ARTICLE  XV  -  SUCCESSION  OF  OFFICERS

SECTION   l.   PRESIDENT

In the event of a vacancy in the Office of the President, the Vice President shall succeed him for the unexpired term.

SECTION   2.   All other vacancies on the Executive Board will be filled by Presidential Appointment, except as otherwise provided, with the approval of the majority vote of the members of the Executive Board.  Appointment to a non-elective position will not require approval of the  Executive  Board,  except as outlined in Article IX, Section l (a).

ARTICLE  XVI  -  ELECTION  APPEALS

SECTION   l.   The appointment of the election committee shall take place at the March Executive Board meeting prior to the biennial election for local offices. No member of the committee may be a candidate in any election. The President shall appoint (5) members to the election committee subject to Executive Board approval. No committee member may serve in a non-bargaining unit position as per Article III, Section 9 of this Local Constitution. The Election Committee shall be responsible for the conduct of local elections and shall decide all controversies arising out of election processes.  Any member who feels aggrieved in connection with the conduct of a Local election shall file a written protest with the Election Committee within seventy-two (72) hours after his grievance arises.  (For the purpose of this Article, the term "election" shall include nominating procedures). 

 Appeals from decision of the Local Election Committee shall be made to the National Election Appeals Committee described in Section 3 of this Article, shall be in writing, shall set forth all the relevant facts on which the appeal is based and shall be filed with the National Election Appeals Committee within five (5) days from the decision appealed from.

SECTION   2.   Any member who feels aggrieved in connection with the conduct of a national election shall file his grievance with the National Election Appeals Committee within seventy-two (72) hours after his grievance arises.

SECTION   3.   The President of the APWU, with the approval of the National Executive Board, shall appoint a National Election Appeals Committee which shall consist of the President and four (4) additional members. This committee shall have final authority to decided disputes, controversies and appeals arising out of Local, State, Regional and National Elections. The National Election Appeals Committee shall have authority to adopt rules and regulations as it deems desirable to promptly accomplish the objective of this Article. Where the National Appeals Committee finds merit in an appeal it shall have full authority to direct and impose such remedy as it considers necessary or proper.

SECTION   4.   Officers declared elected through applicable procedures of local organization shall assume and hold office pending final determination under the appeals procedure provided in this Article.