Upcoming elections: Triennial Business Meeting 2006

Next year the terms for WRI's Chair and internationally elected Council members end. This letter gives information on nominations for the Chair and Council candidates, and the election procedure. Please take the time to read this information - the elections are an important opportunity to determine the policy of War Resisters' International.

Chair:

Article 7 (b) of the Constitution says: "The Chairperson shall be elected by postal ballot of the Sections in accordance with the Rules." The rules state: "(a) Candidates for the office of Chairperson may be nominated by a Section or any five members. Nominations must be received by the Secretariat not less than six months before the first day of the International Conference. The Secretariat shall send ballot papers to the Sections promptly after the deadline. Sections shall have the same number of votes as for the International Conference. Ballot papers must be returned to the Secretariat not later than 90 days before the first day of the International Conference. The Chairperson shall assume office in the course of the International Conference."

In short:

• The Chair is elected by Sections only
• Last date for receiving nominations: 27 January 2006
• Mailing of ballot papers to Sections: February 2006
• Last date for receiving ballot papers: 27 April 2006

Council:

The rules say: "(b) Candidates for election to the Council by the International Conference may be nominated by a Section or any five members. Nominations must be received by the Secretariat not less than 90 days before the first day of the International Conference. The election for Council shall take place during the International Conference on the basis of one ballot paper for each vote allotted in Article 6, provided that any Section, Associate Organisation or Associate Publication not represented at the Conference shall have the right to return a postal vote not later than one week before the first day of the Conference. Any ballot paper declaring votes for more than 12 candidates shall be invalid. Council members so elected shall assume office at the close of the International Conference."

In short:

• Last date for receiving nominations: 27 April 2006
• Mailing of ballot papers to affiliates: May 2006
• Last date for receiving postal votes: 20 July 2006

Votes:

Article 6 (b) of the Constitution deals with the number of votes at the International Conference:

"Sections shall have the right to send representatives whose collective votes for each Section shall be determined by the following scale of membership:

• Fewer than 500 members -- 2 votes;
• 500 to 999 members -- 3 votes;
• 1,000-2,999 members -- 4 votes;
• More than 2,999 members -- 5 votes.

Associate Organisations and Publications shall have the right to send representatives. There shall be two votes allotted to each Associate Organisation and one vote to each Associate Publication, except that such votes shall not apply in case of motions to amend the Constitution. Members of the Council other than those appointed by Sections shall have one vote on all matters except the election of Council and motions to amend the Constitution."

We ask all Sections to send in this information by 27 January 2006, in order for us to be able to determine the total number of votes when we send out the ballot papers, and to assign the appropriate number of votes to your organisation.

Don't hesitate to contact the WRI office in case you have any questions regarding the elections. We will be happy to assist you.

(Andreas Speck) (Yvonne Kassim) (Lyn Bliss) (Javier Garate)