For the Record
"Votes are like trees, if you are trying to build a forest. If you have more trees than you have forests, then at that point the pollsters will probably say you will win."
- Dan Quayle
Nominations and Elections Rules » Part II
A copy of the Nominations and Elections Rules in PDF format can be downloaded by clicking on Election Rules. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the file.
Part I
» A. Elections Committee» B. Election Requirements
» C. Announcement
» D. Timeline
» E. Finances
» F. Candidates' Rights
» G. Ballot
» H. Distribution of Ballots and Method of Voting
Part II
» I. Vote Requirement» J. Counting of Ballots
» K. Observers
» L. Challenge Procedure
» M. Initiative Procedures
» N. Referendum Procedures
» O. Recall Procedures
I. Vote Requirement
All vote requirements shall be established in accordance with CTA guidelines. Unless otherwise specified, all elections shall be decided by majority vote. Write-in votes are valid and must be counted.
1. A majority vote means more than fifty percent (50%) of the legal votes cast.
2. A plurality vote means the largest number of votes to be given any candidate or issue.
3. A two-thirds (2/3) vote means at least two thirds (2/3) of the legal votes cast.
4. For unit officers, the election will be by majority.
5. For State Council: [See the Election Timelines, Procedures, and Guidelines in section IV-9.2 of the CTA Elections Manual.]
a. If a unit is a single electoral district or a multiple unit electoral district, the election for State Council Representative will be by majority vote.
b. If the unit is within a multiple unit electoral district, results must be sent to the Service Center Council Elections Committee to determine if a candidate has received a majority vote.
6. If a candidate does not receive a majority vote, a run-off election shall be conducted among the candidates receiving the highest number of votes. The names on the ballot will be one (1) more than the number of vacancies to be filled. When there are only two candidates for an office, the candidate receiving the higher number of legal votes cast shall be declared elected. There shall be no provisions for write-in candidates in run-off elections.
7. For NEA Local Delegates, the election will be by majority or plurality vote, as defined in the unit's governance documents. Results must be sent to the CTA Governance Support Department and to the Service Center Council.
8. An election for NEA Delegates may be waived and the candidate(s) declared elected if, following a period of open nominations, the number of candidates is equal to or less than the number of delegate positions to be filled. An affiliate utilizing this provision must have adopted a governing provision or election policy allowing such a practice. This election practice will not generate successor delegates unless the nomination process requires candidates for both regular and successor delegate positions.
9. For NEA State Delegates, the election will be by majority or plurality vote as defined in the unit's governance documents. Successor delegates (alternates) are ranked in the order of votes received. Results must be sent to the Service Center Council, which will forward the results to CTA.
10. For additional CTA/NEA election guidelines refer to the official CTA Elections Manual.
Counting of Ballots
1. Upon receipt of ballots, tally sheets and signature sheets, the Elections Committee shall count the ballots in a secure area with only the Elections Committee members and observers present.
2. The Elections Committee shall count valid ballots and set aside any ballot(s) on which there is a question, such as:
a. Blank ballot;
b. More ballots than signatures;
c. Ballot submitted after deadline;
d. Voter not an Active member;
e. Voter’s intent unclear;
f. Votes cast for more than number allowed;
g. Vote cast on unofficial ballot;
h. Vote cast for ineligible candidate.
3. The Elections Committee shall make a determination on whether the vote(s) in each category should be counted, and make a note of the decision. Each category of ballot shall be kept separate.
4. The Elections Committee shall prepare the Final Report, recording the following information:
a. Total number of ballots cast.
b. The number of set aside ballots with an explanation for each category of ballot not counted.
c. The number needed to win or pass.
d. The number of votes received by each candidate or issue.
e. A notation whether the set aside votes would affect the outcome.
f. Signature of each Elections Committee member present during the preparation of the report.
5. The Elections Chair shall submit the Final Report to the President or designee who shall inform all candidates of the results.
6. The President shall announce the results as prescribed by the timelines.
7. If the votes set aside could affect the outcome of the election, the President and the appropriate body shall decide: a. to count the votes which have been set aside; b. not to count the votes which have been set aside; or c. if the election should be conducted again.
8. Any candidate who may be affected by the vote shall not be allowed to take part in the decision-making process.
9. The ballots and voter sign-up sheets shall be retained for one year after the election.
K. Observers
1. Each candidate shall be allowed to have an observer(s) (put appropriate number if more than one) at the vote counting site and shall give the name(s) of the observer to the Elections Committee before counting.
2. An observer shall not interfere with the counting and shall stay in the counting area until the President or designee has been notified of the results.
L. Challenge Procedure
1. A challenge cannot be initiated until after the results of the elections have been posted at each work site.
2. The challenging party(ies) must notify the unit president of a challenge in writing within ten (10) days after the announcement of the results of the election.
