Rules and Procedures for the 2023 Liberty Council Elections

  1. There are sixteen places on the Council to be filled by this election. These sixteen members will serve from the announcement of the result of the election to the end of the 2025 Annual General Meeting.
  2. To be eligible to be nominated and elected to the Council a person must have been a member of Liberty for at least 2 months prior to the candidate accepting nomination. If a person nominated or elected ceases to be a Liberty member within that period of nomination or office, they cease to be a member of the Council.
  3. Candidates for election should submit a biography/manifesto in support of their nomination by the stated deadline. This document must not exceed 200 words in length and any extra words after the 200th word will be disregarded.
  4. Proposing and seconding of persons for the Council vacancies referred to above shall be invited from individual members and/or affiliate members of Liberty and shall be submitted to the Returning Officer on the appropriate form or in the format set out below. Nominations from affiliated organisations entitled to two or more votes in the Council ballot (i.e. those with more than 250 members) do not require a seconder.
  5. Those nominating and seconding must be fully paid-up Liberty members at the close of nomination.
  6. Candidates should submit details of their proposer and seconder using our online form and Liberty will then contact them to confirm the nomination. Nominations may also be sent separately by nominees, proposers and seconders. In this instance, proposers and seconders should email agm@libertyhumanrights.org.uk to confirm the nomination. If you are unable to find a proposer and/or seconder, please leave these sections blank and we will try to match you with two other members. Please note that we are unable to guarantee this.
    • Nominations must be received by 5pm on Tuesday 21 February 2023
    • Forms not properly completed by the stated deadline will be declared invalid.
    • Nominations which are made by or of any nominator or candidates whose membership is not up to date at the close of nominations will be declared invalid.
    • Papers received after the deadline will be declared invalid.
  8. After the close of nominations the Returning Officer will submit to the Director of Liberty a list of names and addresses of candidates and nominators in alphabetical order, and request confirmation that all the persons listed are fully paid up members at the close of nominations.
  9. In the event of there being any ambiguity or uncertainty in the relevant membership records, the Returning Officer shall write within ten (10) working days of the close of nominations to those candidates or nominators. They will have ten (10) working days from the despatch of the letter to clarify the ambiguity. Clarification shall not permit the clearing of subscriptions arrears to validate membership.  Members are responsible for ensuring that their membership subscriptions are up to date before submitting the nomination.
  10. Once the validity of nominations has been confirmed or otherwise the Returning Officer shall arrange through the Director for the ballot paper and manifestos to be distributed to members.
  11. The format of the ballot paper and the order of listing of candidates shall be decided by the Returning Officer after consultation with Civica Election Services. Civica Election Services shall conduct the ballot count.
  12. In the event of a dispute the Returning Officer shall make a ruling. If an individual member or affiliate member does not accept this ruling they shall have the right of appeal to the full Conference and Appeals Committee whose decision in matters of elections shall be final.  Any appeal against a decision of the Returning Officer shall be notified to the Returning Officer within ten (10) working days of the written notification being received by the individual or affiliate member.
  13. It is the responsibility of candidates to ensure that they are available to receive any communications in March and April.
  14. All successful candidates will have their name published on the Liberty website. By nominating yourself for a position on the Council, you give consent for your name to be included in this list. To withdraw this consent, please email agm@libertyhumanrights.org.uk.