Electors and Those Eligible

In every election, only those who have active voice in the Order and belong to the elective chapter may cast a vote.

To have active voice one must be solemnly professed and must meet the requirements of common law.

The following lack active voice:

1. anyone who is exclaustrated, for the duration of the indult and for a year from the date of his return;
2. anyone who has requested exclaustration or secularisation, from the moment that his request is sent by the prior provincial to the Master of the Order;
3. anyone who has permission from his major superior to live outside a convent of the Order (CCL 665, § 1) unless this permission was granted for the sake of his health, by reason of study, or to carry out an apostolate in the name of the Order;
4. anyone who has left the Order illegitimately, for five years from the date of his return, unless the prior provincial with his council, having examined the circumstances, shall have extended or even shortened the time, provided that the returning member remains without voting rights for at least three years from the date of his return;
5. anyone who has been legitimately deprived of active voice.

1. No one may grant voting rights in an election to any brother who according to our laws does not belong to the elective chapter or who lacks active voice.
2. During the two months before an election, affiliations, assignments, or the conferring of any offices which of their nature give or take away the right to vote in any chapter shall not be easily made.

1. For a person to have passive voice, he must already have active voice, unless another arrangement has been made.
2. When it is a question of the election of superiors, in order for one to be elected or postulated, it is also required:
   1. that he be a priest;
   2. that he be solemnly professed for three years;
   3. that he have the Order’s approval for hearing confessions.

Major superiors may not propose a candidate to the electors except in case of necessity. Then they shall propose at least three, though the electors may elect someone else.