N.Y. Religious Corporations Law § 164: Organization and conduct of corporate meetings; qualifications of voters

§ 164. Organization and conduct of corporate meetings; qualifications

of voters. At every corporate meeting of a church to which this article

is applicable the following persons, and no others shall be qualified

voters, to wit: all persons who are then members in good and regular

standing of such church by admission into full communion or membership

therewith in accordance with the by-laws thereof, provided that if the

by-laws so provide, persons who have statedly worshiped with such church

and have regularly contributed to its financial support for not less

than one year preceding such meeting shall also be qualified voters.

At such corporate meetings, the presence of at least six persons

qualified to vote thereat shall be necessary to constitute a quorum; and

all matters or questions shall be decided by a majority of the qualified

voters voting thereon, except that by-laws can be adopted or amended

only by a two-thirds vote. The clerk of the corporation shall call the

meeting to order; and under his supervision the qualified voters then

present shall choose a presiding officer and two inspectors of election

to receive the ballots cast. The presiding officer and the inspectors of

election shall declare the result of the ballots cast on any matter and

shall be the judges of the qualifications of voters. At each annual

corporate meeting, successors to those trustees whose terms of office

then expire shall be elected by ballot from the qualified voters, for a

term of three years thereafter, and until their successors shall be

elected. A clerk of the corporation shall be elected by ballot, who

shall hold office until the closing of the next annual meeting, and

until his successor shall be elected.