Chapter Leadership— Officer Elections

Election of officers is an important part of ensuring that your chapter continues to grow and thrive in the future. Coordinating annual elections is one of the duties of the Chapter President. Planning an election requires thought and preparation, including setting a timeline, identifying a candidate nomination method, determining a voting process, and more. It can be a big responsibility, but is a necessary one!

In most cases, following an election, an official transitional training retreat should be planned and take place with the chapter counselor and officers. The new officers also may plan the upcoming year so that the chapter gets off to a great start in the fall.

It is important that the chapter elects new officers and submits the Chapter Officer Report to Headquarters so that they can receive regular officer-specific correspondence.

Suggested Timeframes for Elections

Ways to Vote

Sample Election Ballot

Election Planning Timeline

Chapter Officer Report

Officer Training and Transition

Suggested Timeframes for Elections

•	Calendar year election: Elect in December for January–December term. Transition between past and current officers during the Spring semester.
•	Early Spring election: Elect in February. New officers shadow current officers until Spring initiation, where they officially take over the officer positions.
•	Late Spring election: Elect officers at chapter meeting prior to Spring initiation, install them at the initiation, and hold an officer transition retreat over the summer.
•	Early Fall election: Elect in August/September. All officers must complete the Officer Training Webinar—especially if no officers remain from the previous year.

All officers for the school year must be in place by September 15.

Ways to Vote

•	At a designated meeting—members who do not show up do not get to vote.
•	E-mail—set a specific cut-off date when voting will close.
•	Online—if your chapter has its own Web site, speak to the Webmaster about installing voting option.
•	Snail mail—mail out the ballot and set a date to have the ballots mailed back to a designated person.

SAMPLE Election Ballot

Election Planning Timeline

	• Current officers begin identifying members with potential to fill leadership    positions.
	• Begin promoting openings.  • Accept nominations.
	• Executive Committee approves slate of candidates. • Slate of candidates is approved by membership.
	• Executive Committee develops a ballot. • Candidates present speeches.
	• Members vote. • Create news releases announcing new chapter officers.
	• Submit Officer Report through the KDP Web Portal.