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Elections
Nominations for 2008 MLA Elections
Results of the association's annual elections for second vice president, Executive Council, Delegate Assembly, and division executive committees are usually known shortly after 10 December, the deadline for receiving ballots. All candidates are notified by mail of the election results. The names of all winners are published at the MLA convention in the first issue of the Convention News, the results of the elections for second vice president and the council are published in the Spring issue of the MLA Newsletter, and the names of all newly elected delegates and division and discussion group executive committee members appear in the September PMLA. Members who wish to learn the results of particular contests may contact the coordinator of governance (governance@mla.org) after 14 December. Candidates and other interested parties who wish for information on vote tallies in particular contests should send a written request with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the coordinator of governance (MLA, 26 Broadway, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10004-1789).
Suggesting Candidates for MLA Offices and for the Delegate Assembly
Candidates for the Executive Council and the office of second vice president are chosen by the Nominating Committee; nominees for the regional and special-interest seats in the Delegate Assembly are selected by the Elections Committee. The members of these committees welcome suggestions of nominees. The constitution establishes certain requirements for candidates for the second vice presidency (article 6.D), for the council (article 8.A), and for the assembly (article 10.C). Suggestions may be sent at any time; since the election cycle begins in January of each year, however, it is best to forward suggestions in the fall of the preceding year. All suggestions should be sent to the coordinator of governance (governance@mla.org).
Nominating a Candidate by PetitionThe Nominating and Elections Committees' nominees for second vice president, the Executive Council, and the Delegate Assembly are listed each year in the Summer MLA Newsletter and at the MLA Web site. Nominations for these elections may also be made by petition. Articles 6.E, 8.A.2-3, and 10.E of the constitution give full details on how to nominate a candidate by petition. The coordinator of governance can provide further information (governance@mla.org).
Suggesting Candidates for Division Executive Committee Elections
Division executive committee elections are held in the fall along with the elections for second vice president, the Executive Council, and the Delegate Assembly. The executive committee of each division is responsible for placing at least two names in nomination for each open seat on the executive committee. At least one of these names must be selected from a list put forward by the membership of the division.
There are two ways to place a member's name on the list that will be considered by a division executive committee. (1) Use the space at the bottom of the MLA election ballot that is designated for this purpose. Names that appear in this space are considered by the appropriate executive committee for the following year's executive committee election. (2) Write a letter to the coordinator of governance giving the name of the person, his or her affiliation, and the name of the division that should receive the suggestion. Such a letter may be sent at any time, but writers should note that division executive committees make their nominations during their business meetings at the annual convention. For an executive committee to consider a suggestion, it must be received by early December so that it can be forwarded to the executive committee before the convention. Again, suggestions received in one year will be considered for the following year's election.
Members should note that the lists of suggestions considered by the division executive committees are compiled anew each year; names suggested by either of the methods described above are not carried forward from year to year. If a suggestion is not acted on in one year, it will have to be made again the following year.
Suggesting Candidates for Discussion Group Executive Committee Elections and Learning Election Results
Discussion group executive committee elections are held during each group's paper-reading session during the annual convention in December. The executive committee of each discussion group is responsible for making nominations for each open seat on the executive committee. Executive committee members welcome suggestions of nominees. To make a suggestion, either use the space at the bottom of the annual MLA election ballot that is designated for this purpose or write a letter to the coordinator of governance giving the name of the person, his or her affiliation, and the name of the discussion group that should receive the suggestion. All suggestions must be received by early December so that they can be forwarded to the executive committee before the convention. Members who wish to learn the results of a particular discussion group's election should write to the coordinator of governance (governance@mla.org), no sooner than one month after the convention during which the election was held.
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