What happens when all parties agree to an election?
The parties are encouraged to enter into a voluntary election agreement. These agreements concern the details and procedures of a representation election in an appropriate unit. See Section 2422.16(a) of the Regulations. If the parties are unable to agree on procedural matters — the eligibility period (the payroll period during which an employee must be in an employment status with an agency or activity to be eligible to vote in a representation election), method of election, dates, hours, locations of the election — the Regional Director decides the election procedure and issues a Direction of Election without prejudice to the rights of a party to file objections to the procedural conduct of the election. The parties have an opportunity to have a hearing on any non-procedural matters. See Section 2422.16(c) of the Regulations.
