Starting in April, IRE will begin accepting applications for candidates for the IRE Board of Directors and for judges for the IRE Awards. This year, six of the board’s 13 seats are up for election. Two Contest Committee members, who judge the IRE Awards, also will be elected. Board seats are two-year terms while contest committee seats are one-year terms.
The initial filing period for candidates is April 6 – May 7. All candidates filing by this time will appear on the initial ballot when voting begins the week of May 17. Information and video statements from each candidate will be posted online.
Interested candidates may view an onboarding webinar to better understand the responsibilities of a board member and the dos and don'ts of being a board member.
As in the past, candidates may join the campaign after the initial filing period. However, voting will have already begun, which could diminish a late-filing candidate’s chances of being elected. Candidates filing after the initial deadline will have their materials posted online two business days after submitting all of the required information. Candidates for the IRE board and the contest committee have the option of joining the race up to 5 p.m. EDT on June 18.
In addition to candidates for the board of directors, the ballot also will include candidates for IRE’s Contest Committee (one-year term), which judges the IRE Awards. Those interested in judging will apply using the same procedure as IRE Board candidates and will be selected on the same ballot. Contest Committee candidates’ information will also be available on the IRE website, but they do not participate in the board candidates forum.
The board serves as the governing body of IRE and generally meets in person two times a year to discuss and vote on IRE business. One of the meetings is at the annual IRE Conference. The board periodically has conference calls.
Directors serve on committees and task forces made up of board members and appointed non-board IRE members.
The seats are for two-year terms, and incumbents may seek re-election to the board. A board position is unpaid; board members and their news organizations are expected to pay all, or a substantial amount, of travel expenses to board meetings. IRE will provide limited help in cases of need. Candidates must be IRE members in the professional or academic category.
Board members are expected to help raise funds and contribute financial or other resources to the organization.
To learn more about being on the IRE Board, watch the webinar below.
Six of the board’s 13 seats are up for election
The submitted materials will be posted to the IRE website.
Membership requirements of candidates and nominators: All candidates and nominators must have a current membership through June 30, 2021
1. Board candidates should submit the following by email to election@ire.org starting April 6 :
(These materials will be posted on the IRE website)
2. Each candidate must be nominated and seconded by a current IRE member via email. Candidates should ask the two people nominating them to email election@ire.org with a short statement (up to 70 words) of support. Statements exceeding 70 words will be cut at the 70-word limit.
3. Ahead of the polls opening, each candidate is encouraged to submit a candidate statement video of up to two minutes. The video should be submitted as a Vimeo or Youtube link, and IRE encourages closed captioning in video submissions. Interested candidates may view an onboarding webinar to better understand the responsibilities of a board member and the dos and don'ts of being a board member.
See the above calendar for deadlines on candidate filing, posting candidate profiles online and voting. Please note that contest committee appointments are one-year terms.
Contest Committee candidates must submit a photo and short bio. Nominations are not required to run for the Contest Committee. Submit your photo and bio by email: election@ire.org.
Contest Committee candidates’ information will also be available on the IRE website, but they do not participate in the forum for board candidates.
Voting privileges are granted to the professional (including international), academic, student and retiree membership categories. Associate members do not have voting privileges. Your membership must be current through July of the election year. Electronic ballots will be sent to the primary e-mail as listed in your membership profile.
Voting will begin the week of May 17.
Voting ends on June 19 at 6 p.m. (EDT).
View candidate profiles here.
Voting is open to current members whose member type is Professional, Academic, Student or Retiree. Associate members do not have voting privileges.
Ballots will be sent to the primary e-mail listed in your membership profile. For information on the email address on file, you can log into your member profile at www.ire.org, email ballots@ire.org or call 573-882-2042.
Current members will receive their ballot at their primary email address on file with IRE. For information on the email address on file, you can log into your member profile at www.ire.org, email ballots@ire.org or call 573-882-2042.
Please send an email to ballots@ire.org.
Please send an email to ballots@ire.org.
June 1 through June 17, new or returning members (Professional, Academic, Student or Retiree) will receive their ballot within 48 hours of their membership being processed. If you do not receive your ballot, please email ballots@ire.org.
Beginning June 18 until noon June 19, new or renewing members (Professional, Academic, Student or Retiree) will receive their ballot within 24 hours of their membership being processed. If you do not receive your ballot, please email ballots@ire.org.
Any new member or renewal applications must be submitted for processing by noon EDT on Saturday, June 19 to be eligible for voting.
Once you click the submit button on your ballot, you are asked to verify that your choices are correct. Then, you will receive a voting receipt.
Ballot receipts are sent to the primary e-mail as listed in your membership file.
No, all voting must be done electronically. Ballots will be sent to the primary e-mail as listed in your membership profile.
You can only vote once, and votes CANNOT be changed once they have been cast.
Votes cannot be resubmitted or changed.
Winners will be announced after the IRE annual membership meeting (schedule pending). Results will be posted online and via social media later that evening.
Reminders will be sent to the primary e-mail listed on your membership file. IRE is not responsible for undeliverable or bad e-mail addresses.
Yes!
