ALSC Election Process
2026 ALSC Election
General Timeline
ALSC's elections occur concurrently with ALA's. More details about the ALA election process are available on the ALA Election Page. Each year, the ALSC membership elects a Vice President/President-Elect. And, every three years, a new-to-ALSC Director, Division Councilor and Fiscal Officer are also elected. More information about the roles and responsibilities of these positions are under the "Governance" section of the ALSC Handbook of Organization.
Nominations (including self-nominations) are welcomed and may be sent to the co-chairs of the Nominating Committee, per the timeline below. Additionally, per ALSC Bylaws Article X: Nominations and Elections, Sec. 4. A candidate may be nominated by a petition signed by twenty-five personal members of ALSC. The nominee shall be a member in good standing of the Association. The petition and the written consent of the nominee must be filed with the ALSC Executive Director within the deadlines established by the ALA elections (currently December 1) so that the petition candidate has time to complete their biographical information. The names of the candidates who have filed by petition shall be listed on the official ballot. Information about petition candidates, including how to start an e-petition, is found on the ALA election web page.
Fall/Early Winter
The ALSC Vice President/President-Elect appoints a Nominating Committee. Per the committee's membership statement in the ALSC Handbook, the Past-President is invited to serve in the year immediately following the Past-Presidential year.
February-March
Nominations for the ballot are typically collected by the Nominating Committee through March 31. The 2025 Nominating Committee is building a slate of candidates for the following positions. The committee confirms two candidates for each position available who will stand for election on the spring 2026 ballot.
Governance positions: 3-year terms serving from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029.
- President/President-Elect
- Division Councilor
- Three Board of Directors
Additional Information is available at the nominating process FAQs page.
February-June
The Nominating Committee drafts a list of potential candidates.
Nominating Committee meets to draft slate of potential candidates.
ALSC office verifies eligibility of potential candidates.
June-August
Nominating Committee sends provisional invitations to candidates; following up with each candidate to ensure there are no potential conflicts of interest.
Candidates who consent to stand for election submit an online consent form.
Nominating Committee must find replacement candidates for those candidates who do not meet consent submission deadline. An official slate must be submitted by October 1, per the ALSC bylaws.
September
September 15 is the deadline for office to receive all statements of consent.
Office will send candidates instructions on completing the online biographical information form. Candidates can begin completing the online biographical forms.
October
Slate presented to the ALSC Executive Committee during their fall meeting, and may thereafter be made public.
ALSC office will then send candidates instructions to complete their online ballot.
December
Candidates to submit information via the online biographical information form by deadline established by ALA.
Slate is posted online and Governance candidates will be featured on the ALSC blog.
Before December 31, the ALSC Office will follow up with any candidates whose memberships expire at year-end to make sure they renew and will therefore be able to vote.
Deadline for petition candidates to provide written consent to appear on the ballot, as well as petition with at least 25 names in support of candidacy, to the ALSC office
January
Deadline for ALA members to request paper ballots
March
Election opens.
April
Election closes in early April.
Election results are announced. The office notifies both successful and unsuccessful candidates.
June
Board, Vice President/President-Elect, Fiscal Officer, and Division Councilor terms begin at the close of Annual Conference.
