Each spring, LTA holds elections elections for all Site Reps and alternating Executive Board Officers, one year President and both Vice-Presidents followed by the Secretary and Treasurer the next year.  This year, it will be Secretary and Treasurer.  The Spring 2017 Elections will be held Monday, May 8 – Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at all school sites.  At the April 6 Rep Council meeting, the following election timeline was approved.  Any member wishing to run for any of the open positions should complete the Declaration of Candidacy Form (link at the bottom of this post) and return it to Ann Chaffey.  All LTA elections are conducted in accordance with CTA and NEA rules, the most recent of which can also be found at the bottom of this post.

Election Timeline and Procedural Components

1. The timeline, procedural components, voting by mail procedure and the challenge procedure must be established prior to the election. If the unit has year-round schools, more time is needed because mail balloting may be required.
2. Schools/work sites on alternative calendars shall be considered when setting election timelines.
3. The election begins with the announcement of vacancy(ies) and terms of office, and cannot be stopped until the conclusion of the election, including run-offs if necessary.

Secretary – 2-year term [member of Executive Board]:

• Is responsible for the formation and distribution of the Association’s calendar of activities;
• Keeps a careful and accurate roster of the membership of all committees and of meeting attendance;
• Keeps a careful and accurate record of the proceedings of each meeting, regular or special, of the Association, the Representative Council and Executive Board;
• Is responsible for the distribution of notices of meetings and of agendas and minutes for all meetings to members of the Representative Council and Executive Board, and to the Membership when appropriate;
• Maintains the Association’s webpage and monitors/moderates its social media presence; and
• Carries on correspondence pertaining to the affairs of the Association as directed by the President
• Stipend = $750/yr.

Treasurer – 2-year term [member of Executive Board]:

• Receives all funds belonging to the Association and is responsible for their safekeeping and accounting;
• Pays out such funds upon orders of the President;
• Prepares a written financial report for each regular meeting of the Representative Council and Executive Board;
• Is responsible for an annual audit of the books of the Association and distributing a summary of this audit to the Membership;
• Is responsible for submitting membership and financial reports to CTA, NEA and other agencies as required by law; and
• Files state and federal tax returns for the Association
• Stipend = $750/yr.

Site Representatives – 1-year terms [members of the Representative Council]:

(Based on formula in the LTA Bylaws and Standing Rules, currently = 2 per elementary site, 4 at LMS, 1 at SpEd preschool, and 1 for TOSAs, for a total of 16 positions)

• Conduct constant and ongoing liaison between the Representative Council and Active members at their school site;
• Serve as the official channel through which written communications and publications can be easily and quickly transmitted between the Association and the Active membership;
• Represent the views and the input of the Active membership in votes taken in the Representative Council, conducting frequent and regular polls of such membership for this purpose; and
• Perform such additional duties as prescribed by the Executive Board
• Stipend = $200/yr. + $50/yr. longevity bonus if re-elected for consecutive terms beyond their first

A Timeline for Elections shall include the following:

1. Announcement of vacancy(ies) and term(s) of office using a method that will ensure each
member is aware of the opportunity to file a declaration of candidacy;

Announcement = Thurs, 4/6/17

1. At least fifteen (15) calendar days between the announcement date of the vacancy(ies) and the
date of the election;

Election = Mon, 5/8/17 – Wed, 5/10/17 (32 days after announcement of vacancies)

1. Place, time and date of receipt (date received, not date postmarked) for declaration of 
candidacy forms;

Written declarations of candidacy must be received by Ann Chaffey at Jefferson Elementary by Fri, 4/28/17, 4:00 pm

1. Final date to acknowledge candidates’ declaration of candidacy;

Candidates will be announced on Fri, 4/28/17, no later than 8:00 pm, via the LTA website

1. Date for preparation of ballots;

Ballots will be prepared on Sat, 4/29/17

1. Date on which ballots will be distributed;

Ballots will be distributed to non-running Site Reps and Professional Relations Reps on the morning of Fri, 5/5/17

1. Date by which to request a ballot;

Written requests for mail-in ballots must be received either by Ann Chaffey at Jefferson Elementary or delivered to the Association post office box [Lennox Teachers Association, PO Box 2231, Hawthorne, CA 90251] by Thurs, 4/27/17, 4:00 pm; mail-in ballots will be sent via regular mail on Sat, 4/29/17, to those members on dues paying leave who request them by the above deadline

1. Date(s) when voting will take place;

Voting will take place on Mon, 5/8/17 – Wed, 5/10/17

1. Deadline date (date received, not date postmarked), time and place for return of ballots;

Completed ballots must be must be received by Ann Chaffey at Jefferson Elementary by Wed, 5/10/17, 4:00 pm; mail-in ballots must be delivered to the Association post office box [Lennox Teachers Association, PO Box 2231, Hawthorne, CA 90251] by Wed, 5/10/17, 3:00 pm

