2026 Board of Directors Election
Starting April 7, IRE will begin accepting applications for candidates for the IRE Board of Directors. This year, seven of the board’s thirteen seats are up for election. The initial filing period for candidates is April 7 - May 5. All candidates filing by this time will appear on the initial ballot when voting begins on June 2.
You'll also be voting for two members of IRE's Contest Committee, 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 will not make speeches at the conference.
About the IRE Board of Directors
The board serves as the governing body of IRE and generally meets two times a year to discuss and vote on IRE business. One of the meetings is at the annual IRE Conference in June. 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.
2026Â Board Election Schedule
Seven of the board's thirteen seats are up for election in 2026.
- April 7 – Period to declare candidacy for the IRE Board begins.
- May 5 – Deadline for candidates to file.
- June 2 – Voting period begins and candidate statements are posted online.
- June 9 – Second ballot takes place.
- June 16 – Third ballot takes place.
- June 20 – Voting ends.
How to declare candidacy for the Board
See the above calendar for deadlines on candidate filing, posting candidate profiles online, and voting.Â
Board candidates should submit the following:
- A photo
- A candidacy statement/bio limited to 500 words.
- A separate list with the following information:Â
- Current position
- Prior experience
- IRE experience, including conferences and workshops attended and committee service
- Expertise
- Related links
- Issues you would like to address as a board member.Â
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.
These responses will be posted on the IRE website. Submit your declaration of candidacy, photo, bio and responses by email: election@ire.org.
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 150 words) of support. These statements will be posted on the IRE website.
How to declare candidacy for the Contest Committee
See the above calendar for deadlines on candidate filing, posting candidate profiles online, and voting.
Contest Committee candidates must submit a photo and short bio. Nominations are not required to run for the Contest Committee. Submit your declaration of candidacy, photo and bio by email: election@ire.org.
Contest Committee candidates' information will also be available on the IRE website, but they will not make speeches at the conference.
Voting
Voting privileges are granted to the professional (including international), academic, student and retiree membership categories. 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.