Sec. 16. In balloting, members entitled to vote shall walk along the border to a point directly in front of the Senior Warden, face east and walk individually to the Altar where, after properly giving the Third Degree sign, he shall cast his vote by dropping a white ball for election or a black cube for rejection of a candidate through the opening in the wall of the uncovered compartment into the covered compartment. He shall then leave the altar and return to his seat. Members from the south side of the hall will vote first with the Secretary leading, when all members in the South voted, then the Treasurer will vote followed by the members from the North side. The Senior Deacon votes last. Every member of a lodge qualified to vote, when present, must vote upon a ballot for the degrees or for affiliation.

In order to be able to participate in the balloting on a petition of a candidate for the degrees of masonry or affiliation, a lodge member must possess all of the following qualifications:

a. He must be a member in good standing, i.e. not suspended for non-payment of dues, fees and other assessments payable to the Grand Lodge (Sec. 4.f., Art. XXI, Part II-Ordinances, Masonic Law Book); or not suspended for failure to attend at least three (3) Stated Meetings of his lodge (Sec. 1.g, Art. XI, Part II-Ordinances, Masonic Law Book); or not suspended for other Masonic offenses. He must be a member in good standing not only in the lodge conducting the balloting but in all of the lodges in which he may be a regular or plural member of. (cf. Sec. 7, Art. VI, Part II-Ordinances, Masonic Law Book);

b. He must have attended an aggregate of at least six (6) Stated Meetings during the 12-month period immediately preceding the date of the balloting or election. In determining or counting the number of stated meetings attended, the month when the balloting or election is scheduled shall be excluded; and

c. He must have passed the proficiency examination for the third degree of masonry (Edict No. 276 MW Rentoy).

The following brethren shall be exempt from the strict application of the "Six Meeting-Rule":

a. Life Members by Longevity (LML) provided they have attended at least three (3) stated meetings; and

b. Those who worked abroad for more than six (6) months during the 12-month period immediately preceding the balloting or lodge elections. Provided they have attended at least three (3) stated meetings.

The foregoing exemptions shall apply only if the following conditions are complied with:

a. That the brother seeking exemption must have a Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) issued by his Mother Lodge and the Dual/Plural Lodge wherein he intends to cast his ballot;

b. That he must have made the Third (3rd) Degree Proficiency Examination; and

c. That his employment abroad must be properly documented and his length of stay outside the country duly established through his passport; (Edict No. 276-A MW Rentoy).