FreemasonryGPT

What are the rules governing the balloting process for candidates?
According to the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Antient, Free & Accepted Masons of India:

• Every candidate for initiation must be proposed and seconded at a regular meeting only and must be balloted for at the next regular meeting (Rule 135).
• If the ballot is not taken, the proposal shall lapse.
• The particulars required of the candidate, as well as of his proposer and seconder, shall be furnished to the Secretary of the Lodge previously to the meeting at which the proposal is to be made.
• The proposer and seconder must be personally known to the candidate and must be able to state that he is a man of good reputation (Rule 135).
• The ballot shall proceed in such a manner that a simple majority of members present and voting is required for a candidate to be accepted (Rule 140).
• If a candidate is not initiated within one year after his election, the election shall be void (Rule 135).

These rules ensure a fair and structured process for evaluating candidates seeking initiation into the Lodge.