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Legends of Hockey - Induction Showcase - Election Procedures
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HOCKEY HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM
Summary of Nomination and Election Procedures
(including excerpts from By-law No. 28)

The following is a summary of the salient nomination criteria and election procedures applicable to candidates eligible for Honoured Membership in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Please refer to By-law No. 28 for the full scope of the selection process and for further clarification, where required.

Basis of Selection of Candidates

The following attributes provide the basis on which the election of nominees to Honoured Membership are to be considered:

CATEGORY ATTRIBUTES
Player  Playing ability, sportsmanship, character and contributions to his or her team or teams and to the game of hockey in general.
Builder Coaching, managerial or executive ability, or ability in another significant off-ice role, sportsmanship, character and contributions to his or her organization or organizations and to the game of hockey in general.
Referee or Linesman Officiating ability, sportsmanship, character and contributions to his or her organization or organizations and to the game of hockey in general.


Eligibility for Election

A person who is or has been distinguished in any of the above disciplines is eligible for election provided he or she meets the following eligibility criteria:

CATEGORY CRITERIA
Player Must have not played in a professional or international hockey game(a) during any of the three (3) playing seasons prior to his or her election.
Builder May be active or inactive at the time of his or her election.
Referee or Linesman Must have not participated as a referee or linesman in a professional or international hockey game(a) during any of the three (3) playing seasons prior to his or her election.

(a) Excluding games played only or primarily for charitable or recreational purposes, or any other limited purpose that the Chair of the Board of Directors determines should not disqualify a person otherwise eligible.


Annual Maximum Number of Candidates Elected

The maximum number of candidates that can be elected each year in each category is as follows:

CATEGORY MAXIMUM
Player Four (4) male inductees and Two (2) female inductees.
Builder Two (2) inductees if no candidate is duly elected in the Referee or Linesman Category or One (1) inductee if a candidate is duly elected in the Referee or Linesman Category.
Referee or Linesman One (1) inductee.


Nomination of Candidates

ONLY members of the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee may submit official nominations of candidates for election into Honoured Membership (such nominations are considered at the Annual Elections Meeting of the Selection Committee).

Each member of the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee may not make more than:

(a) one (1) nomination for election in the Player Category;

(b) one (1) nomination for election in the Builder Category; and

(c) one (1) nomination for election in the Referee or Linesman Category,

for each annual election proceeding.

Nominations from members of the Selection Committee shall be made annually in writing and must be filed with the Chair of the Board of Directors or Selection Committee no later than midnight (Toronto time) on April 15 in each year. A nomination shall be valid and effective only for the annual election proceedings in the calendar year that such nomination is filed.

Unless otherwise approved by the Board of Directors, the Annual Elections Meeting is held in June and the Annual Induction Ceremony is held in November.

Members of the Selection Committee shall be provided with the fullest possible data concerning the record and the merits for each candidate nominated.

The Hockey Hall of Fame has established certain criteria with respect to the circulation of public submissions to the Selection Committee. Qualifying public submissions must be received by March 15 in each year to be circulated prior to the aforesaid April 15 nomination deadline. Click here for public submissions policy.

Balloting Procedures

In each category of Honoured Membership, unless the maximum number of candidates is elected on the first ballot, one or more successive run-off ballots are held until a "final ballot" occurs, in which event no further balloting in such category is conducted thereafter.

The "final ballot" is the one (i) after the conduct of which the maximum number of candidates who may be elected has been elected, (ii) on which the number of candidates was less than or equal to the number of candidates who could then have been elected without exceeding the applicable maximum, or (iii) the result of which is that all remaining candidates are dropped from further balloting.

Elections shall be held firstly in respect of the Player Category, secondly in respect of the Referee or Linesman category (to determine if the cap in the Builder Category is 2 or 1) and finally in respect of the Builder Category.

Each vote is by secret ballot and each member of the Selection Committee is entitled to vote for the maximum number of candidates applicable in each category.

Any candidate receiving 75% or more votes from members of the Selection Committee present shall be declared elected.

