Elections - by the time you've started to figure your role out it's time to start planning for next year! 

23rd District's Elections Resources - California PTA Elections

Google Sheet Form for Incoming Board + Updating Roster:
Click to open in a new Google Sheets tab, then hit File -> Download or File -> Make a Copy for your unit. 

Nominating Commitee

The Nominating Committee is essentially the "talent scout" for your PTA. Because they select the leaders who will shape your organization’s future, it’s vital that committee members know their stuff and truly represent the community they serve.

Here is a breakdown of how this unique committee operates:

Unlike most PTA committees, the Nominating Committee has a very specific set of guardrails to ensure fairness:

• Elected, Not Appointed: The President does not choose this committee. Instead, the general membership elects the committee members at least two months before the election meeting.

• Check the Bylaws: The exact number of members and alternates required is listed in Article V of your unit’s bylaws.

• Presidential Boundary: The President does not serve as an ex-officio member. To keep things unbiased, they stay out of this committee's deliberations entirely.

• One-and-Done: You cannot serve on this committee two years in a row. It’s a one-year term to keep perspectives fresh.

• Strict Confidentiality: What happens in Nominating Committee stays in Nominating Committee. Discussions about potential candidates are strictly private.

Important Deadlines

The committee has a tight schedule to ensure everything is ready for the upcoming school year.

Why the secrecy?

The only official communication the association receives is the Report of the Nominating Committee. By keeping the process confidential and sticking to these timelines, you protect the privacy of potential nominees and ensure a professional, drama-free transition for your new board.

Elections Scripts & Scenarios

23rd District has produced a great packet of info, including scripts based on your bylaw template year: https://www.rcpta.org/uploads/1/2/7/6/127605392/23rd_district_-_nominating_committee.pdf_-_23rd_district_-_nominating_committee__2021_.pdf 

San Diego United Councils PTA has a great primer for this when things didn’t timeline as planned…

We didn’t elect a Nominating Committee: No problem – get the word out about the General Election of Officers. Make sure you give 28 days notice for the officer election and let members know that all nominations will be coming from the floor. Be sure that you have a current list of PTA members. Voters still must be members 28 days prior to the election.

We didn’t slate all officer positions with candidates – Sometimes the Nomination Committee slate of candidates is a little light. As in the case above – get the word out about the election and let your members know which Executive Board positions are still not slated. Send out the list of Candidate that are slated so that members know who is interested in the various positions.

We didn’t find a candidate for President – Just because the PTA does not have a candidate for President in March does not mean that the PTA will not have a president in June. In this case too, run the election and elect the rest of the incoming board. If no one volunteers from the floor, it is the job of the incoming board members to find a President and they have some time to do so. Reach out to LEPTSA and we will be happy to assist! 

We didn’t get quorum for our election – Make sure your election has some fanfare or a program attached to the meeting which brings members in. If you missed your election, immediately choose a new election date and get the word out. Since you have already given 28 advance notice for elections, the next meeting can be scheduled for the next day, the next week or at a time that you think will get the most interested members in attendance. This rule stands for Nominating Committee Election and Officer Elections. 

Texas State PTA has an excellent script (second page) for if there was no nominating committee and all nominations are handled from the floor.