The board elections are essential for the growth of your company both economically and socially. They also aid in maintaining a solid governance. Competitive elections with high voter participation can prevent a monopoly on power, as the board has a range of expertise, experience and interests to meet the needs of the business.
Bylaws of your organization provide guidelines and legal rules on how to conduct board votes. They usually specify the number of votes needed to choose a candidate as well as the types of positions that require a vote, and how terms of office could be removed, added or changed.
In many member-based organizations the board of directors regularly votes on matters like membership tiers, dues, and other benefits. The primary role of the board is to ensure your organization runs efficiently and with integrity.
A well-organized board election process will include nominations and voting and a nominating commission, and training for new members to get them up to speed. This is a great way to build trust and engagement with your members, while showing your leadership capabilities.
It is vital that the nominating committee be attentive to the membership list and see that each candidate meets the requirements for the office. If a candidate is elected and later discovers they aren’t able to serve, the board will have to call a new election. This is avoided by asking that any member who realizes they cannot serve to have their name removed from nomination at the nominating committee meeting.