1. Date, time and place where ballots will be counted, which should be immediately following the 
deadline for receipt of voted ballots;

Ballots will be counted on Wed, 5/10/17, 4:30 pm, at Jefferson Elementary

1. Date that announcement of results shall be made to leadership, candidates, members, and 
posted at each work site, which date shall be not later than five (5) calendar days following the counting of ballots;

Results will be posted on the LTA website on Thurs, 5/11/17, no later than 8:00 pm, and posted at all school sites on LTA bulletin boards on Fri, 5/12/17, no later than 8:00 am

1. Dates and timelines for run-off election, if necessary; and

Run-off election (if necessary) = Mon, 5/22/17 – Weds, 5/24/17

Run-off ballots received/counted = Weds, 5/24/17, 4:30 pm

Run-off results posted on the LTA website = Thurs, 5/25/17, no later than 8:00 pm

Run-off results posted on LTA bulletin boards = Fri, 5/26/17, no later than 8:00 am

1. Deadline for filing of challenges to initial election and run-off if held (date received, not date
postmarked).

Written challenges to the initial election must be filed by Fri 5/19/17, 4:00 pm with by Ann Chaffey at Jefferson Elementary (8 days after announcement of initial results); written challenges to a run-off election must be filed by Fri 6/2/17, 4:00 pm with by Ann Chaffey at Jefferson Elementary (8 days after announcement of run-off results)

 

Procedural Components should include the following:

1. Method by which Declaration of Candidacy(ies) are submitted (mail, hand delivered, fax);

Declarations of candidacy must be received by Ann Chaffey at Jefferson Elementary by Fri, 4/28/17, 4:00 pm; declarations may be submitted via e-mail or hand delivery

1. Procedure for distributing election guidelines/rules to candidates;

Election timeline, guidelines and rules will be posted on the LTA website and at all school sites on LTA bulletin boards

1. Campaign statement of candidates (decide on limit of number of words, and what to do if limitation is exceeded);

Candidate statements will be limited to 50 words or less; in case a candidate submits a statement exceeding 50 words, only the first 50 words will be included on the Candidates’ Statement sheet

1. Method of distribution of ballots;

Ballots will be distributed to non-running Site Reps and Professional Relations Reps on the morning of Fri, 5/5/17; non-running Site Reps and Professional Relations Reps will make ballots available to members during non-contract hours before school, at lunch, and after school on Mon, 5/8/17 – Wed, 5/10/17

Mail-in ballots will be sent via regular mail on Sat, 4/29/17, to those members on dues paying leave who request them by Thurs, 4/27/17, 4:00 pm; written requests for mail-in ballots must be received either by Ann Chaffey at Jefferson Elementary or delivered to the Association post office box [Lennox Teachers Association, PO Box 2231, Hawthorne, CA 90251]

1. Whether declarations of candidacy must be accompanied by a campaign statement, or whether the statement will be solicited later. If later, a deadline date must be established;

Declarations of candidacy must be accompanied by a campaign statement of no more than 50 words, and submitted by the Fri, 4/28/17, 4:00 pm, deadline

1. Provision for elections committee chairperson or designee to be present to receive declaration of candidacy by filing deadline;

Ann Chaffey will be available to receive declarations of candidacy 3:15 – 4:00 pm on Fri, 4/28/17, at Jefferson Elementary; declarations may also be submitted prior to the deadline via e-mail or hand delivery

1. Announce that the names are to be listed according to CTA alphabet;

Names will be listed according to the most current “CTA alphabet”

1. If not provided in governance documents, election will be decided by majority vote. If a candidate does not receive a majority vote, a run-off election shall be conducted between the candidates receiving the highest number of votes. The names on the ballot will be one (1) more than the number of vacancies to be filled.

Open Nomination

(Refer to LTA Bylaws and Standing Rules)

Term

(Refer to LTA Bylaws and Standing Rules)

Campaign Finances and Use of Unit Resources

(Refer to LTA Bylaws and Standing Rules)

Candidates’ Statements

(Refer to LTA Bylaws and Standing Rules)

Ballot

(Refer to LTA Bylaws and Standing Rules)

Voting Methods

(Refer to LTA Bylaws and Standing Rules)

On-Site Voting.

