PABJ Elections Policies & Procedures

 2024 PABJ Elections Policies & Procedures
 
To establish PABJ Elections policies & procedures, to ensure the integrity and good faith efforts of the PABJ election process of PABJ’s executive board; the president, vice-president of print, vice-president of broadcast, parliamentarian, secretary, and treasurer. 

• In order, to run for the executive board of PABJ all candidates must be a member of the organization and in full compliance with the membership status as defined by the PABJ Bylaws that corresponds to the position. Eligibility:  Membership – See  Article IX Sec. 1 & 2. (See below)
• Nomination: An eligible executive board candidate must be confirmed by the PABJ Nominations Committee following the submission of a PABJ Leadership application that's due on October 1st. A PABJ member in good standing is defined by the PABJ Bylaws and Code of Conduct. Only a member in good standing is eligible to be considered for placement on the election ballot pending certification. 
• Certification: Candidates who have applied to run for PABJ’s executive board must be certified by the Nominations Committee and be placed on the elections ballot to run.
• The certification process is to ensure that candidates running for PABJ’s executive board are in compliance with PABJ’s bylaws and Code of Conduct.

ARTICLE IX. Eligibility for Office and Term of Office.

• Section 1. Eligibility for president and vice presidents. Those members seeking the offices of president and vice president(s) must be full PABJ members in good standing. Only paid PABJ members as of Oct. 1st can run for office.
• Section 2. Eligibility for secretary, treasurer and parliamentarian. Those members seeking the offices of secretary, treasurer and parliamentarian must be in good standing with PABJ. Associate members may run for the secretary, treasurer and parliamentarian positions in PABJ. Associate members are not eligible to run or hold the offices of president or vice president(s). 
• Section 3. Student members are not eligible to hold any PABJ office.
• Section 4. Term of office. All officers of the organization shall serve a two-year term. The president and vice presidents are prohibited from seeking a third consecutive term. All Executive Board members must maintain good membership standing within PABJ for the duration of their term. 

ARTICLE X. Elections.

• Section 1. Election of PABJ officers will be held biennially in December.
  
  • Candidates shall be nominated by a Nominations Committee. Only paid full and associate PABJ members as of Oct. 1 may be eligible for nomination of the Board or vote in the election.
    
  • All other election rules shall be set by a Nominations Committee, or the Executive Board, in the absence of such a committee. The Nomination Committee shall consist of members not running for elected office.

• Section 2. Nominations Committee
  
  • A Nominations Committee, created by the Board, shall set and enforce the nomination and election rules. Grievances surrounding the election process must be submitted to the Nominations Committee, who will determine any consideration or ruling on a case-by-case basis. All rulings set by the Nominations Committee shall be deemed final
• Section 3
  
  • A ballot vote shall be taken physically or digitally during the December meeting at a time and place designated by the Nominations Committee or Executive Board. A member may only use one method. Only eligible members, as described in Article III Section 1 and Section 2, of record as of Oct. 1, shall be eligible to cast ballots. Once the Board members are elected, the new Board shall select its officers.

2024 Elections Procedures 
Enacted by PABJ Nominations Committee Chair Sharron Cooks

1. PABJ Elections will be conducted ONLY in person at the December 11th General Membership Meeting. Candidates who get more than 50% of the votes cast in that in-person election, wins the position. In the event of a tie, a re-election will be held no later than December 31st. 
2. Nominations for candidates in all positions will be conducted via submitted PABJ Leadership Application that's due on October 1st and confirmed candidates will be announced by the October PABJ General Membership Meeting. 
3. Eligible candidates must be dues-paying members in good standing as defined in the bylaws.
4. PABJ members seeking to be eligible to vote in the upcoming elections must be in good standing per the PABJ Bylaws. 
5. PABJ members seeking to be an eligible candidate in the upcoming elections must be in good standing, with PABJ Leadership Application submitted by October 1st. Eligible candidates must have also been an active member of a current PABJ committee and/or partnership, PABJ Executive Board, and/or respective leadership role at least 90 days prior to the October 1st eligibility deadline. 
6. PABJ Nominations Committee members cannot run for the PABJ Executive Board while serving. 
7. All candidates nominated must be vetted by the Nominations Committee prior to being certified to officially run. Any outright announcement of candidacy/campaign prior to formal certification will result in potential disqualification. 
8. PABJ Nominations Committee will oversee candidate activity to ensure there are no inappropriate, unethical, or unfair actions. The Nominations Committee will issue warnings, sanctions, and/or disqualifications where they see fit. 
9. All decisions made by the Nominations Committee are final unless a grievance is submitted to the PABJ Executive Board following an appeal being rejected by the former. Grievances must be filed to the PABJ Executive Board at least 48 hours after an appeal was rejected by the Nominations Committee. Anything after 48 hours will be rejected by default. 
10. If a grievance is sent to the PABJ Executive Board and the appeal is overturned, that decision will override the Elections Committee’s previous decision. If an appeal is not overturned, the Nominations Committee’s decision still stands. The case will officially be closed. 
11. Any intention to fill potential vacancies on the PABJ Executive Board, in the event that a candidate does not run for an open position, will be left to the incoming PABJ President to appoint. 
12. PABJ Committee Chair positions are not eligible for candidates to run for, they are appointed by the incoming PABJ President. Once appointed, PABJ Committee Chairs select their respective committee members. 
13. All newly-elected candidates will begin their two-year term on January 1st.