The notification must:
a. Specify which requirement has been violated.
b. Include evidence, insofar as possible.
c. List names and addresses of parties who can give evidence.
3. Within ten (10) calendar days after receipt of the challenge, the unit Elections Committee shall, in accordance with the unit's bylaws and standing rules, conduct an investigation and determine whether:
a. The challenge alleges a violation of the unit’s elections requirement.
b. The challenge is supported by appropriate documentation.
c. More information is needed, in which case, the information will be obtained via the most feasible method.
d. The alleged violation may have affected the outcome of the election.
4. The Elections Committee shall submit a report including issues and recommendations to the Chapter President and the Chapter Board of Directors/Executive Board. The Governance Board shall act on the report immediately at its first opportunity.
5. If an individual wishes to appeal the decision of the governance body of the unit, or if the governance body fails to act, he/she may file an appeal within ten (10) calendar days from the date of the filing of the challenge by writing to the CTA President.
6. The challenge procedure for election of State Council Representatives and Alternates, and State or Local Delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly is outlined in the CTA Elections Manual.
M. Initiative Procedures
1. The Active membership shall have the authority to make decisions on any matters affecting the Association or its activities through the initiative process.
2. An Active member shall file a notice of the intent to circulate a petition with the chapter president by including a copy of the petition to be circulated, and the names of at least three persons supporting the proposed measure and responsible for its circulation.
3. The chapter president shall register the receipt of the notice of the intent to circulate, and acknowledge such registration in writing with the member filing the notice.
4. The timeline for gathering signatures will commence the day that the notice of intent is registered. A maximum of 45 school days shall be permitted to obtain the signatures of at least 10 percent or more of the Active members of the chapter. The petition shall contain the question proposed to be placed on the ballot.
5. The circulators shall present to the chapter president the petition(s) containing original signatures.
6. The chapter president shall have 5 school days in which to verify the membership of the signers of the petition.
7. If there are insufficient signatures, the petition circulator shall be notified by mail of the number of signatures needed to qualify the petition. The petition circulator shall have an additional 7 school days in which to gather and submit the necessary signatures. The chapter president shall have 3 school days in which to verify the membership of the additional signers.
8. The chapter president shall cause a ballot to be furnished to the members no less than 15 school days after verification of membership, provided that the period that school is officially not in session shall not be included in this count.
9. Regular election procedures (e.g., election of officers) shall be followed including voting times. 10. The proposal shall take effect immediately upon receipt of the required number of votes, unless otherwise specified.
N. Referendum Procedures
1. Any action or proposed action of the Representative Council or the Executive Board shall be referred to a vote of the Active membership upon two-thirds vote of the Representative Council at any valid meeting.
2. The referendum action shall prescribe the exact wording of the question to be posed to the Active membership on the ballot.
3. The chapter president shall cause a ballot to be furnished to the Active members no less than 15 school days after action by the Representative Council, provided that the period that school is officially not in session shall not be included in this count.
4. Regular election procedures (e.g., election of officers) shall be followed including voting times.
5. The proposal shall take effect immediately upon receipt of the required number of votes, unless otherwise specified.
O. Recall Procedures
1. The Active membership shall have the authority to recall from office any person or persons having been elected thereto by the chapter’s Active members.
2. An Active member shall file a notice of the intent to circulate a petition to recall with the chapter president by including a copy of the petition to be circulated, and the names of at least three persons supporting the proposed recall and responsible for its circulation. If the proposed recall is for the person holding the office of president, the request shall be made to the next ranking officer.
3. The chapter president shall register the receipt of the notice of the intent to circulate, and acknowledge such registration in writing with the member filing the notice.
4. The timeline for gathering signatures will commence the day that the notice of intent is registered. A maximum of 60 school days shall be permitted to obtain the signatures of at least 25 percent or more of the Active members of the chapter. The petition shall contain the question proposed to be placed on the ballot.
5. The circulators shall present to the chapter president the petition(s) containing original signatures.
6. The chapter president shall have 10 school days in which to verify the membership of the signers of the petition.
7. If there are insufficient signatures, the petition circulator shall be notified by mail of the number of signatures needed to qualify the petition. The petition circulator shall have an additional 15 school days in which to gather and submit the necessary signatures. The chapter president shall have 5 school days in which to verify the membership of the additional signers.
8. The chapter president shall cause a ballot to be furnished to the Active members no less than 20 school days after verification of membership. The period that school is officially not in session shall not be included in this count.
9. Regular election procedures (e.g., election of officers) shall be followed including voting times.
10. Any necessary supplementary rules governing recall that are not in conflict with the foregoing may be adopted and published within the same publications and by the same manner as are prescribed for other elections within the Association.
» Nominations and Elections Rules - Part I
A copy of the Nominations and Elections Rules in PDF format can be downloaded by clicking on Election Rules. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the file.