Title 39, Postal ServiceRelease 119-102
§1204 Elections
Title 39 › PART II — PERSONNEL › CHAPTER 12 — EMPLOYEE-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS › § 1204
Summary
Elections must be run by the National Labor Relations Board or people it picks, and voting must be by secret ballot. Each eligible worker can pick any union on the ballot or choose “no union.” If no choice gets a majority, there must be a runoff between the top 2 choices. Ties mean more runoffs until one choice wins a majority. No election may be held in a bargaining unit if a valid election occurred in the prior 12-month period.
Full Legal Text
Title 39, §1204
Postal Service, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)All elections authorized under this chapter shall be conducted under the supervision of the National Labor Relations Board, or persons designated by it, and shall be by secret ballot. Each employee eligible to vote shall be provided the opportunity to choose the labor organization he wishes to represent him, from among those on the ballot, or “no union”.
(b)In any election where none of the choices on the ballot receives a majority, a runoff shall be conducted, the ballot providing for a selection between the 2 choices receiving the largest and second largest number of valid votes cast in the election. In the event of a tie vote, additional runoff elections shall be conducted until one of the choices has received a majority of the votes.
(c)No election shall be held in any bargaining unit within which, in the preceding 12-month period, a valid election has been held.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective July 1, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note preceding section 101 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
39 U.S.C. § 1204
Title 39, Postal Service
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102