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Section 6.35

RULES FOR CAMPAIGNING AFTER NOMINATION FOR SOCIETY OFFICE

The primary intent of these rules is to encourage a professional and ethical approach to the election process and to ensure equal treatment and opportunity for all candidates for a particular Society office.

Candidates are expected to continue all their normal functions and activities related to their position on the Board, Councils, committees, task forces, Practice Specialties, Regions, Areas, Chapters and Sections. This includes any appearances at/in meetings, events, publications, newsletters, web site, etc. The only stipulation is that a candidate may not indicate in any of these media or events that they are a candidate or ask for member support or their vote. Candidates may openly encourage members to vote in the annual Society election and refer to Society election materials.

Candidates may, and should, participate in any activity organized by the Society to disseminate information on candidates to voting members.

I. CAMPAIGN PROCEDURES

The following campaign restrictions apply after a candidate is included on the slate.:

  • If asked to appear before a Region, Practice Specialty, Common Interest Group, Area, Chapter, or Section meeting a candidate may appear to discuss his/her background and platform statement/positions, and to answer relevant questions, but only provided that all candidates for that same office have been invited to participate at the same time. Invitations to candidates should be in writing and provide adequate travel notice; i.e., one month. Candidate responses should also be in writing. Candidates who are unable to attend may submit a written statement to be read to the attendees, or utilize other media. Travel expenses are the responsibility of the candidate.

  • Practice Specialties, Branches, Common Interest Groups, Regions, Sections, Chapters, and Areas may publish platform statements and qualifications of candidates along with photos provided that they simultaneously publish similar materials for all candidates for the same office. No editorial preferences may be expressed by the publisher. It is the sole responsibility of the Practice Specialty, Branch, Common Interest Group, Region, Section, and Chapter or Area officers to ensure that materials have been obtained from all candidates prior to publishing and the candidate must be notified of the intent to publish these materials prior to date of publication. Questions related to Society issues and operations may be submitted to all candidates for the same office and the responses published in the same newsletter.

  • Practice Specialties, Branches, Common Interest Groups, Regions, Sections, Chapters, and Areas Chapters may choose to use social media technologies to allow candidates for a particular office to engage participants in an open dialogue regarding their biography and platform statement during a set time period as long as both candidates are present.

  • Candidates may make presentations before their home Chapter of record without participation of other candidates for the same office.

  • Candidates for Senior Vice President may be asked to appear and/or make presentations before the Board of Directors and Council on Member and Region Affairs.

  • Candidates may contact members of their own Chapter to solicit support. Candidates may also request, verbally or in writing, support from Society members who are known to them personally. Candidates may utilize social media technologies to ask members known to them personally for their support or recommendation.

  • Candidates may not personally use social technologies to engage in public discussions as to their status as a candidate or to promote their platform statement or biography.

Members may not use social technologies to promote an individual candidate as being preferred or to degrade another candidate or share their opinion of the qualities of any candidates.  Members may use social media technologies to promote the election and the link to candidate materials on the Society website and to encourage members to vote.

II. OTHER PROVISIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

  • Any information submitted by a candidate to any Society entity must be factual, accurate and correct. Such data will be verified by the Nominations and Elections Committee.
  • Members of the Executive Committee and Nominations and Elections Committee are prohibited from providing written, social media or verbal support, backing or endorsement to any candidates. ASSE Board of Directors shall not utilize Society stationery, nor their ASSE title, in any manner to support, back or endorse any candidate.
  • Platform statements and biographical material on candidates, as maintained by Society staff, will be provided for reproduction upon request by Practice Specialties, Branches, Common Interest Groups, Regions, Sections, Chapters and Areas,. These will be available on the Society web site. This will be the only resource for campaign materials.
  • The use and distribution of printed materials, advertising, stickers, posters, buttons and similar media, are prohibited.

III. INFRACTIONS OF CAMPAIGN REQUIREMENTS

  • The Nominations and Elections Committee is responsible for the administration and oversight of the Society elections, inclusive of campaign rules and requirements.
  • Any alleged infraction of campaign rules and requirements should be brought before the Committee, in writing and verbally, by contacting the Chair, Nominations and Elections Committee, or the staff liaison, Director of Member/Region Affairs and:
    • Confirmation of receipt of the allegation will be sent to the alleging member within 2 working days;
    • The allegation will be forwarded to the Committee Chair within 3 working days of receipt;
    • The Committee will investigate each allegation presented to them to the extent necessary to reach an informed decision;
    • The member registering the allegation will be notified in writing of the Committee’s findings and decision, along with a summary of the findings;
    • The findings and decision of the Committee may be appealed to the Board of Directors. Such appeals will be heard by a 5-member ad hoc panel consisting of 4 Board members and one member of the Committee, all of whom are to be appointed by the Society President;
    • The aggrieved party may appear before the Committee and/or the ad hoc panel, to offer justification for any alleged campaign infractions. The ruling of the panel shall be final;
    • The ruling of the Committee and/or panel shall be referred to the Council on Professional Affairs for possible action under the Code of Professional Conduct.
  • Chapters and Sections who violate the campaign rules and requirements will be automatically eliminated from consideration for a Chapter Stars or Chapter of the Year Award for the year of the infraction. Further, all votes from that Chapter cast in the protested race shall be negated and invalidated by the Tellers Committee. Multiple infractions of the campaign rules can result in the suspension of a Chapter's Charter as recommended to, and determined by the Board of Directors.
  • Practice Specialties Branches, Common Interest Groups, Regions, and Areas violating campaign rules and regulations shall have all votes cast in the protested race negated and invalidated by the Tellers Committee.
  • Candidates who violate campaign rules and requirements will be subject to actions described below and as determined appropriate by the Committee following its investigation. Such actions may include:
    • Prohibition from running a second term (VP positions), if elected
    • Immediate removal from the election slate or forfeiture of the election
    • Prohibition from subsequent nominations in any future year (if election lost) 
    • Loss of voting rights on the Board for one year (if a current Board member)
    • Submission of the violation and finding to the Professional Conduct Committee
  • Members who violate campaign rules and requirements will be subject to actions described below and as determined appropriate by the Committee following its investigation. Such actions may include:
    • Elimination of vote cast during current election
    • Ban from Society election voting rights for five years
    • Ban from all voting rights for three years
    • Prohibition from nomination as a candidate in future elections for five years
    • Prohibition from service as a chair of a Society committee or leadership position in a Practice Specialty, Region, Area, Chapter, Section or Common Interest Group for five years
    • Submission of the violation and finding to the Professional Conduct Committee

Any questions concerning campaign rules and regulations, or campaigning actions being considered, should be directed to the Chair, Nominations and Elections Committee, or to the staff liaison, Director of Member/Region Affairs no later than April 1st of the election year. A verbal or written response will be provided at the soonest possible time.

Approved By/Date: BOD approved 2/19/11

Replaces Edition Dated:6/00

Next Revision Due: