BTU Election Committee Information

The Election Committee wishes to remind all active and retired members that 2018-19 is a BTU election year. There will be an election for all union offices in the spring. All meetings of the committee are open to observers, and each meeting will include a period set aside for member questions. You may access meeting minutes by signing into the BTU Member Portal at members.btu.org.

April 9 Update:

Election Update: There will be no primary election this year. Mail ballots for the final election will be mailed out on May 10 and must be received no later than June 4. For members who do not vote by mail, in-person voting will be held at the BTU on June 5 from 8 AM – 6 PM. The tabulation of results will begin immediately after the polls close. Mail ballots will include detailed voting instructions. A hotline number for our vendor, MK Elections, will be published in May. Members who do not receive a ballot by mail during the week of May 13-18, or who experience other voting issues, are advised to call the hotline.

Candidate Forums: Candidates will have the opportunity to make a brief presentation during the next two membership meetings; members who would like to learn more about the candidates are invited to attend. Candidates for full-time office and Para Council will present at the April meeting; those running for Executive Board will present in May.

Upcoming meetings: Questions for the Election Committee can be asked during the first 15 minutes of each meeting, or members can call Ombudsperson Kimvy Nguyen at 617-396-7969. Please see btu.org/electioncommittee for more information and a schedule of upcoming meetings.

IMPORTANT: Your address must be correct for you to receive a mail ballot! If you have moved, please call 617-288-2000 to update your mailing information. If you have recently been, or currently are, out on leave, call to ensure you are a member in good standing. (Note: Good standing means paying dues according to BTU bylaws.) If you have retired you must be a dues paying member of the Retired Teachers Chapter to be eligible to vote. You can call the RTC on Wednesdays or Thursdays to check your status.

March 18 Update:

The signature validation process has been completed, and candidates who qualified for the ballot have been notified. Due to the number of candidates for each office there will be no primary election this year. See the complete list of candidates. Thanks to all who participated in the process!

Voting will begin in early May, when all members will receive their mail-in ballots. In-person voting will be held on Wednesday, June 5. An “Election Procedures Candidate’s Guide” is available on the member portal. An opportunity for candidates to address the membership in a public forum is being scheduled — more to follow.

March 12 Update:

DUE MARCH 13: Nomination Papers for the Spring 2019 BTU Election
Completed nomination papers should be submitted to the Election Committee Table at the March 13 membership meeting, beginning at 3:30 PM with a deadline of 6:30 PM (or the end of the meeting, whichever is later). The procedures for submitting papers are outlined on the nomination forms. Please be sure to submit your papers ONLY to the Election Committee table.

DUE MARCH 15: Candidate statements: Candidate statements for all offices other than delegate must be submitted by Friday, March 15 (extended one day) for inclusion in the Boston Union Teacher newspaper. We will enforce a limit of 350 words for candidates for full-time office and 250 words for Executive Board. Candidates may also submit a headshot or photograph. All submissions should be addressed to both gvirchick@btu.org and mmaguire@btu.org.

UPCOMING ELECTION COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Tuesday, March 12 (today) at 5 PM; Tuesday, March 26 at 5 PM. See more: btu.org/electioncommittee

January/February Update:

You still have plenty of time to be a candidate! Nomination papers for all offices and positions in the 2019 BTU election are now available in the BTU office. They include detailed directions for collecting and submitting signatures. Completed nomination papers should be submitted to the Election Committee table starting one hour before the March 13 membership meeting, with a deadline of 6:30 PM (or the end of the meeting, whichever is later.)

All offices and positions are up for election, including President, Vice-President, Political Director, Secretary-Treasurer, Field Representatives (Elementary, Secondary, Paraprofessional/Substitute), Executive Board (12 members), and Delegate (unlimited). RTC members will elect a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Candidate statements: Candidate statements for all offices other than delegate must be submitted by March 14 for inclusion in the Boston Union Teacher newspaper. We will enforce a limit of 350 words for candidates for full-time office and 250 words for Executive Board. Candidates may also submit a headshot/photograph. All submissions should be addressed to both gvirchick@btu.org and mmaguire@btu.org.

Upcoming meetings: The next Election Committee meetings are February 12 and February 26, both at 5 PM. All meetings are open to BTU and RTC members, and the first 15 minutes of each meeting are set aside for member questions and comments.

Check your status: By signing into the BTU Member Portal you can update your address, confirm your membership status, see Election Committee meeting minutes, and access the Election Procedures handbook. Find more election-related information atbtu.org/electioncommittee.

Need to collect signatures?
Nomination Papers for all offices and positions in the 2019 BTU election are now available in the BTU office. They include detailed directions for collecting and submitting signatures. Completed nomination papers should be submitted to the Election Committee starting one hour before the March 13 membership meeting, with a deadline of 6:30 PM (or the end of the meeting, whichever is later).

Upcoming meeting
The next Election Committee meeting is February 12 at 5 PM. All meetings are open to BTU and RTC members, and the first 15 minutes of each meeting are set aside for member questions and comments.

Check your status
All current BTU and RTC members should have received a postcard mailing from the Election Committee in early January. This confirms that you are on track to receive your mail-in ballot. By signing into the BTU member portal at members.btu.org you can update your address, confirm your membership status, see Election Committee meeting minutes, and access the Election Procedures handbook. See more election-related information on the BTU website.

2019 BTU Election Committee Members