1. There have been several questions concerning an alternates right to vote when being appointed to replace an elected delegate.


2. Alternate votes are permitted to replace elected delegate votes only. Alternates cannot replace the vote of a Past Commander-in-Chief, Past Department Commander, Past Camp Commander, any seated Camp, Department or National Officer that has a right to vote by virtue of the office he holds and whose vote does not count towards the allotted delegate counts for Camps or Departments.


3. If a Brother holding an office or past honor does not attend and appoints or otherwise designates another Brother to vote on his behalf or in his place this amounts to absentee or proxy voting. Chapter V, Article I Section 4 states “
   
   • Section 4. Voting.
     
     • Proxy voting is hereby prohibited at all Camp, Department and National meetings. Further proxy voting is prohibited at meetings of the Council of Administration, Department Council or Camp Council .
     
     
     • Absentee voting is hereby prohibited at all Camp, Department and National meetings. Further absentee voting is prohibited at meetings of the Council of Administration, Department Council or Camp Council .

Rulings by previous Commanders-in-Chief have held that proxy voting and absentee voting by delegates is not permissible nor can a Camp Commander or Past Camp Commander vote by proxy.

Delegates to Division [Department] Encampment cannot be represented by proxy. CinC Griffin, Op. XLVI, Blue Book, 41.

A Delegate or Past Captain [Commander]cannot vote by proxy in the Division Encampment, nor can one delegate cast the entire vote of his camp if the other delegates and past captains are not present. CinC Bundy, Dec. XXXI, 14th, 36.

 

3. Therefore, any Past Commander-in-Chief, Past Department Commander, Past Camp Commander, or seated Camp Commander , Department Commander, elected Department Officer or elected National Officer with automatic credentials by virtue of the office or past honors he holds must be present to vote and cannot be replaced by an alternate.