Election of Board Members
Elections are a great method to ensure that you have the top leaders in your organization. They also assist your members to connect with the leadership of your nonprofit and have faith that their voices will be heard and their needs for governance will be fulfilled. While you don’t need organize a board member election every time a position becomes available, it is important to regularly decide on the board’s membership.
The bylaws of your organization will outline the procedure for voting, including the number required to create an absolute majority as well as other guidelines. Your board may use different methods to keep track of the results of each vote, but it is best to adhere to the rules of good faith to keep your board accountable.
During the nominations process, it is crucial to interview candidates in depth and ask them to write an account of their experience and how they envision themselves as a contributor to the board’s activities. It’s also recommended to allow write-ins so voters who don’t like the selection of candidates are still able to express their opinion during the election.
The use of preferential nominations in your ballot is another option to improve the electoral process. This technique allows voters to express their top preferences for each candidate, giving you an accurate picture of what your members feel about the candidates that you board room secrets have nominated. It’s also a great option for multiple-winner elections like when you have more candidates than positions.