Elections Policy

Elections Policy (December 2017)

The Breastfeeding USA Election Committee is formed to:

1. Conduct the annual membership election of Breastfeeding USA Board of Directors.
2. Seek qualified and eligible nominees for open Board positions.

Committee Members

1. The Board of Directors will appoint the Election Committee Chair 6 months prior to the election.
2. The Chair will gather no fewer than 3 committee members, none of whom may be candidates for director.

1. The Committee will appoint an Inspector of the Election.
2. The Inspector cannot be a current, acting, or interim Board member.
3. The Inspector can be the Chair of the Election Committee.

Timeline

1. Board appoints Chair/Inspector of Election (6 months before election opens).
2. Chair appoints 3 members.
3. Chair confirms open seats and vacancies with the Board.

1. If the Board is seeking nominees to meet specific needs in service to BfUSA, the Elections Committee will be told at this time.

4. Election Committee advises volunteers to be sure they are eligible to vote.
5. Chair requests roster of Secretary (8 weeks before election opens).
6. Secretary provides roster (6 weeks before election opens).
7. Call for nominations.
8. A week before nominations closes, Elections will send an announcement of the number of nominees, names of nominees, and the date nominations will close.
9. Verification of candidate eligibility.
10. Election opens (no later than 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting).
11. Election closes.
12. Results announced.
13. Inspector of Election presents report at Annual Meeting.
14. The new Directors are seated on October 1.
15. Elections Committee submits a review and recommendations report to the Board.
16. Election Committee is disbanded.

Ballots

1. Ballots will be made available no later than 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting.
2. Voting must be closed in a timely manner in coordination with the Inspector’s need to verify the results before the Annual Meeting.
3. An online, secure balloting system will be used.
4. Ballots shall be preserved for one year after the Annual Meeting.

Voter Eligibility

1. Breastfeeding Counselors who meet the criteria for maintaining accreditation described in the Breastfeeding USA Policy Manual.
2. Volunteers making significant contributions to the organization.

   1. Has completed Orientation.
   2. A Committee Chair confirms the volunteer has served for 6 months or more.
   3. Is volunteering at the time the roster is submitted.

Campaigning

1. After the election opens, candidates may submit campaign materials to the Elections Committee for distribution.
2. Inquiries from the membership about candidates will be directed to the Elections Committee.

   1. The Election Committee will be copied on responses to any one-on-one communication.

3. If candidates have questions regarding campaigning or communications with membership, they will seek advice from the Election Committee.

Inspection of the Election

1. The Inspector of the Election is responsible for the accuracy and certification of the election results.
2. Certification will be provided in writing to the Chair of the Annual Meeting.

Resolution of Election Complications

1. The candidates with the greatest numbers of votes will be seated in each open position until all open positions are filled.
2. In the event of a tie vote for the last open position, a run-off election among the tied candidates shall be held no later than 30 days after the closing of the initial election.
3. In the event of another tie vote, run-off election among the tied candidates shall be repeated on a monthly basis until one of the candidates receives a larger number of votes than the other(s), or all candidates but one withdraw from the election.