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ARTICLE VIII. ELECTIONS OF THE OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES

Section 1—President-Elect, Vice President, Treasurer, At-Large Trustee, Action Committee Trustee

1. The House of Delegates shall elect the President-Elect, Vice President, Treasurer, one Trustee-at-Large, and one Action Committee Trustee of the Association at its annual meeting. Prior to said meeting, the At-Large Trustees shall appoint a Nominations Committee.

2. At the time designated in the order of business for the Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates, the Nominations Committee shall present the names of all nominees then known for each of the offices and At-Large Trustee position to the House of Delegates. Following the report of the Nominations Committee, additional nominations for each of the offices and At-large Trustee position may be made from the floor of the House of Delegates.

3. Each nominee shall have the opportunity to appear before each region individually at the Annual Meeting. The candidates for each individual office will appear in a random order established by the Nominations Committee.

4. Challenges to offered credentials shall be received by the Nominations Committee and reviewed before 5:00 PM on the day preceding elections with the candidate, prior to which he/she may revise an offered curriculum vitae or statement of candidacy. If such revised credentials are subsequently found to be false, the candidate will be found to be disqualified, and the runner-up shall be elected in his/her place. The Board of Trustees will fill vacancies in such positions.

5. Challenges to the election results shall be reported to the Nominations Committee before the post-convention Board of Trustees meeting. The Nominations Committee will then investigate the challenge before the post-convention Board of Trustees meeting and will report their preliminary findings to the rising Senior Trustee-at-Large before that meeting. The Senior Trustee-at-large will then be responsible for reporting all information on challenges to the Board of Trustees at the post-convention Board of Trustees meeting. (1994)

6. All national officers shall take office immediately upon their election, with the exception of the President-Elect, who will take office approximately 30 days prior to the June Board of Trustees meeting following his/her election.

7. No Member shall be permitted to run for more than one national office within a single session of the House of Delegates. (2003)

Section 2—Election Procedures

1. Voting shall be made by secret ballot, with each delegate entitled to cast one vote for each office to be filled.

2. The candidates for each office receiving a majority of the votes cast for that office shall be elected. Elections for any national offices in which there are greater than two candidates use a system of instant runoff voting. Under this system, in which each chapter has as many votes as they have delegates to the HOD as outlined in Article IX of the Bylaws, each delegate ranks the candidates in order of preference. The counting of ballots simulates a series of runoff elections. All first choices are counted, and if no candidate wins a majority of first choices, then the last place candidate is eliminated. Ballots of voters who ranked the eliminated candidate first are redistributed to their next choice candidates, as indicated on each voter's ballot. Last place candidates are successively eliminated and ballots are redistributed to next choices until one candidate remains or a candidate gains a majority of votes. In case of a tie the candidates receiving the two (2) highest number of votes in the first ballot shall be included in the second balloting. Additional balloting for said office shall continue until one (1) candidate shall receive a majority of votes cast on a reballot and he/she shall be elected to said office. (2002)

Section 3—Regional Trustees

Each established geographical region shall be responsible for determining the election of the Regional Trustee(s) from said region. Each chapter in said region shall be entitled to one vote in the election of said Regional Trustee(s), except in Regions II, III, VIII and X, where each chapter shall have one vote for each Co-Trustee. In all regions from which there are candidates running for national office, it is encouraged that regional elections shall be held after the national election results have been determined.

In regions with one Regional Trustee position, each chapter present from that region will cast one vote. Elections in which there are greater than two candidates shall use a system of instant runoff voting. Under this system, each chapter ranks the candidates in order of preference. The counting of ballots simulates a series of runoff elections. All first choices are counted, and if no candidate wins a majority of first choices, then the last choice candidate is eliminated. Ballots of voters who ranked the eliminated candidate first are redistributed to their next choice candidates, as indicated on each voter's ballot. Last place candidates are successively eliminated and ballots are redistributed to next choices until one candidate remains or a candidate gains a majority of votes.

In regions with more than one position for Regional Trustee, the above method will be used to determine the one winning candidate. At this point, all ballots will effectively have the winning candidate's name removed. After doing this, the ballots will be counted again, using the same instant runoff method described above, until a second winning candidate is determined. The names of the two winning candidates will then be announced with no reference to which candidate received more votes.

In the case of a tie, regions are encouraged to hold a reballot. During the reballot, the individual conducting the election shall vote. This ballot will be counted only in which case of a tie on the revote, in which case it will be used to break the tie and determine the winner. (2002) Regional Programming Coordinator elections in regions shall be conducted in the same manner as Regional Trustee elections.

