(a) All retired members of the New York State Teachers' Retirement System as of October 1st of the year in which the election is held shall be entitled to vote in the election.

(b) The election shall be by secret, written ballot in a form prescribed by the system.

(c) The names of candidates and alternate candidates on the ballot shall be listed in the order in which the petitions on their behalf have been filed with the system.

(d) Ballots shall be mailed by first class mail on or after October 1st but no later than October 15th.

(e) In order to be eligible to be counted in the election, ballots must be delivered by October 31st or sent by mail postmarked no later than October 31st and received no later than the Saturday before the day on which the election is certified. All ballots shall be delivered or mailed to a location within New York State designated by the system for the purposes of counting the ballots and certifying the election.

(f) If only one candidate is nominated, no election shall be held and the candidate shall be deemed to have been elected.

(g) Anything in the foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, the Retirement Board may by resolution establish an alternative procedure for the conduct of an election by electronic or other means which provide comparable security and convenience for voting by retired teachers.