Guidelines: Elections

Election Guidelines -- excerpted from the Constitution and By-laws (available at the bottom of this page)

VII. Election and Recall Procedures

(1) Elections shall be conducted in accordance with the AFT Constitution and the standards set out by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA).

a. The USFFA-PT Elections Committee shall conduct all general and special elections and referenda of the organization.

b. The Elections Committee shall also establish additional election rules as needed. Such rules may not conflict with the LRMDA, the AFT constitution, the constitution of the USFFA-PT local 4269a, and the procedures outlined herein.

c. The Executive Committee and Policy Board shall create an elections committee of at least two members and as many as three if necessary. No candidate shall serve on the Elections Committee.

d. Elections will be held every two years. The two year term begins June 1 and ends May 31. Elections shall be held no earlier than April 1 and no later than the last day of spring classes.

e. Dues must be deducted at least 30 days prior to an election in order for an adjunct faculty to become a voting member of the Association.

f. Candidates from the USF main campus or branch campuses may choose to run either at large or as a representative from a college with which they are associated: Arts and Sciences, Nursing and Health Professions, Education, or Management.

g. Any member of the Elections Committee nominated for or seeking office must vacate their position and will be replaced by a member nominated by the president and approved by the Executive Committee and Policy Board.

h. When resolving issues related to the election process, the Elections Committee should consult with officials from the CFT or AFT. The committee should not confer with individual candidates for office, unless conferring with all candidates.

i. Candidates for office may inspect the membership list once within the thirty (30) days prior to the election. Candidates may have election observers.

j. The Elections Committee may rely on services provided by a third party administrator.

(2) Nominations

a. The Elections Committee shall begin its election procedures for members of the Executive Committee and Policy Board by soliciting names of eligible individuals interested in serving. Nominations may be submitted electronically or at a membership meeting, usually at least three (3) weeks before elections.

b. At least ten (10) days prior to the opening of nominations, the Elections Committee shall notify all members of the opening of nominations for officers, the offices to be filled, the necessary qualifications for nomination and election to such offices, and the date of the election. Notification may be provided electronically.

c. Members nominated to run for office must affirmatively accept their nomination within twenty four (24) hours of the close of nominations. Acceptance of the nomination indicates a good faith to serve the entire term if elected.

d. The Elections Committee shall determine whether the nominations were timely and if each nominee is eligible to run for office.

(3) Campaign

a. Candidates for election may write short, optional platform statements for inclusion on information distributed electronically twice prior to issuance of the ballot. The statement may include a short biography, policy views or other relevant information for the voters. Materials will be submitted to the Election Committee, which will distribute the literature electronically. Sitting officers shall not review, control, or repress campaign literature of other candidates.

b. Candidates for election may choose to distribute campaign material by U.S. Mail, at their own expense. Information regarding costs and procedures will be provided by the Elections Committee.

(4) Voting

a. At least fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the election, the Elections Committee shall notify all members of the upcoming election by first class U.S. Mail to the members’ last known home address: the offices to be filled, the necessary qualifications for election to such offices, and the date of the election. If known, the names of candidates may be included. Should changes to the LRMDA permit electronic notification rather than first class U.S. Mail, this shall be allowed.

b. At least three (3) days prior to the election, the Elections Committee shall notify all members of the election date and the candidates for offices. This reminder may be distributed by email, the Association’s website, electronic newsletter, member mailboxes, and/or U.S. mail.

c. The Elections Committee shall issue blank ballots to all eligible to vote. Appended to each ballot shall be a list of all individuals nominated. A professional third party election administrator may be retained for electronic or other voting, providing a LMRDA compliant process.

d. The Elections Committee shall prepare and provide ballots by U.S. Mail or electronically to all members in good standing for the proceeding thirty (30) days, in such manner as to ensure the secrecy of the ballot. In the case of U.S. Mail, the period between the mailing and return date for the ballots shall be no fewer than twenty (20) calendar days.

e. Candidates for the office of representative of a college shall be elected by the membership from the college in which they serve. No member may cast a vote for a representative candidate from outside their college, except for At-Large seats.

f. Candidates for the At-Large representative shall be elected by the entire membership.

g. The ballots shall be tabulated by the Elections Committee, and a majority of the ballots cast shall determine the outcome of the election. In the absence of a majority, the Elections Committee shall conduct a run-off election between the two candidates who have received the most votes for the office in question. The Elections Committee may rely on results provided by a third party administrator.

(5) Results and Challenges

a. The Elections Committee shall tally the votes cast or receive third party administrator results and publish and distribute the results to the membership within five (5) days after the close of voting. The individual receiving the greatest number of votes shall be the winner for each position of President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary on the Executive Committee. The Policy Board winners shall be the top three candidates who receive the most votes running for Policy Board seats and who represent Arts and Sciences. The other three Policy Board winners shall be one individual each from the School of Management, the School of Education, and the School of Nursing and Health Professions, who wins the most votes. The At Large winner shall be the candidate who receive the most votes running for the At Large seat. In the case of a draw, a run-off election shall be held.

b. Challenges and objections to the election must be submitted in writing, with a statement of supporting reasons that includes specific facts as well as any documentation, to the Elections Committee within five (5) days of the results announcement. The Elections Committee shall issue its written opinion regarding the objections no later than ten (10) days after receipt of such objections.

c. All elections materials, including the ballots, will be kept in a secure location for one (1) year.

d. Successful candidates shall assume office June 1, pursuant to VII (1) and VIII (1) of the Constitution.

e. With the exception of the President, or in case of a recall, the Executive Committee and Policy Board will have the power to fill vacancies occurring more than 18 months out from the election in its membership until the next general election of officers.

(6) Recall Procedures:

a. Each Executive Committee and Policy Board member is expected to carry out the duties of his/her office. This includes regular attendance at meetings, and where appropriate, adequate representation of the views of his/her constituency. Failure to adequately carry out the duties of office is grounds for recall.

b. A petition signed by forty-five percent (45%) of the membership, and alleging constitutional violations, fiduciary breaches or acts clearly detrimental to the union, shall be sufficient to require a recall election, supervised by the Election Committee.

c. The Elections Committee shall conduct all recall proceedings according to the procedures outlined in this Article.

d. A two-thirds (2/3) majority of votes cast shall be necessary for recall.

e. In the case that the recall procedure is successful, election procedures described in VII. (1) through (5) shall be followed.

Links:

• Elections Home Page

• Duties: Officers and Reps

• Timeline: Elections 2020

• Candidates: 2020 Election

Email the Elections Committee: elections@usfptfa.org