All ballots for Regional Trustee or Regional Programming Coordinator elections shall be turned in by the Regional Trustee to the Trustees-at-Large immediately following elections. Disputes of election procedure or challenges of election results shall be made to the Trustees-at-Large prior to the start of the post-convention meeting of the Board of Trustees. (2002)

Section 4—Premedical Trustee-at-Large and Premedical Regional Directors

1. The Premedical Trustee-at-Large and the Premedical Regional Directors shall be elected by the Association's premedical constituency at a meeting of the Premedical Caucus at the national convention. The candidates for the position of Premedical Regional Director shall attend a school or reside within the region that they wish to represent in the upcoming year. (2004) At least five (5) affiliate premedical chapters must be present at the time of the election or the positions shall be declared vacant (1991) (2000). Both the Premedical Trustee-at-Large and Premedical Regional Director shall be members of the Premedical Caucus. (1991)

For election of the Premedical Trustee-at-Large, each chartered premedical chapter attending shall be entitled to one (1) vote. If there are greater than two candidates, the election shall use a system of instant runoff voting. Under this system, each chapter ranks the candidates in order of preference. The counting of ballots simulates a series of runoff elections. All first choices are counted, and if no candidate wins a majority of first choices, then the last choice candidate is eliminated. Ballots of voters who ranked the eliminated candidate first are redistributed to their next choice candidates, as indicated on each ballot. Last place candidates are successively eliminated and ballots are redistributed to next choices until one candidate remains or a candidate gains a majority of votes. (2003)

For election of the Premedical Regional Directors, each chapter shall cast one ballot with votes for a number of candidates equal to that number of positions available. Those candidates who receive the highest number of votes shall be elected. (2003)

Section 5—Premedical Representatives for the Action Committees and Interest Groups. (2004)

1. The Premedical Representative shall be elected at the national convention during each Action Committee and Interest Group organizational time by the same method as the Action Committee and Interest Group Coordinators, as detailed in Article VIII, Section 10 and Internal Affairs, Section III, E. #5, respectively. (2005)

2. The Premedical Representative shall attend the national leader transition and Action Committee transition meetings on the Sunday after National Convention. The Premedical Representatives to Interest Groups shall attend the post-Convention Interest Group meetings on Sunday after National Convention. (2005)

Section 6—International Trustee and Associate International Trustee (2003)

The International Trustee and the Associate International Trustee shall be elected by the Association's international constituency at a meeting of the International Caucus at the National Convention. At least five (5) international chapters must be present at the time of the election or the positions shall be declared vacant. (2002)

Each chartered international chapter attending shall be entitled to one (1) vote in the election of the International Trustee, and one vote in the election of the Associate International Trustee. In each election, if there are greater than two candidates, the election shall use a system of instant runoff voting. Under this system, each chapter ranks the candidates in order of preference. The counting of ballots simulates a series of runoff elections. All first choices are counted, and if no candidate wins a majority of first choices, then the last choice candidate is eliminated. Ballots of voters who ranked the eliminated candidate first are redistributed to their next choice candidates, as indicated on each ballot. Last place candidates are successively eliminated and ballots are redistributed to next choices until one candidate remains or a candidate gains a majority of votes.

Section 7—Resident Trustees

The Resident Caucus shall elect the Resident Trustees at the Annual Meeting. Any candidate for Resident Trustee must have already earned an M.D. or D.O. degree (2002) and be enrolled in a postgraduate training program. (2003) Each member of the Resident caucus present at the election shall be entitled to one (1) vote in the election of the Resident Trustee. In instances when there are greater than two candidates for Resident Trustee, the election shall use a system of instant runoff voting. Under this system, each chapter ranks the candidates in order of preference. The counting of ballots simulates a series of runoff elections. All first choices are counted, and if no candidate wins a majority of first choices, then the last choice candidate is eliminated. Ballots of voters who ranked the eliminated candidate first are redistributed to their next choice candidates, as indicated on each ballot. Last place candidates are successively eliminated and ballots are redistributed to next choices until one candidate remains or a candidate gains a majority of votes. (2003)

Section 8—National Leadership Code of Election Conduct

Members of the AMSA national leadership, including Board of Trustees members, Regional Programming Coordinator, Action Committee Chairs and Coordinators, and Interest Group coordinators, shall not give unsolicited opinions about candidates for national or regional office or candidates for action committee or interest group positions. Upon being asked about a candidate, leaders may speak personally about a candidate if, and only if, they clearly state that they do not speak on behalf of the AMSA national leadership. At no time should an AMSA National Leader make a statement about a candidate when serving in his or her official capacity (e.g., running regional time, serving as a speaker on a panel, facilitating a session, etc.) (2002)

In addition, no AMSA National Leader or Student Office Staff member shall take any action to unduly positively or negatively affect the election outcome of any candidate. If this occurs, any knowing individual is obligated to notify the nominations committee, who will determine the best course of action regarding the election by following the process governing violations of the Elections Code of Conduct. The nominations committee shall also immediately report the incident to the Trustees-at-Large to convey to the Board of Trustees who shall follow established procedures regarding violations of National Leader Standards of Conduct. (2007)

Section 9—Code of Election Conduct (2001)

1. No distribution of campaign materials. The Nominations Committee chair, with the assistance of the Trustees-at-Large, will determine how the candidates will identify themselves as such.

