Pursuant to Article IX of the NASJE Constitution and Bylaws, the Board of Directors provides this notice of a proposed amendment to be voted on at the Annual Business Meeting on September 29, 2026. This notice is being sent 49 days in advance of the meeting, satisfying the 45-day notice requirement of Article IX.
What the amendment does and reasons for the proposed changes
The proposed amendment would authorize members in good standing to cast election ballots for the board of directors electronically through a secure, verifiable platform. Every member in good standing is entitled to one vote in the affairs of the Association, but travel, budgets, and schedules prevent many members from attending the annual meeting. Electronic balloting lets the full membership participate in choosing the Association’s leadership, consistent with the verifiable electronic methods our bylaws already trust for proxy authorization, meeting notices, and Article X membership votes.
The proposed amendment would also change the timing of the election to at least 60 days prior to the annual meeting. The elected officers would still be sworn in and begin their terms at the annual meeting; this would just allow the election to be held ahead of time. This allows for new board members to plan to attend the board meeting that takes place after the conference and to be better prepared for their new roles.
Additional conforming language changes are also proposed, such as the removal of proxy voting language for elections (which would no longer be necessary) and the timing of the call for nominations.
Finally, the proposed amendment removes the option for physical mail-in votes on general questions that need to be put to a vote in favor of electronic voting, which was already authorized for this purpose. With current technology, there is no longer a need for physical mail-in voting and it is not logistically feasible.
What does not change
Eligibility to vote, the offices elected, the timing and duration of officer terms, the majority required for election, secret balloting, and the nomination process all remain the same. The amendment removes physical mail votes on general membership questions and changes the timeframe for board nominations/elections and how ballots may be cast — nothing else.
If adopted, when it takes effect
The amendment would apply beginning with the 2027 election cycle. This year’s election will proceed under the current rules.
Read the proposed amendment
Please read the full text of the proposed amendment.
Voting procedures
Your vote matters even if you cannot attend. Adoption requires a two-thirds vote, and Article IX requires that a majority of members be present at the meeting or vote by proxy. If you will not be at the Annual Business Meeting, please submit a signed and dated proxy authorization to Ileen Gerstenberger at ileen.gerstenberger@live.com so your voice is counted. Each member present is limited to casting two proxy votes.