For some election officials preparing a notice of nominations is the first step in the election process. Since federal law requires that unions give members a reasonable opportunity to nominate candidates of their choice, election officials must provide a timely notice of nominations to all members, even if the union's constitution and by laws indicate that nominations will occur in a predetermined month. Although the law does not define what constitutes reasonable notice of nominations, U.S. Department of Labor regulations require that the nomination notice be given in a manner reasonably calculated to reach all members in good standing. In some cases election officials may have to make a special effort to notify members, but in most unions it is a relatively easy task to make sure that all members know about nominations and have an opportunity to participate.

Requirements

                   The nomination notice should specify the offices to be filled in the election (and identify any offices for which the officer is a delegate by virtue of election to office). It should also include the date, time, place, and method for submitting nominations (by mail, petition, or orally at a meeting including details such as whether a nomination must be seconded, number of signatures required on a petition, etc.). See Figure 3 - Nomination Notice.

                   A number of methods may be used for giving notice of nominations including: mailing a notice to the last known home address of each member, timely publishing a notice in the union's newspaper, posting or distributing a notice at the work site(s), or other methods reasonably calculated to inform all members in good standing.

                   The nomination notice (unlike an election notice) does not have to be given at least 15 days before nominations but the notice must be given in accordance with any requirement in the union's constitution and bylaws and must allow enough time for members to have a reasonable opportunity to nominate candidates of their choice.

                   A union must take steps to notify sick, laid-off, or other nonworking members who may be eligible to nominate candidates but who might not ordinarily see a notice posted only at the work site(s) or union hall.

                   A union may mail a combined notice of both nominations and election if it gives members a reasonable time to nominate candidates and also meets all the requirements for election notices.

Source - http://www.dol.gov/esa/olms/regs/compliance/localelec/localelec.htm#ch2