In every secret ballot election which is subject to the Act, the
ballots and all other records pertaining to the election must be
preserved for one year. \51\ The responsibility for preserving the
records is that of the election officials designated in the constitution
and bylaws of the labor organization or, if none is so designated, its
secretary. Since the Act specifies that ballots must be retained, all
ballots, marked or unmarked, must be preserved. Independent
certification as to the number and kind of ballots destroyed may not be
substituted for preservation. In addition, ballots which have been
voided, for example, because they were received late or because they
were cast for an ineligible candidate, must also be preserved.
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\51\ Act, section 401(e).
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