[ RA 2024 notice of nomination and election and CAMPAIGN & ELECTIONS PROCEDURES ]
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN THAT NOMINATING PETITIONS FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED THROUGH 5 PM, MONDAY, FEB. 12, 2024, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CRITERIA AND PROCESSES OUTLINED BELOW.
I. NEA State Director and Alternate State Director
(To be elected by all in-service delegates from NYSUT locals representing NEA Active members)
- Elect one (1) NEA State Director to the NEA Board of Directors, 3-year term.
(The NEA’s governance documents provide that the successful candidate for NEA State Director will serve as an ex-officio delegate to the NEA Representative Assembly for all purposes, except nominating candidates for office and voting in elections for NEA officers.)
- Elect one (1) Alternate NEA State Director to the NEA Board of Directors, 3-year term.
A. Term of office:
Three (3) year term commencing Sept. 1, 2024 and concluding Aug. 31, 2027.
B. Eligibility requirements for nomination and candidacy:
All members of NYSUT who hold Active membership in the NEA may nominate a candidate and be a candidate for NEA Director or Alternate Director. To be eligible, candidates must also have two (2) years of Active membership in the NEA by the date of the election.
C. Elector qualifications:
Each credentialed 2024 NYSUT RA in-service delegate who represents NEA Active members shall be eligible to cast a ballot for NEA Director and Alternate NEA Director.
D. Tabulation:
The NEA Director and Alternate Director shall be elected by a secret ballot vote of the qualified electors, pursuant to NYSUT Constitution Article VIII §§ 1(c), 1(d) and 4(e) and Bylaw C(1)(b). The candidate for the NEA Director position with the highest vote total shall be declared elected to the NEA Board of Directors.
The candidate for the NEA Alternate Director position with the highest vote total shall be declared elected to the NEA Board of Directors Alternate Director position.
II. NEA RA State Delegates
- Elect approximately 36 NEA RA State delegates
The exact number of NEA State delegates to which NYSUT is entitled has not yet been officially determined by the NEA. NYSUT’s NEA State delegate entitlement will be set by the NEA in late January 2024. The above estimate is subject to modification once the official State delegate entitlement for NYSUT is announced by the NEA.
A. Term of office:
The term of office shall commence as of the close of the 2024 NYSUT Representative Assembly and conclude as of the close of the 2027 NYSUT Representative Assembly.
B. Eligibility requirements for nomination and candidacy:
All members of NYSUT who hold Active membership in the NEA may nominate a candidate and be a candidate for NYSUT State delegate to the NEA Representative Assembly.
C. Elector qualifications:
Each credentialed 2024 NYSUT RA in-service delegate who represents NEA Active members shall be eligible to cast a ballot for NYSUT State delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly.
D. Tabulation:
NYSUT State delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly shall be elected by a secret ballot vote of the eligible electors, pursuant to NYSUT Constitution Article VIII §§1(c) and (1)(d) and Bylaw C(1)(b). The number of candidates receiving the highest number of votes corresponding to the number of delegate positions necessary to fill NYSUT’s entire NEA RA State delegate entitlement, shall be declared elected to the position of NYSUT State Delegate to the NEA Representative Assembly.
POSITIONS TO BE FILLED OUTSIDE OF THE NYSUT RA
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN THAT NOMINATIONS FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED BY THE NYSUT ELECTIONS COMMITTEE THROUGH 5 PM MONDAY, FEB. 12, 2024, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CRITERIA OUTLINED BELOW.
III. NEA RA Retired Delegates
Elect NYSUT’s four (4) NEA Retired delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly (subject to notification from NEA of any change in NYSUT’s final NEA Retired Delegate entitlement).
B. Eligibility requirements for nomination and candidacy:
Each NEA Retired member included in the NEA retiree membership roster, as provided to NYSUT and which resulted in NYSUT’s NEA Retired delegate entitlement, shall be eligible to nominate a candidate and serve as a candidate for NEA Retired delegate to the NEA Representative Assembly.
C. Term of office:
The term of office shall commence as of the close of the 2024 NYSUT Representative Assembly and conclude as of the close of the 2027 NYSUT Representative Assembly.
D. Elector qualifications:
Each NEA Retired member included in the NEA retiree membership roster as of March 8, 2024, as provided to NYSUT and which resulted in NYSUT’s NEA Retired delegate entitlement, shall be eligible to cast a ballot for NYSUT’s NEA Retired delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly.
E. Mailing of ballots:
The ballots for the NEA Retired delegate election will be mailed on or about March 22, 2024, to the eligible electors at their address of record (as of March 8, 2024, at 5 pm.)
F. Tabulation:
NYSUT’s NEA Retired delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly shall be elected by a secret ballot mail vote of the electors.
