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Compliance
LMRDA Title IV Compliance: What Every Union Election Officer Needs to Know
By Sarah Chen·April 8, 2026
LMRDA Title IV governs officer elections for labor unions with 300 or more members. Understanding its requirements is essential for any union election officer.
Secret Ballot Requirements
Every officer election must be conducted by secret ballot. This means no voter can be identified from their ballot. Online voting systems must anonymize ballots before counting — a requirement that paper-based systems often struggle to document.
Notice Requirements
Unions must mail notice of the election to every member at their last known address at least 15 days before the election. This notice must include the date, time, and method of voting.
Documentation Requirements
The DOL can investigate any election within one year of the results being certified. Your documentation must include: voter eligibility list, ballot configuration, tally methodology, chain-of-custody logs, and certified results.
How Votem Helps
Votem's CastIron platform produces a complete LMRDA-compliant documentation package automatically. Every election generates a Board-Defensible Election File that includes all required documentation — ready for DOL review on demand.
Secret Ballot Requirements
Every officer election must be conducted by secret ballot. This means no voter can be identified from their ballot. Online voting systems must anonymize ballots before counting — a requirement that paper-based systems often struggle to document.
Notice Requirements
Unions must mail notice of the election to every member at their last known address at least 15 days before the election. This notice must include the date, time, and method of voting.
Documentation Requirements
The DOL can investigate any election within one year of the results being certified. Your documentation must include: voter eligibility list, ballot configuration, tally methodology, chain-of-custody logs, and certified results.
How Votem Helps
Votem's CastIron platform produces a complete LMRDA-compliant documentation package automatically. Every election generates a Board-Defensible Election File that includes all required documentation — ready for DOL review on demand.