State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > New-jersey > Title-16 > Section-16-12 > 16-12-10

16:12-10.  Annual parish election;  notice;  officers;  qualifications of voters;  ballot;  quorum;  by-law regarding wardens or vestrymen
    The annual election of any such parish shall be held on such day as may be designated in its certificate of incorporation, if consistent with the constitution, canons or laws of such church.  Notice of the time and place of the annual election shall be given by advertisement set up in open view at the door of the church or usual place of worship, 10 days prior to the election and  shall also be read by the rector or officiating minister on the 2 Sundays next  preceding the election, in time of public service.

    The rector shall preside, with the right to vote, or if he is absent or if no rector is settled in the parish, the meeting shall choose 1 of the wardens, or if neither of the wardens is present, 1 of the vestrymen, or if no vestryman  is present, then some duly qualified voter to act as chairman. The secretary  of the vestry, or in his absence a person appointed by the chairman, shall  enter the proceedings in the minute book of the vestry, and shall sign the same  together with the chairman.  The qualifications for voters, and for such  officers as may be elected by the meeting, shall be as provided from time to  time by the constitution and canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the  diocese in which the parish is located;  provided, however, that, at any annual  parish meeting held for the election of wardens or vestrymen, a by-law may be  adopted providing that no warden or vestryman who has been duly elected at any  parish meeting may succeed himself, which by-law shall remain in full force and  effect until repealed at a subsequent annual parish meeting.  The chairman  shall be the judge of the qualifications of the voters, shall receive the votes  and declare the result.  The election shall be by ballot, and the polls shall  remain open for   1/2   hour, and for such longer time as may be required to  receive the ballots of the persons present and ready to vote.  Three persons  shall constitute a quorum.  In case of failure to elect on the first ballot the required number of wardens or vestrymen to be elected at the meeting, 1 or more  further ballots shall be taken in the same manner.

     Amended by L.1949, c. 212, p. 688, s. 1;  L.1961, c. 114, p. 710, s. 2, eff. Nov. 29, 1961.