The number of candidates receiving the highest number of votes corresponding to the number of delegate positions necessary to fill NYSUT’s entire NEA Retired delegate entitlement shall be declared elected to the position of NEA Retired delegate. Alternate NEA Retired delegates shall be the remaining candidates and shall be ranked in the order (highest to lowest) of the number of votes received.
IV. Other Campaign and Election Procedures
A candidate is any member in good standing who meets the above candidate eligibility criteria, the nomination requirements for the position and fulfills the requirements listed below.
2. Availability of Nominating Petitions:
Nominating Petitions for all positions may be obtained from the Elections Committee commencing Jan. 2, 2024, by contacting the NYSUT Elections Committee at NYSUT Headquarters either in writing (800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, New York 12110-2455); by telephone (800-342-9810); or by email to (elections@nysut.org).
3. Acceptance of candidacy/candidate name verification/candidate contact information:
Acceptance of nomination: To qualify as a candidate for any position, the candidate must signify their acceptance of the nomination by signing the Acceptance of Candidacy portion of the Nominating Petition.
Name verification: Each candidate should also indicate on the Nominating Petition the manner in which their name should be printed on the election ballot.
Contact information: All candidates are asked to provide both their personal (i.e. non-employer) email address (if available) and cellphone number (or home telephone number, if there is no cellphone) on the Nominating Petition to enable the NYSUT Elections Committee to readily contact them.
4. Candidates’ ability to verify Election Committee’s receipt of Nominating Petition:
The Elections Committee will notify nominees either by email (if available), or by telephone, that their Petition has been received and validated by the Committee. However, it is the responsibility of nominees to confirm the Election Committee’s receipt of their nominating petition and nominees may do so by contacting the NYSUT Elections Committee at NYSUT Headquarters either in writing (800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, New York 12110-2455); by telephone (800-342-9810); or by email request to (elections@nysut.org).
5. Multiple candidacies:
In addition to serving as an elected NEA State Delegate, no member may be a nominee for more than one elected NYSUT position, except candidates for AFT State Delegate and AFT Alternate State Delegate may be a candidate for one additional elected NYSUT position.
6. Observers:
All candidates shall have the right to be present or to have an observer at each polling location at the Representative Assembly and at the tabulation of ballots.
A nominee is any member who meets the above candidate eligibility requirements for the position and fulfills the requirements for nomination listed below.
State Delegate candidates to the NEA Representative Assembly: A Nominating Petition, signed by fifty (50) Active NEA members must be received by the NYSUT Elections Committee by 5 pm on Monday, Feb.12, 2024.
2Inasmuch as the vast majority of the electors eligible to cast ballots in the NEA Retired delegate election (i.e. NEA Retired members) are not delegates to the NYSUT RA, a mail secret ballot will be conducted by the NYSUT Elections Committee for the election of NEA Retired delegates.
2. Uncontested Election:
An election may be waived by the Elections Committee for any position if, following the period of open nominations, the number of candidates is equal to or less than the number of positions to be filled. In such instance, the NYSUT Secretary-Treasurer shall cast a single vote for the candidate and the candidate shall then be deemed elected by the Elections Committee.
V. Publication of Notice of Nomination and Election and Campaign and Election Procedures
A reminder of the January/February 2024 NYSUT United publication of this Notice of Nomination and Election and Campaign & Election Procedures shall also be published in January issues and the February 2nd and 9th issue of the NYSUT Leader Briefing.
VI. Candidates Accessing Mailing Labels and the Submission of Campaign Statements for the “Election Issue” of NYSUT United
A. Elector Mailing Labels
Candidates are eligible to access mailing labels of the applicable delegate constituency (electors) upon so indicating on the Nominating Petition. The applicable delegate mailing labels will be released the week of March 25, 2024. Candidates will be notified by the Elections Committee by email or by phone when the mailing labels are available in the regional office.
Mailing labels and appropriate office space in a common area will be provided to any candidate at the NYSUT regional office designated by the candidate on their Nominating Petition, to affix the mailing labels of eligible electors on materials for campaign purposes. There will be a NYSUT staff person present at all times during which the mailing labels are being affixed to the material. It shall be the sole responsibility of individual candidates to produce their campaign material, supply adequate postage and meet any other requirements of the U.S. Postal Service or other delivery service selected by the candidate, regarding the delivery of such materials. The designated NYSUT regional office shall take all reasonable steps to mail the material or to deliver it to such other delivery service selected by the candidate. Mailing labels shall not be taken from the regional office, reproduced or otherwise distributed. Candidates shall have the right to accompany NYSUT staff to the location where mailing or delivery to a service takes place, and to observe the mailing or delivery.
All mailing labels are confidential and privileged information and shall not be taken from the regional office, reproduced or shared with anyone. Candidates should contact the Elections Committee at elections@nysut.org if they have not been contacted by the committee regarding mailing labels by March 22, 2024.
