wednesday 11 May, no campaign materials are allowed to be handed out on Post property, including the Post parking lot and marina. Any campaigning must be conducted offsite — such as the sidewalk in front of the Post on 15th Street or in the alley leading to the Post parking lot. 
  15. If any candidate is found in violation of any of the Election Rules or Campaign Rules by the Election Committee, the Election Committee Chair shall notify the candidate immediately in writing or verbally of the specific violations, with instructions to curtail or correct the violations immediately or no later than 24 hours of the notification. 
  16. If the candidate in violation complies with the Election Committee instructions within 24 hours of the notification, there shall be no disciplinary actions. If the candidate in violation does not comply within 24 hours of notification, the Election Committee Chair shall inform the Adjutant and the Post Commander in writing that the candidate is not in compliance and shall identify what further actions the Election Committee is taking or may take with respect to the candidate. Under the Election Rules, the Election Committee is authorized to remove a candidate from the ballot if that person refuses to comply with the Election Rules, the Campaign Rules, or instructions of the Election Committee.