Ordination

1. In every provincial chapter, two diffinitors general and two socii must be elected. Those elected in the first place shall be considered elected for the first chapter in which diffinitors will take part whether it is an elective chapter or a chapter of diffinitors only; those elected in the second place shall be considered elected for the second such chapter unless, before they exercise their office, another provincial chapter intervenes.
2. Three different brothers must be elected as socii of the diffinitors and socius of the prior provincial.
    

1. The election of councillors, if any are to be elected (see n. 357), shall be held in the same manner as the election of diffinitors. Substitute provincial councillors shall also be elected in the provincial chapter according to the number and manner indicated by provincial statute; they shall be proposed as substitutes, with the approval of the Master of the Order, for those who cease from the council for any reason whatsoever.
2. All brothers who have passive voice and are assigned in the province may be elected; so may members of the province assigned to houses or convents under the immediate jurisdiction of the Master of the Order, provided that they do not belong to the general council, even if in the preceding fouryear term they exercised the same office under any title whatsoever.

If, during the chapter, any one of the elected diffinitors is unable to serve, another may immediately be chosen in his place by the same voters.

During the chapter, the diffinitors take first place everywhere after the prior provincial, and among themselves according to the order of profession.

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.