2. No form of mass communication will be utilized by any candidate in efforts to "campaign" with the general membership. CVs and personal statements shall be submitted to the AMSA national office and must be postmarked 60 days prior to the convening of the HOD. Candidates entering the race after that time may submit a CV, which will be disseminated by the Trustees-at-Large to the HOD.

3. Nominees shall publicly address the membership only at times determined by the HOD Nominations Committee.

4. Receptions and/or hospitality should not be used for promotion of a candidate.

5. No member of AMSA shall recklessly or negligently disseminate information on behalf of a candidate about another AMSA member or candidate. In addition, no AMSA member shall take any action to unduly positively or negatively affect the election outcome of any candidate. If this occurs, any knowing individual is obligated to notify the Nominations Committee in writing immediately, preferably by 5 p.m. the night prior to the election. If it is submitted after 5 p.m., then the Nominations Committee shall have the power to postpone the election for that office to review the allegations. Any postponement of the election beyond the closure of the HOD requires approval of the HOD. If the allegation of misconduct is found to be valid or will discredit the organization, the Nominations Committee shall determine the best course of action. (2007)

6. The rising STAL and the STAL (if not running for a national office) shall advise the Nominations Committee as necessary and conduct the HOD as appropriate.

7. In all other circumstances, the Nominations Committee shall determine the appropriate course of action.

Section 10—Selection of Action Committee Chairs and Committee Coordinators (2002)

A. Candidate profiles: Each Action Committee Chair, with assistance from the Action Committee Trustee and the Director of Student Programming, shall develop a candidate profile form for each Action Committee Chair and Coordinator position. This candidate profile form shall include the title of the position, a brief description and list of duties, all required meeting dates for the next year, and brief questions regarding the candidates' qualifications, past experience and vision for how they will contribute to the Association.

These candidate profile forms shall be made available 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting, and should be advertised and made available on each Action Committee listserve and the AMSA Web site.

B. Eligibility: Only full medical student members shall be eligible to run for Action Committee Chair. Full medical student members of the Association and premedical and international affiliate members shall be eligible to run for Action Committee Coordinator positions. (2006)

C. Elections: Elections for Action Committee Chairs and Coordinators shall take place during organizational time during the Annual Meeting. The out-going Action Committee Chair will create and chair an election committee made up of the out-going Action Committee Chair and at least two out-going Committee Coordinators or other AMSA members that are not running for a position. If the out-going Action Committee Chair is running for a position on the Action Committee, one of the Committee Coordinators who is not running for a position shall be selected to chair the election. A two-minute minimum speaking time is suggested for all candidates. (2005)

All voters must be present for the duration of all candidate speeches to vote for a position. Votes shall be cast on a one-vote-per-member basis. Each medical and premedical chapter shall be limited to a maximum of three votes per position. If a chapter has more than three attendees at organizational time, they shall designate three voters to represent their chapter. No member shall vote in absentia.

The Trustees-at-Large shall develop a ballot system that is efficient and allows chairs to enforce the three-vote per chapter limit. All ballots shall be returned to the Trustees-at-Large immediately after the elections.

Elections for Chair or single Coordinator positions in which there are greater than two candidates shall use a system of instant runoff voting. Under this system, each voter ranks the candidates in order of preference. The counting of ballots simulates a series of runoff elections. All first choices are counted, and if no candidate wins a majority of first choices, then the last choice candidate is eliminated. Ballots of voters who ranked the eliminated candidate first are redistributed to their next choice candidates, as indicated on each voter's ballot. Last place candidates are successively eliminated and ballots are redistributed to next choices until one candidate remains or a candidate gains a majority of votes.

In elections for more than one coordinator position, the above method will be used to determine the first winning candidate. At this point, all ballots will effectively have the winning candidate's name removed. After doing this, the ballots will be counted again, using the same instant runoff method described above, until a second winning candidate is determined. The process will continue until all spots are filled. The names of the winning candidates will then be announced with no reference to the number of votes each candidate received.

Disputes of election procedure should be addressed to the Trustees-at-Large and the Nominations Committee before the post-convention Board of Trustees meeting.