This Planner is designed to help the Judges of Election plan for and schedule all the significant activities associated with conducting an officer election. The time projections noted are based on International Union experience in supervising elections and, unless otherwise noted, are included as recommendations only. Some of the listed activities may occur in a different sequence in your union requiring that the time schedule be adjusted. Any other activities applicable to your union not listed below should be added to the schedule.
To use this Planner, first enter the date of the election and then work backward entering the date of each activity. Remember to consider holidays and weekends. Follow any dates or time frames specified in your union's constitution and bylaws and be sure to allow enough time for adequate completion of each activity.
| Date | Activity | ||
| Union membership list updated and revised with current addresses to be used for mailing election notices. (6 - 8 weeks prior to the election) | |||
| Election and campaign rules prepared. (prior to the nomination meeting) | |||
| Nomination notice mailed. (at least 10 days prior to the nomination meeting) | |||
| Nomination meeting held. (4 - 6 weeks prior to the election) | |||
| Candidate eligibility verified and eligibility notification letters sent to all nominees. (immediately after the nomination acceptance deadline) | |||
| Meeting with candidates held to discuss election and campaign rules. (as soon as possible after the nomination acceptance deadline) | |||
| Period begins for candidates to inspect the union's membership list. (30 days prior to the election as required by the LMRDA) | |||
| Ballot designed and arrangements made with printer. (3 weeks prior to the election) | |||
| Voter eligibility list prepared. (15 - 20 days prior to the election) | |||
| Notice of election mailed to the last known home address of each member. (at least 15 days prior to the election as required by the LMRDA) | |||
| Ballots printed and challenged ballot envelopes, voter sign-in register, and tally sheets prepared. (I week prior to the election) | |||
| Polling place and ballot tally preparations completed and voter eligibility list updated, if necessary. (3 - 5 days prior to the election) | |||
| Date of Election. (Select a date and polling hours to encourage maximum voter participation.) (in a mail ballot election. enter the ballot mailing date which should be approximately 3 - 4 weeks prior to the ballot return deadline.) | |||
| Ballots counted and election results announced. | |||
| E-1 | |||
