Judge Overturns Rules on Union Elections WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal judge on Monday struck down new regulations governing union elections, saying the National Labor Relations Board did not follow proper voting procedures when it approved the rules last year. Judge James E. Boasberg of United States District Court said the board had lacked a quorum when it voted on the rules that expedite union representation elections. He did not address the merits of the rules and said the board could simply vote again. Business groups and Republicans had challenged the rules, which took effect April 30, saying they did not give managers enough time to counter union organizers. Unions contend the new rules curb needless litigation used to stall the election process. But the judge dealt only with a technical problem. When the rules were approved in December, the five-member board had three members, two Democrats and a Republican. Federal law requires a quorum of at least three members to consider new rules. Judge Boasberg found that the Republican, Brian Hayes, had not technically participated in a final vote on the rule. When the rule was sent to Mr. Hayes electronically, he never formally voted because he already had expressed his opposition to it at a public hearing. But that did not satisfy the strict requirements of the law, Judge Boasberg ruled. Nancy Cleeland, a labor board spokeswoman, did not have any immediate comment. Under the decision, the old rules apply. The A.F.L.-C.I.O."s general counsel, Lynn Rhinehart, called the ruling "flat-out wrong."