Elections 2022

ELECTIONS AT THE EIGHTEENTH SESSION OF GENERAL SYNOD

Results of Election conducted on Wednesday 11 May 2022
Results of Election conducted on Thursday 12 May 2022

Nominated persons for Elections

The list of Nominated persons for Elections is available at 11 May 2022

Notice of Elections

The Notice of Elections for the Eighteenth Session of General Synod was issued with the Primate’s Mandate on 15 November 2021

Further Information on each ballot and access to nominations forms can be accessed at the following links:

• The Standing Committee of General Synod
• The Board of Assessor (Appellate Tribunal)
• Panel of Electors of the Primate
• Long Service Leave Board
• Australian College of Theology Ltd
• Defence Force Board
• The Appellate Tribunal – Member
• The Appellate Tribunal – Reserve List
• Panel for the Special Tribunal

Election Timetable

The following timetable is proposed for the conduct of elections under Rule III

• Nominations for the Appellate Tribunal – Member, Appellate Tribunal – Reserve List, Panel for the Special Tribunal and Standing Committee will close at 7.30pm on Monday 9 May 2022.
• Nominations for all other elections under Rule III will close at 1.30pm on Tuesday 10 May 2022
• Lists of nominations will be posted on a noticeboard in the Synod Hall and published on the GS18 Portal as soon as practicable on Tuesday 10 May 2022
• Voting will take place between 10.30am and 6:30pm on Wednesday 11 May 2022 for all ballots other than the ballots for membership of the Appellate Tribunal and the Panel for the Special Tribunal which will take place between 8.00am to 1.30pm on Thursday 12 May 2022.
• Election results will be announced as soon as practicable thereafter.

A motion to this effect will appear in the Business Paper for the First Day.

Determination of Results

Where the number of candidates for any office does not exceed or is less than the number of persons required to be elected, the President shall declare the candidates duly elected.

Scrutineers appointed by the President will count the votes for any ballot required.

In the event of candidates having an equal number of votes, the President has a casting vote.

Any matter impacting on the outcome of an election will be considered by the Committee of Elections and Qualifications appointed under Standing Order No7.  The Committee shall report to the Synod if it is in session and if not to the General Synod Standing Committee.

The General Synod Standing Committee will appoint persons to fill vacancies not filled at General Synod.

National Register Checks for Candidates

Subject to amendment of Rule III at GS18, Rule III will require checks of the National Register in respect of candidates for election to all General Synod bodies.  Currently Rule III only requires National Register Checks for candidates for appointment to the Appellate Tribunal, Panel for the Special Tribunal and the Standing Committee.

A bill to amend Rule III will be considered on the first day of business.  In anticipation of the bill to amend the Rule passing, all nominated candidates are required to acknowledge that the General Secretary will disclose whether there is any, and if so what, Information in the National Register relating to the candidate to the house of the General Synod entitled to vote or the members of the General Synod as the case may be.

Online Election Process

Subject to amendment of Rule III at GS18, the elections will be conducted online using a unique voter identification system which prohibits the opportunity to vote more than once.  Each voter will receive a secure link by email providing online access to complete and submit the ballot papers online from a computer, laptop or smart device.

Any General Synod member, eligible to vote, without access to a computer, laptop or smart device will be provided with their voter identification and access to an iPad in a room designated for voting.

Should the Bill amending Rule III for this purpose not pass on the first day of business, printed ballot papers will be prepared and manual voting arrangements put in pace.

Nomination Forms

Only members of Synod eligible to vote in the relevant election may nominate a candidate for election to that office: ie If an office is elected by a vote of the members of the House of Clergy, only a member of the House of Clergy can nominate a candidate for stand for that election.

Nominators should note that some offices can only be filled by members of a particular House of General Synod.  Some offices can be filled by ‘lay members of the church’ or ‘members of clergy’ who need not be members of General Synod.  Other offices must meet specific qualifications.

Please review the candidate qualifications for each election carefully to avoid invalid nominations.

Nomination forms, signed by the nominee, may be submitted by the deadline in hard copy at the General Synod session or scanned versions can be emailed to the Secretaries of Synod at GS18elections@anglican.org.au

Each election has a designated nomination form which can be downloaded from this portal.

Profiles

Profiles of nominees who are General Synod members are linked to their name in the list of General Synod members on this Portal.

Profiles of nominees who are not General Synod members are listed below:

Mr Mark Francis

The Rev’d Canon Victor Joseph

His Honour Judge Kevin Lapthorn