• The annual chapter leader election meeting must be held between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30. Meetings held outside this time period will not be valid. Your Lutheran Community Services (LCS) Team may provide you with additional guidelines about when elections should be held in your region.



• The chapter vice president has the duty to appoint a Nominating Committee for the nomination of candidates to chapter leader positions. The committee includes four to six elected chapter leaders and also may include additional members of the chapter (the number of additional members must be less than the number of elected chapter leaders on the committee). The vice president serves as the chair of the Nominating Committee.



• Provide reasonable notice of the chapter leader elections and the chapter leader nomination process to your chapter members (date, time and place). Note: Use the Chapter Election Invitation in the Chapter Mailing Service to notify members about your election event. You can also use the Chapter Mailing Service postcards to notify members about each chapter meeting.
  


• Voting for the chapter leadership board must occur at a meeting. However, a chapter may hold multiple election meetings. (It is suggested to hold a benevolent, service or social activity with the election meeting.)
  


• Voting must be in person. Members cannot vote by proxy or mail.
  


• Adult benefit and adult associate members of a chapter may vote for the chapter leadership board of that chapter. Each member may cast one vote for each chapter leader position.
  


• Voting must take place for every position that will be filled the next year, including those where the current year's leader plans to stay in the position and is running unopposed.
  


• The chapter leader candidates receiving the most votes for each leader position are elected. (In the event of a tie, the chapter leadership board determines which candidate is elected.) Elected chapter leaders hold office for one year, from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31.
  


• Chapter leadership election results need to be entered by current chapter leadership no later than Dec. 31 in the Chapter Leadership Administration Menu. A chapter must have reported the election of the five required leadership positions in order to receive their January operating funds deposit. Leaders are also required in order to access Care Abounds in Communities® grant dollars.
  

Additional topics:
Chapter Mailing Service
Elections - purpose of chapter leader elections
Five required elected leadership positions expected to be filled
No annual chapter leadership elections held
Nominating Committee & Recruiting Guidelines
Outgoing chapter leadership transition
Recruiting tips
Reporting annual chapter leader election results
Role of chapter leadership board in annual elections