Correction: This story has been updated to correct the total votes received in the U.S. Auto Workers Federation election after misinformation was published in the public report. As of November 23, more than 138,000 votes have been received.

The deadline for members of the American Federation of Auto Workers to vote on whether to implement direct elections of international union leaders or maintain the current representation-based system is Monday.

The ballots were issued in late October based on the list of members provided by the UAW, which has no effect in calculating or reporting the referendum. Ballots must be returned to the independent election provider Merriman River Group by 10 AM on November 29 (without postmark). After that, Merriman River Group will begin tabulating the results as soon as possible under the supervision of the UAW inspector and the Office of Labor Management Standards of the U.S. Department of Labor.

According to the Federal Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, individuals or groups from one or the other that are registered with the inspector to support the referendum issue can also register with the inspector to observe the counting of votes.

An election triggered by a corruption scandal within the UAW could reshape the leadership of one of the country's most influential unions, which has nearly 1 million members and retirees. The ruling International Executive Committee has been dominated by Reuther or the Administrative Caucus for 70 years, which advocates the continuation of the system of local trade unions electing representatives to represent them in the constitutional convention that elects international leaders.

Proponents of the direct “one member, one vote” model say this will make officials more accountable to members, although some people worry that it may weaken the union’s power at the bargaining table and open the way for other types of corruption through campaign funding. , And this is not t mentioned on the ballot.

The direct election system will still use local trade union representatives to pass resolutions, decide on constitutional changes, and elect international trustees.

Once the tabulation is complete, the ombudsman and New York lawyer Neil Barowski will announce the unofficial results. OLMS and the Federal District Court must approve the final result. According to the most recent six-month report of monitors, as of November 23, more than 138,000 votes have been received.