To Expedite Ranking of Regional Vice-Presidents

WHEREAS, The ranking of the regional vice-presidents of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod isa matter of significance to the entire church body; and

WHEREAS, There are five such regional vice-presidents; and

WHEREAS, These elections could require as many as ten ballots under Bylaw 3.12.2.7 (g); and

WHEREAS, The ranking of vice-presidents inherently requires each voter to conceive of a preferred ranking of the vice-presidents; and

WHEREAS, The ranking of the regional vice-presidents could be carried out by asking each voter to rank the five vice-presidents and then simulate the current election process; and

WHEREAS, This would accomplish the important task of ranking the regional vice-presidents while saving time at the Synod conventions; therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.12.2.7 (g) be amended as follows:

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING

3.12.2.7 After the results of the first-vice-presidential election have been announced, the convention shall elect five regional vice- presidents according to the following nominations and elections process. …

(g) Upon the election of the regional vice-presidents, a final election will take place ranking the vice-presidents by separate ballots witha simple majority of voting delegates determining the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth vice-presidents in line of succession. Each voting delegate will provide his preferred ranking of the vice-presidents as a single ballot. The determination of the second vice-president will proceed by tabulating only the first choice of each ranked ballot. If no vice- president is listed as first choice on a majority of ranked ballots, the vice-president with the fewest first-choice votes will be eliminated from each ballot and the remaining first choices on each ballot shall be tabulated. After selecting the second vice- president, his name shall be eliminated from each ranked ballot and the third vice-president shall be determined using each voter’s truncated ballot. The determination of fourth, fifth, and sixth vice-presidents is made similarly. A voter may leave names off his ranked ballot. If all his named choices are eliminated, this voter shall be considered to abstain from that choice. The secretary shall post the results of this process by stages as if each voter had cast a ballot for a single vice-president at each stage of the election.

and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of Synod, in consultation with the Commission on Handbook, consider the possibility of implementing other elections in which a large number of ballots may be required using a single ranked-choice ballot.