(Refer to LTA Bylaws and Standing Rules)

Vote-by-Envelope at School/Work Site/Specified Site

(Refer to LTA Bylaws and Standing Rules)

Voting-by-Mail

Special care should be taken in all phases of handling of ballots to ensure the accuracy and the secrecy of voting by mail. The following procedures and guidelines have been developed for this situation:

1. A list of current official members shall be prepared, which includes the following: name, work and home address.
2. A determination shall be made prior to the election whether the ballots shall be sent to the 
school/work site or to the home of the member.
3. The voter shall be provided with:
   • A ballot;
   • Instructions on:
     1. Folding and placing of the ballot in the unsigned inner envelope;
     2. Placing of the unsigned inner envelope into the outer envelope;
     3. Signature and school/work site on the outer envelope addressed to the chapter; and
     4. Deadline date for receipt of the voted ballot at the chapter office.
   • A small envelope (inner envelope) in which to place the voted ballot;
   • A larger envelope (outer envelope) addressed to the chapter, on which the voter prints 
and signs his/her name.
4. At the time of counting, the names on the outer envelope shall be checked against the official 
list of voters.
5. The name on the official list should be marked to show that the voter has returned a ballot.
6. The outer envelopes shall then be opened and put in a separate stack for safekeeping.
7. All inner envelopes shall be placed in a separate container.
8. All inner envelopes shall be opened and the ballots removed from the envelopes, and placed in one stack for counting.
9. Refer to Section IX for the Counting of Ballots procedures.

Vote Requirement

(Refer to LTA Bylaws and Standing Rules)

Counting of Ballots

(Refer to LTA Bylaws and Standing Rules)

Challenge Procedure

1. A challenge cannot be initiated until after the results, including any run-offs if necessary, of the election have been posted at each work site.
2. Challenges for election of State Council Representatives, Alternates, State, and Local delegates to the NEA RA follow procedures in the CTA Elections Manual.
3. Challenging party(ies) must notify the unit president and elections chair of a challenge in writing, using the official Original Election Challenge Form (See Appendix N), within ten (10) calendar days after the announcement of the results of the election. If the unit president is a candidate on the ballot, please see item number 5.
4. Upon receipt of the challenge, the unit’s Elections Committee will notify all the candidates that a challenge has been filed and the nature of the challenge. The names of challengers and challenge forms shall remain confidential. Within ten (10) calendar days after receipt of the challenge, the Elections Committee shall determine if the challenge is valid, using the following procedures:
   1. Read and understand the elements of the challenge.
   2. Review all documents, directions, and procedures related to the election in question for 
conformity with the chapter’s election rules and/or the CTA Elections Manual
   3. Review the unit’s bylaws and election standing rules for procedures and practices as they 
relate to the issues raised in the challenge.
   4. Review the CTA Elections Manual for requirements that relate to the issues raised in the 
challenge that the chapter’s governance documents do not address.
   5. Fully and objectively interview the challenger.
   6. Fully and objectively interview every witness identified by the challenger.
   7. Inquire and gather the names and contact information of other chapter members who could or 
do have insight into the elements of the challenge.
   8. Analyze the issues of the challenge based on the unit’s bylaws and election standing rules to 
determine if there is a violation.
   9. Determine whether identified violation(s) may have affected the outcome of the election.
   10. Confirm that the resolution recommendations address each point raised by the challenger and 
that these recommendations have been reached in a fair and objective manner.
   11. Submit a written report including issues, findings, and recommendations to the chapter 
president and the Executive Board within the same ten (10) calendar day period.
5. Any member of the Executive Board who was a candidate in the race that has been challenged, or whose immediate family member is a candidate in the race that has been challenged, shall recuse themselves from discussion of and voting on the challenge. If in the case where the majority of the Executive Board is unable to act on the challenge the decision shall move to the Representative Council. In the absence of a Representative Council, the unit shall contact the CTA Elections and Credentials Chairperson through the Governance Support Department to determine the next step.
6. The governance body shall render a decision and issue that decision in writing to the challenging party and all candidates on the ballot no later than ten (10) calendar days following receipt of the written report of the Elections Committee in accordance with CTA Challenge Procedures as described in the CTA Challenge Procedures – Local /Service Center Council Elections on the next page. The names of challengers and challenge forms shall remain confidential.
7. If the governance body fails to act within twenty (20) calendar days of the original challenge, the challenging party may file an appeal on the official CTA Appeal Form to the CTA President.
8. The challenging party or any candidate affected by the decision of the unit’s governance body may file an appeal on the official CTA Appeal Form to the CTA President within ten (10) calendar days from the date of the decision of the unit’s governance body. The appeal shall include the information requested on the official CTA Appeal Form located in Appendix O.
9. In the circumstance where an election has been conducted to elect one or more officers, and the elections results are challenged, the winner(s) of the election shall hold office until such time as the challenge is resolved.
10. The challenge procedure for election of State Council Representatives and Alternates, and State or Local Delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly is outlined in the CTA Elections Manual.

Initiative Procedures

(Refer to LTA Bylaws and Standing Rules)

Referendum Procedures

(Refer to LTA Bylaws and Standing Rules)

Recall Procedure

(Refer to LTA Bylaws and Standing Rules)

Staff Involvement

(Refer to LTA Bylaws and Standing Rules)

download LTA Spring 2017 Elections Timeline

download LTA Spring 2017 Elections Declaration of Candidacy Form

download CTA/NEA Election Rules