Fairness in Credit Union Board Elections

Fairness in credit union board elections is upheld by a body of elected board members who defer to a set of bylaws that help regulate each step of the election process. While bylaws differ between credit unions, they tend to follow a similar pattern.

Like with any election, ensuring that there is integrity during the credit union voting process from start to finish is of the utmost importance to these cooperatives.

Many credit unions have found that working with an online voting platform is a great way to run safe and secure elections. Because the election process is completely digitized, there are many checks and balances that make it one of the most stable ways to conduct an election.

This article will explore the credit union voting process and how online voting platforms can help facilitate honest protocol.

Credit Union Elections

Credit unions are cooperative institutions. This means that every member of the credit union is eligible to run in elections as a board member if they are in good standing with the institution and the community. During a credit union election, members are allowed one vote each. This policy is typical for many cooperatives. 

The Procedure

In most credit unions, elections are conducted at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). There are numerous credit union elections, and one of the more important ones is the board of directors election. This process starts by establishing a nomination committee, which consists of members or the current board of directors. After this committee is established, the committee may accept nominations for potential candidates and set up the election. 

Qualifications to Run

A credit union typically has qualifications its applicants must meet–especially when it comes to anyone running for a seat on the board of directors. The details about the prerequisites of a specific credit union election, as well as what its election process entails, can be found in the union’s bylaws.

Here’s what some of these qualifications to run for a board seat might look like:

• Must be at least twenty-one years of age
• Must be financially literate or must become financially literate within six months of their election
• Must be an account holder for at least five years
• Must be regularly attending AGMs
• Must have no criminal record
• Must be leading an exemplary lifestyle
• Must not be an owner, partner, employee or director of any business or organization that is in the same or similar business as or in competition with the credit union

The above qualities would be examples of some typical prerequisites for potential board members that many credit unions share with each other.

Online Voting

A robust and secure online voting system will have a process that is trustworthy and transparent about its practices. This is also one way senior members are engaging young members in credit union elections.

Using an online voting system will allow officials to monitor and facilitate the protocol outlined above. Unlike with paper ballots, members’ votes aren’t vulnerable to tampering, vote tabulation is transparent, and data storage is secured in an online election. Additionally, user authentication is required, so credit unions can rest assured that only eligible voters are participating.

If running a secure election is your goal, check out ElectionBuddy’s tools today!