It is envisaged that ballots will be held entirely by post for several years, until the technology allows cost-effective and secure electronic ballots. In any case, Members without access to the Internet will continue to be able to vote by post. Any legal restrictions on this facility still have to be identified. This provision will enable voting Members to take part in decisions, whether or not they can attend the conference. It provides for Council to meet annually, compared with every two years at present.
Annual meetings are a requirement under Dutch law.
Entitlements to attendance and to speak at Council are clarified. This is the equivalent of Article 12. It enables the current system of allocation of votes to Association Members to continue, but it would also allow increases to the allocation of votes to Institutional Members in future, if this were thought to be desirable. It also would allow Personal Affiliates to vote in postal ballots in elections to Section Standing Committees, where the number of candidates exceeded the number of places, again if this were to be agreed in future. In other words, it is a more flexible provision, allowing for development.