On the first ballot or a run-off ballot on which a candidate is elected, then unless either such ballot is the final ballot, a run-off ballot or further run-off ballot shall be conducted involving all remaining applicable candidates not elected on such first ballot or run-off ballot.

If no candidate is elected on the first ballot or a run-off ballot, then unless either such ballot is the final ballot, any candidate receiving no votes and the candidate or candidates receiving the lowest number of votes above zero (0) shall be dropped from further consideration and balloting continues until the final ballot, except that:

(i) if all candidates receive the same number of votes on such ballot, or
(ii) if two or more candidates receive the lowest number of votes on such ballot and the aggregate number of other candidates appearing on such ballot or already elected on a previous ballot is fewer than the number of candidates who may be elected given the applicable maximum,
then a tie-breaker ballot or series of tie-breaker ballots shall be conducted between or among those candidates so tied with the same or lowest number of votes and each member of the selection committee shall be entitled to vote for the number of such candidates on the first tie-breaker ballot.

Any candidate receiving fewer than 75% of the votes on a tie-breaker ballot resulting from the circumstances in the preceding paragraph shall be dropped from further consideration. If no candidate is dropped from the first tie-breaker ballot, then the candidate or candidates receiving the lowest number of votes on such tie-breaker ballot shall be dropped from further balloting, except that:

(i) if two (2) or more candidates are tied in receiving the lowest number of votes; and
(ii) the aggregate of (a) the number of candidates already elected in the applicable category, (b) the number of candidates in such category still eligible and not involved on such tie-breaker ballot and (c) the number of candidates, if any, receiving more votes on such tie-breaker ballot are less than the applicable maximum number,
then a further tie-breaker ballot shall be conducted between or among only the candidates so tied and on such further tie-breaker ballot each member of the Selection Committee may vote for the number of candidates so tied, minus one (1). Tie-breaker ballots shall continue with each member of the Selection Committee entitled to vote for the number of candidates who could be selected on the previous tie-breaker ballot, minus one (1), until such tie is broken or until the number of votes that each member of the Selection Committee is entitled to cast is zero (0), in which latter event both or all such candidates so tied shall be dropped from further balloting.

No candidate may be elected on any tie-breaker ballot regardless of the number of votes he or she receives. Surviving a tie-breaker ballot merely entitles such candidate to proceed to the next regular ballot.

If, after the normal course of balloting in any given year, the number of male or female player inductees is fewer than the maximum number of candidates who can be elected, respectively, further balloting may be conducted under certain conditions only involving any candidates who have been eligible for fifteen (15) years or more, but in no such event shall such further balloting result in the election of a number of candidates exceeding the such applicable maximum.

Proceedings Confidential

The names of candidates who are nominated for election as Honoured Members, but who are not elected as such, shall not be disclosed at any time to any person other than representatives of the Hockey Hall of Fame limited to members of the Selection Committee, members of the Board, executive officers and such employees or service providers of materials to the Selection Committee in respect of nominations, meetings or other proceedings as may be designated from time to time by the president. Candidates who are nominated for election as Honoured Members, but who are not elected as such, shall not be advised of their nomination and at no time shall such representatives of the Corporation disclose to any person (except to others among such representatives) whether any particular eligible candidate has or has not been nominated in any particular year (notwithstanding that a list of eligible candidates or confirmation of any particular candidate’s eligibility for nomination may be disclosed or released for general publication).

No member of the Selection Committee or any other person present at the election meeting shall disclose to any person any comments, opinions or other particulars from the Selection Committee’s deliberations concerning any candidate or how any member of the Selection Committee voted on the election of any candidate or any other particulars of the balloting on all candidates. After the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee has completed all balloting for election into Honoured Membership, the Chair of the Board of Directors or an alternate person designated by the Chair shall then release the names of those elected for general publication.

After the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee has completed all balloting for election into Honoured Membership, the Chair of the Board of Directors or an alternate person designated by the Chair shall then release the names of those elected for general publication.

When a person is elected as an Honoured Member, the name of such person shall be duly certified by the Chair of the Board of Directors for official enrolment into Honoured Membership and all necessary action shall be taken for induction of such person at the next annual Induction Ceremony.



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