WHEN OUR PTO HAD ITS ELECTION LAST YEAR - THAT WAS THE FIRST FOR US AS WE WERE A PTA PREVIOUSLY - THE NOMINATION COMMITTEE - THEY RUN OUR ELECTION PROCESS - WERE GIVEN AN UPDATED COPY OF THE MEMBERSHIP LIST. AS THE MEMBERS ENTER THE MEETING THEY ARE GREETED BY THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE AND ASKED THEIR NAME, THE COMMITTEE CHECKS THEIR LISTING AND CHECKED OFF THEIR NAME,THEY WERE GIVEN A BALLOT AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE IN A SEALED ENVELOPE -NO PEEKING PLEASE- AND PLACED IT IN A BALLOT BOX. A LAST CALL WAS MADE HALF WAY THROUGH THE MEETING AND AFTER BALLOTS WERE COUNTED BY THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE ONLY - THE NEW OFFICERS WERE ANNOUNCED.I HOPE I HAVE BEEN HELPFUL!

Since you have a record of all due paying members, just send them an election ballot at home. They can then bring it to the meeting. Have the ballots numbered so you can tell if they were copies.

I am currently President of my son's elementary school PTO. We've always had a membership drive the beginning of the school year with dues. According to our PTO Bylaws, the "organization" (anyone who belongs to PTO) has voting rights for officer election should there be more than one candidate. My question is how do we know parents who are present at the PTO Meetings are members of the organization? Anyone can attend a PTO Meeting, since students usually perform at these meetings. My husband thinks the present PTO Board should elect the officers, not the organization, but that's not what our Bylaws say. So how do we handle this - ask if everyone at the meeting is a PTO member (not very feasible); allow the PTO Board to elect officers and change our Bylaws? Need help ASAP...many, many thanks!