Provided, however that in lieu of accessing and affixing mailing labels at a NYSUT regional office, a candidate may use a bona fide outside mailing service to deliver campaign material to eligible electors, pursuant to the following procedures:
ii. Within 48 hours of receipt of the Nominating Petition or as soon thereafter as practicable, the NYSUT Elections Committee shall contact the candidate, and the outside mailing service using the contact information provided by the candidate, to obtain any written assurance the Committee may require in order to prevent the reproduction or unauthorized distribution of member data.
After the receipt of such written assurances as the NYSUT Elections Committee shall require, the Committee shall arrange for the electronic delivery of data directly to the mailing service.
B. NYSUT United “Election Issue”
The March/April 2024 issue of NYSUT United shall be the “Election Issue” which may be used by a candidate to promote their candidacy free of charge, provided the qualified candidate submits their Campaign Statement and their Nominating Petition, both of which are to be validated by the Elections Committee, by no later than 5 pm on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.
Candidate statements along with a photo, if desired, shall be submitted to the Elections Committee. Electronic submissions are preferred and shall be sent to the Elections Committee at elections@nysut.org by 5 pm on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. Candidate statements may also be sent to the Elections Committee by fax (518-213-6411) or in hard copy (photos) (NYSUT Elections Committee, c/o Office of the President, 800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, NY 12110-2455) provided such statements are received by 5 pm on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.
Any words that extend beyond the allowable space will be deleted and not published as part of the candidate statement. The Editor of NYSUT United maintains the right to alter the format, font, print style or any other formatting to ensure uniformity in the presentation of all candidate statements. Reasonable efforts shall be made to afford candidates an opportunity to review their statements prior to publication and to submit changes to their statements prior to final publication.
Please note that candidates are solely responsible for the grammar and content of their statements.
Space in the March/April 2024 “Election Issue” of the NYSUT United for campaign statements shall be allocated as follows:
C. Caucus slate campaign statements
Organizations wishing to be identified by the Elections Committee as a caucus under the Campaign and Election Procedures and thereby be eligible to have a caucus identified campaign statement published in the March/April 2024 “Election Issue” of the NYSUT United shall request, properly complete and timely return a Caucus Notification Form to the Elections Committee. That form is available from the NYSUT Elections Committee. The deadline for the submission to the Elections Committee of a completed Caucus Notification Form as well as the caucus identified campaign statement, which are to be validated by the Elections Committee, is 5 pm on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.
Caucus-identified campaign page(s) or a portion of a page (if partial slate) will be assigned on the basis of a drawing by the Election Committee; independent announced candidates will follow and will be arranged alphabetically for each position, and separately listed as described below.
D. Option to purchase space in NYSUT United “Election Issue.”
In addition to a candidate being allocated uncharged space in the NYSUT United “Election Issue” under the above criteria (either individually or as part of a caucus statement), a candidate who has submitted a validated Nominating Petition by no later than 5 pm on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, may purchase additional space in the NYSUT United “Election Issue.” This space will be charged as an advertisement and printed in the advertisement portion of NYSUT United, separate and apart from the uncharged space provided in Subdivision B above. The cost of that purchased space will be based upon the NYSUT United’s standard advertisement house rates and policy. Please note that candidates may NOT purchase additional space as part of or to extend the uncharged space provided for in Subdivision B above. In addition, any caucus that has submitted a validated Caucus Notification Form by no later than 5 pm on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, may purchase one ad in the NYSUT United “Election Issue” at the reduced rate of 25% of the standard advertising house rates. Any additional ad or ads purchased by a caucus shall be at full cost. Any candidate interested in purchasing additional space must provide the copy to be published in the March/April 2024 NYSUT United “Election Issue” to NYSUT United Editor (united@nysut.org) by no later than 5 pm on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. Additional information regarding the NYSUT United’s standard advertising house rates and policy may be obtained by telephoning the NYSUT United at 800-342-9810.
VII. Statewide Office Nominees’ Forum
VIII. Campaigning at the Representative Assembly
Campaigning at the NYSUT Representative Assembly shall end on May 3, 2024, at 12:45 pm.
Pursuant to Article VIII (1) (f) of the NYSUT Constitution, the NYSUT Elections Committee shall have the authority to resolve any and all issues or disputes involving any election.
IX. Staff Restrictions, Campaign Contributions & Limited Candidate Services
NYSUT staff members are prohibited by law from campaigning for any candidate except on the staff member’s own time and provided that no union or employer funds or other resources are used for such electioneering. No candidate should request any campaign assistance from any NYSUT staff member.
No portion of dues money or union resources at the local, state or national level shall be used, directly or indirectly, to promote the candidacy of any person for any elected office.
