7. The chairman of the Council is elected by and from among the members referred to in the second paragraph of section 6.
The election is held by secret ballot at a meeting called by the secretary of the Community, on his own initiative or at the request of one of the members; sections 25 and 25.1 apply, adapted as required, to the meeting. Each member participating in the election has one vote.
The secretary shall preside at the meeting and establish the nomination and voting procedure. He shall declare elected the person who is the only candidate or who obtains at least six votes. He shall hold as many ballots as are necessary to elect a chairman; he may, at the beginning of the meeting, establish rules according to which the number of candidates diminishes with each ballot.
However, at the beginning of the meeting, the members may, by a simple majority of the votes cast, determine the circumstances in which a drawing of lots, rather than another ballot, will be held in the case of a tie vote following a ballot. If such circumstances arise, the secretary shall establish the procedure for the drawing of lots, hold the draw and declare elected as chairman the person who is favoured by the drawing of lots.
1979, c. 95, s. 31; 1983, c. 29, s. 2; 1990, c. 85, s. 6; 1996, c. 52, s. 1.