Can a balloting be done in an emergency meeting?

A ballot may be taken at an emergency or emergent meeting to elect a candidate, provided proper authority or agreement is established according to the relevant jurisdiction's customs and regulations 12.

Mackey defines an emergent meeting as one specifically called to elect a candidate and confer degrees in cases of emergency or for other sudden causes 2. Historically, the Master and Wardens determined what constituted an emergency, though modern American practice leaves this judgment to the Grand Master through dispensations, whereas under the English Constitution the necessity must be real in the opinion of the Worshipful Master 2.

Historical lodge records demonstrate how local procedures managed such ballots. In one instance under a District Grand Lodge, when candidates had not been proposed in open lodge beforehand, a ballot at an emergent meeting was permitted provided all brethren present unanimously agreed to it 1. However, Masonic writers noted that frequent reliance on emergency dispensations was criticized by many in the Craft, as bypassing the standard period of character investigation risked introducing unworthy members and prevented candidates from fully appreciating the principles of the degrees 2.