The Election Process for 3rd VP

The Procedural Rules for Campaigns by International Officers and International Director Candidates can be found on the Toastmasters International website under “Policies and Procedures”, look for Section VI.E.1, which was updated on August 16, 2008.

It might be worthwhile to read this, for I have found that many toastmasters and district leaders are not aware of the fact that candidates are limited in travel to their own region only and can not speak, or have representatives speak for them, at district conferences outside their home region or, in the case of candidates from districts not assigned to regions they can not have representatives speak at any district conference within any region. Likewise, there are limitations on contacts being made.

The first step a candidate takes is to declare his/her candidacy and filing a Letter of Intent with headquarters. This typically and traditionally takes place at the regional breakfast for the international director candidates and at the PID luncheon for the 3rd VP candidates. Both of these events take place during the International Convention, after the business meeting. Last August there were eight candidates who declared for 3rd VP and following their filing of the Letter of Intent began campaigning. [a ninth candidate filed several months later].

In late December World Headquarters will send out a survey listing all declared candidates who have filed by that time to Past International Presidents, Past International Directors of the preceding two years, current Board Members, current District Governors and Immediate Past District Governors. In the case of the office for 3rd VP they may list one or two names of their preference from the list, or write in an alternate name or names.
The surveys are returned by Feb. 6th to an independent auditing agency who tabulates the results for the Nominating Committee

During the same period, members (15) of the Nominating Committee conduct extensive interviews with each of the declared candidates, most of them lasting upward to an hour. They may be followed by a second interview or written questions for further information.
It is the combined information from these interviews, written comments, survey results, and information from other sources which are taken into consideration by the Nominating Committee to select the nominees. The Nominating Committee has the option to solicit additional candidates.

Candidates who declare in August and, after a six-months campaign, are not nominated in February, have the option to run “from the floor” , as can any other candidate who files the appropriate Letter of Intent.