Social elections 2012: Composition of the polling station, postal voting, final modifications to candidate lists.

Election day ("Y) is looming! However, there are still some important dates to mark on the calendar. Below we list the next steps to be taken.

• Designating the members of the polling station has to be done at the latest on day X+54 (between 1 and 14 April). By day X+60 (between 7 and 20 April), the Works Council or the Committee, or if these bodies do not exist, the employer, must post up a notice detailing the composition of the polling station and the division of voters per polling station. By day X+70 (between 17 and 30 April) the organizations representing workers and those representing the executives can designate as election witnesses as many workers as there are polling stations and an equal number of substitute witnesses.
• Postal voting can be allowed under the following circumstances:
  • there is a considerable dispersion of the staff members;
  • the voter's employment contract is suspended;
  • night work (under certain conditions);
  • in the event workers do not work during the opening hours of the polling station.

A written agreement regarding postal voting concluded between the employer and all the organizations that presented candidates is necessary at the latest on day X+56 (between 3 and 16 April).

• The candidate lists may still be modified after an internal claim or due to an appeal before the labour tribunal against the list of candidates presented. In addition, until day X + 76 (between 23 April and 6 May) the candidates can be replaced in the five following situations:
  • decease;
  • resignation of the worker;
  • resignation of the organization that presented the candidate;
  • withdrawal of the candidature;
  • change in the category.

As of day X + 77 (between 24 April and 7 May) no modification of the candidate list is allowed.