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Election of Board Members

Elections ensure that your organization is staffed with the best and brightest leaders working on your behalf. These elections also help your members connect with your non-profit’s leadership and establish trust that their voices and governance needs are being met. While you don’t have to hold a board member election every time the position becomes vacant it is crucial to regularly decide on the board’s membership.

The bylaws of your organization will outline the voting procedures of your board, including the number of votes required for establishing a quorum and other fundamental guidelines. Your board could employ a variety of methods to document the results of each vote, but it’s best to adhere to established rules to ensure that your board is accountable.

During the process of nomination it is essential to conduct a thorough interview with candidates and ask them to submit a letter of interest outlining their experiences and how they think they can contribute to the work of the board. It’s also beneficial to allow for write-ins, to ensure that those who do not like the candidates’ choices are able to voice their opinions in the election.

Another way to improve the process of voting is by using preferential nominations on your ballot. This method lets voters choose their top choices for each nominee. It provides you with an idea of how your members think of the candidates that you have nominated. It’s also a great option for multi-winner elections, like when you have more candidates than positions.