1. The right of appointing a prior provincial devolves upon the Master of the Order:
   1. when the electors on the day designated for the election neither elect nor postulate but hold seven inconclusive ballots; 
   2. when, for any reason whatsoever, a province has been without a legitimate prior provincial for six months.
2. After the third time an election is confirmed but not accepted, the Master of the Order may appoint a prior provincial, and after a fourth time he must.

If an election is cassated or refused, a new election shall be held before the end of the chapter; or, if the election was held in a simple elective assembly, within a month after the notification of cassation or acceptance of a refusal.

After the letter of confirmation or appointment has been received, the procedure follows that laid down in nn. 469-471.

1. The election itself shall be carried out in accordance with nn. 451 and 452.
2. The document of election in an authentic copy shall be sent to the Master of the Order; another copy shall be preserved in the archives of the province (see n. 453, § I, and Appendix n. 29).

1. The vicar of the province, or a vicar appointed by the Master of the Order for the election, shall preside over the election.
2. Two tellers shall be designated in accord with n. 448, § IV.
3. The person appointed to that office shall perform the secretarial duties. If the election is to be held in a simple elective assembly, the secretary of the conventual council may discharge the office of secretary.

When the election of a prior provincial is to be held in a simple elective assembly, the electors are the brothers who according to our laws constitute a provincial chapter, and thus everything which is prescribed for a provincial chapter, on the convocation of the voters and on the different elections to be held, must be observed.

Delegates have voting rights only in the chapter for which they were elected, in accordance with n. 496, § I and § II.

Testimonial letters of election shall be sent to those elected in accordance with n. 453, § II (see Appendix n. 28).

The provincial chapter or the prior provincial with his council shall divide the voters into several colleges according to number and regions, ensuring that no college has fewer than ten eight voters or more than twenty fifteen. If in a particular region there are fewer than ten eight voters, they shall be added to another electoral college.

1. A socius does not have a vote except in the chapter for which he has been elected. Moreover, his election does not stand if the chapter is delayed beyond a year.
2. If, however, the election of a prior provincial must be held several times because of cassation, or the refusal by the one elected, the same socius shall be admitted to the new election.
3. If an elected socius is impeded before the beginning of a chapter, another may be elected in his place.