Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1514146
ISEA Communiqué • isea.org February2024 3 OPINION New election procedures for NEA RA By Mike Beranek, ISEA president, mike.beranek@isea.org 2024 is now upon us, and as with each new year, there are policies and procedures which take precedence to help focus our work as a union. Each year, we elect ISEA state- funded individuals to represent our state organization to the NEA Representative Assembly held at the end of June and beginning of July. To ensure we are compliant with the federal Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA), the ISEA is using a secret, mail ballot process to elect our state-funded representatives. All members will receive a plastic enclosure with the ocial ISEA ballot with the February Communique. The plastic enclosure will also include a return envelope with prepaid postage. These must be used to return the ocial ballot. No identifying information should be written on the return envelope, or the ballot may be spoiled and uncounted. The ballot must be completed and postmarked no later than March 15, 2024. Ballots will be opened and tabulated at the close of the March 30 return period. Notice will be given of the ballot counting to allow for observers. The election results will be available for the ISEA Delegate Assembly which begins April 12. All ISEA members will receive an email that will notify them of the new voting system and will explain the process. There will no longer be an electronic voting system and it is critically important the ocial mail ballot be completed and postmarked by March 15. A second change this year is the individuals who are elected as state-funded representatives will be elected to a three-year position. If an elected individual cannot attend the Representative Assembly during the three-year term, the individual who is next on the alternate list will be oered the spot. Of course, life has a way of making decisions for us, and if an elected RA Delegate must forgo their position, the alternate will complete the remainder of the three-year term. An NEA RA delegate elected and funded by a local association does not have to be elected to a three-year term as this term is dened by local policies. However, there are minimum requirements a local association must follow as established by the LMRDA federal procedures. Those requirements are: • The local association must distribute campaign materials for a candidate upon reasonable request, but the candidate must pay all costs and meet reasonable deadlines. • No union or employer funds or resources may be used to support a candidate (cash, equipment, technology, etc.). • Notice of Nomination which gives time, date, location, and format for making and accepting nominations, must be provided to voters. • Notice of Election must be mailed to voters by U.S. mail at least 15 days prior to the election. A mail ballot may serve as notice of the election. • Elections must be conducted by secret ballot, meaning the voter cannot be identied in any way with the vote cast. • Elections may be by acclamation if the number of candidates is equal to or less than the number of positions to be lled. • Delegates cannot be appointed. • Voting procedures must allow for voters to complete the ballot in private. • Absentee ballots must be made available. • Ballot boxes should remain secure from tampering. • All election materials should be retained for one year. • Mail ballot elections using secrecy envelopes and a secure post oce box are the best way to hold an LMRDA- compliant election. • Electronic voting procedures have not been deemed LMRDA- compliant and should not be used. • Observers must be allowed at the ballot package preparation, retrieval of ballots, and during the tally of votes. This 2024 NEA Representative Assembly will be held in Philadelphia, PA. The 2025 RA is scheduled to be held in Portland, OR, and the 2026 RA is scheduled to be in Denver, CO. Please be aware of the February Communique publication that will have your secret ballot! February 2024 – Vol. 61 No. 4 The ISEA Communiqué (ISSN 0019-0624) is published seven times a year (monthly except July & August; plus combined in October/ November, December/January, and April/May) by the Iowa State Education Association, 777 Third St., Des Moines, IA 50309, 515-471-8000 or 1-800-445-9358. $3.87 of membership dues is for a year's subscription; for nonmembers, the annual subscription is $10. Periodical postage is paid at Des Moines and additional mailing oces. Postmaster: Send address corrections to ISEA Membership Records, 777 Third St., Des Moines, IA 50309. Advertising: To advertise, contact Kimberly Knight at 515-471-8000 or email kimberly.knight@isea.org. ISEA makes no representations regarding advertised products or services that are not endorsed by ISEA or NEA Member Benets. Duplicate mailings? To stop duplicate mailings to the same household, contact the membership department at 515-471-8000 or email isea.membership@isea.org. President: Mike Beranek Vice President: Josh Brown Treasurer: Kelly McMahon Senior NEA Director: Rachella Dravis NEA Director: Sara Earleywine Executive Director: Mary Jane Cobb Editor: Mike Wiser Editorial Assistant: Kimberly Knight Visit us on the web at isea.org Cover photo by Rishanda Richardson Please be aware of the February Communique publication that will have your secret ballot! Three-year terms and paper ballots