UAW 2865 Guide to Local Union Votes

The following is an overview of how votes, referenda, and elections are held in UAW Local 2865, pursuant to the Local Bylaws and the UAW Constitution.

1. When are elections for union office held?
   1. Every three years, all union offices at the campus and statewide level are up for election in the Triennial Elections. The next Triennial is in April 2024.
   2. In April and October each year, Vacancy Elections are held to fill any vacant positions in campus and statewide leadership.
2. What are votes, referenda, and elections?
   1. “Votes” are any time the membership cast ballots on an issue. It is inclusive of the referenda and elections, and also includes, e.g., Strike Authorization Votes and Contract Ratification Votes.
   2. “Referenda” are votes by the membership to take a certain action or adopt a certain position, such as recalling an elected officer
   3. “Elections” are votes in which members run for officer positions, such as campus Unit Chair or statewide President
3. Setting the Time, Place, and Manner of Votes
   1. The time, place, and manner of all membership votes are set by the membership or membership body
      1. Time: the date(s) and timeframe over which the vote will take place
      2. Place: where the polling will occur (online or at a physical polling location)
      3. Manner: How the vote is to be carried out
      4. “The membership or membership body” refers to either the membership at a Membership Meeting, or one of the following elected membership bodies:
         1. Between membership meetings, the Joint Council, composed of all elected campus-level and statewide leaders
         2. Between Joint Council meetings, the statewide elected Executive Board
4. Elections Committee
   1. All votes take place under the supervision of the democratically elected Elections Committee (EC), composed of one representative from each campus who are elected at a campus Membership Meeting.
   2. The EC is responsible for noticing the vote, ensuring ballots are sent to all eligible voters, supervising the vote, and counting and publishing the results.
   3. The Elections Committee does not have control over the time, place, and manner of a vote, and must consult and cooperate with elected Local Union officers.
   4. EC representatives cannot run for office in an election that they are overseeing, and must resign if they wish to run.
5. Election noticing
   1. The Elections Committee will notice Local Union elections to the membership via email and on the Union website, including all information for eligibility to run and instructions on accepting nominations.
   2. There must be at least seven days after an election is noticed for nominations to close, and at least fourteen days after nominations close for the election to be held.
6. Voting
   1. All UAW 2865 members in good standing who are from the relevant campus for the position are eligible to vote in campus elections. For statewide Executive Board elections, all members in good standing are eligible to vote.
   2. All officers will be elected by a majority of votes cast by secret ballot. All members will be given a reasonable opportunity to vote. In the event where no candidate receives a majority, a runoff election will be held.
   3. For all other votes, the electorate will be determined when the time, place, and manner are set, consistent with the Local Union Bylaws and the UAW Constitution. Most other referenda and votes will be statewide, i.e. of the entire membership.
7. Distribution of Campaign Literature
   1. The Elections Committee will distribute candidate statements that were submitted by the deadline by posting them on the union website and making the links available in emails to the membership at the end of the nominations period.
8. Campaigning and Union Resources:
   1. Apart from resources provided equally to all candidates, no other Local Union resources may be used by any candidate to campaign for Local Union office. This applies to cash, facilities, equipment, vehicles, office supplies, membership lists, etc., of UAW 2865 and any other union
   2. Candidates for Local Union office may not solicit resources from any employer, whether or not they employ UAW 2865 members. This does not include the use of facilities or communication platforms owned by the employer (e.g. campus buildings, department emails) to campaign or to distribute campaign materials.
   3. Union officers and employees may not campaign on time paid for by the union. 
   4. Candidates must be treated equally regarding the opportunity to campaign and that all members may support the candidates of their choice without being subject to penalty, discipline, or reprisal of any kind.
   5. Local Union resources may be used to campaign for any other votes on which the membership or a duly elected membership body (e.g. the Joint Council or Bargaining Team) have taken an official position, such as a Strike Authorization Vote, International Referendum, or Contract Ratification Vote for a Tentative Agreement that has been recommended by the Bargaining Team.
9. Challengers
   1. A challenger is a candidate representative who may attend the online ballot count to watch the conduct of Election Committee members to ensure that an election is conducted in a fair and impartial manner.
   2. Each candidate may designate one (1) member of the Local Union to be present at the ballot count as a challenger.
10. Protests
    1. A member who believes there is substantial evidence of fraud that influenced the outcome of an election may lodge a protest within 7 days, or before the next Campus Unit Membership or Joint Council meeting, whichever is later.
    2. Written protests should be made electronically to the Elections Committee.
11. Questions or Problems:

Email the Elections Committee at elections@uaw2865.org