Contributions may be received by a candidate only from individual persons or groups of individuals. No employer whatsoever (including, but not limited to, other unions, commercial firms, non-profit organizations, law firms, and businesses) may contribute money, goods, services, or anything of value, to promote directly or indirectly, the candidacy of any person for any elected office.
In conducting their election campaign, no candidate or anyone acting on behalf of a candidate shall utilize any funds, facilities, equipment, stationery, supplies or resources (including, but not limited to, computers, email systems, computer networks, electronic media, telephones, supplies, photocopiers or fax machines) which are financed by, owned or leased by NYSUT (except as provided below), or any of its national or local affiliates.
NYSUT through its Elections Committee will (subject to availability, e.g. NYSUT is not obliged to purchase equipment if not otherwise available) make limited services equally accessible to all candidates and caucuses (the cost of which incurred by NYSUT is to be paid to NYSUT). The exclusive limited services which will be made equally available by the Elections Committee to candidates and caucuses are as follows: (a) use of a table with chairs, in the vicinity of the convention hall for campaigning; (b) meeting space totaling not more than three (3) hours during the entire period of the Representative Assembly (Friday–Saturday); and (c) photocopying; provided that NYSUT is fully compensated for all costs incurred by NYSUT (as determined, in writing, by NYSUT) for the limited services utilized, and provided further that such services are available. All candidates and caucuses shall have equal access to receive all such limited services, and all reasonable requests will be honored, subject to the above qualifications. No alcohol, food, or refreshments will be permitted in any meeting space made available to candidates by the Elections Committee. Any candidate who is endorsed by a caucus shall be ineligible to receive individual candidate services under these provisions whenever the caucus receives such services. Should either a candidate or a caucus wish to utilize any of these limited services, the Services Request Form (and additionally, in the case of a caucus, a proper Caucus Notification Form) shall be completed, signed, received and validated by the NYSUT Elections Committee, all by not later than 5 pm April 21, 2024.
The cost of all services received by every candidate and every political caucus shall be reimbursed to NYSUT within thirty (30) days of the candidate’s or caucus’s receipt of NYSUT’s written statement of services.
X. Role and Authority of Elections Committee
XI. Conducting Election
A. Time and date of elections
To be eligible to vote at the NYSUT Representative Assembly a delegate must be registered by 4 pm on May 3, 2024, and must be present at their assigned voting locations on May 3, 2024, by 4:15 pm. Any delegate not at their assigned voting location by the deadline will not be able to vote. Instructions on voting, distribution of ballots and voting will begin at each voting location promptly on May 3, 2024, at 4:15 pm.
B. Voting tabulation and election reporting
Write-in votes will not be counted nor be part of any tabulation.
The Elections Committee will use all reasonable efforts to make the certified election results available to candidates requesting such information, before any results are announced during the following General Session, provided the candidate has provided to the Election Committee, in advance, their cell telephone number, another telephone number, or an email address.
If possible, the certified election results will be announced by the Elections Committee during the General Session held following the tabulation of votes and the Elections Committee’s certification of the election.
All candidates will receive official notification of the certified election results from the Election Committee as soon as practicable. The certified election results and vote total per candidate will be reported in the next available NYSUT United and posted at nysut.org. However, roll call voting by delegates will not be released for any secret ballot elections.
Observers of the tabulation process shall be afforded the opportunity to receive the results either electronically or in writing after the candidates have been notified of the results.
C. Runoff procedure
In the event of a tie vote in an election to fill a vacancy in the position of NEA State Director, NEA Alternate State Director, and/or NEA State Delegate, a run-off election or run-off elections will be held until such time as a candidate or candidates receive the highest number of votes for each vacant position as prescribed herein.
In the event that a run-off election or run-off elections need to be held for a statewide office, the run-off election or run-off elections will be held Saturday, May 4, 2024, at a time to be announced at the beginning of General Session #2.
D. Observers
Candidates may observe or designate an observer(s) to observe the voting and tabulation process. Observers need not be elected delegates or alternates to the Representative Assembly. Observers may observe the voting and/or tabulation process subject to the following conditions:
2. Tabulation: Any candidate may observe or designate an observer for the tabulation process. The Chair of the NYSUT Elections Committee retains the right due to logistical concerns to limit the number of observers in the tabulation room, however, every candidate for election shall have the right to have at least one observer in the tabulation room.
XII. Forms & Information
Items available as specified within the Campaign and Election Procedures from the NYSUT Elections Committee are listed below and will be available on and after Jan. 2, 2024. (This is not an order form.)
Nominating Petition for:
- NEA Director
- NEA Alternate Director
- NEA State Delegate
- NEA Retired Delegate
Candidate and Caucus Services Request Form
Caucus Notification Form
Completed forms must be returned to the NYSUT Elections Committee as specified above.