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Cornell University

Office of the Assemblies

Employee-Elected Trustee Special Election - Spring 2018

Election Results

Candidate Profiles

Voting

The voting period is from Tuesday, June 5th @ 8:00am through Thursday, June 7th @10:00am. Voting will be conducted on-line.

Hare System (Ranked Choice Voting)

What is Ranked Choice Voting? Ranked choice voting (also called Instant Runoff Voting, or “Hare System” Voting) is a method of voting in which voters rank candidates in order of preference - 1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd choice, etc. All first choices are tallied and in a single-winner race, if no candidate receives a majority (50%+1) of first-choice votes, the less popular candidates are eliminated and ballots cast for these candidates are redistributed to more popular candidates, based on their voters’ second choices, until one candidate wins with a majority. As a result, every vote counts and very few votes are “wasted.” Voters cast their vote for their favorite candidate knowing that if he or she doesn’t gather enough votes to win, their vote will count toward their second choice. Your vote always counts for your highest ranked candidate until he or she is elected or eliminated and your vote continues to count once your favorite candidate is elected or eliminated until all the seats are filled. This helps ensure that more voters than ever are represented by someone they voted for and provides greater opportunity for more diverse representation.

Information for Candidates

Due to an incidental vacancy, staff members are invited to become candidates for the position of employee-elected trustee at Cornell, filling out two years of an unexpired regular four-year term. The elected candidate will serve as a full-voting member of the Cornell University Board of Trustees from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2020. As such, employees of Cornell University, regular full-time and part-time staff members in non-exempt, exempt, or academic non-professorial staff categories who are employed at the Ithaca or Geneva campuses of the university, who will remain so for the duration of the Employee-Elected Trustee’s unexpired term (2018–2020), are eligible to run in this election. If you are unsure of your eligibility, please contact the Office of the Assemblies via email: trustee-elections@cornell.edu.

Each person who wishes to be a candidate in this election must complete the following requirements by 12:00pm (noon) on Thursday, May 17, 2018:

  1. Read the Trustee Nominating Committee Election Rules.
  2. Complete the Online Registration Form. Be prepared to provide:
    • a candidate statement (1500 character-limit)
    • describe relevant experiences, community involvement and special interests 
    • a photo of yourself
    • campaign promotional materials (8.5 x 11" pdf).
    • View detailed information about the registration form requirementshere.
  3. Attend the information session:
    • Monday, May 14, 2018  at 12:00pm in 163 Day Hall
  4. Gather 100 valid, distinct signatures using the Candidate Petition Form. We recommend you collect at least 150. Any employee of Cornell University may sign your petition form (even if they are not eligible to run).  There is no limit to the number of signatures you may submit.
    • Submit your petition forms in person to the Office of the Assemblies (109 Day Hall) by the registration deadline of Thursday, May 17, 2018 @ 2:00pm.

After completing the registration requirements, candidates must also do the following as part of the election process:

  1. Attend the mandatory educational meeting on Monday, May 21, 2018 @ 12:00pm in 305 Day Hall.
  2. Attend the mandatory campaigning meeting on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 @ 12:00pm in 316 Day Hall.
  3. Participate in the Trustee Candidate Debate on Monday, June 4, 2018 @ 12:00pm-1:30pm in Klarman Hall.
  4. Submit the Candidate Expense Report to the Office of the Assemblies in 109 Day Hall by Thursday, June 7, 2018 @ 2:00pm, even if you have no expenses.
  5. Should there be cause to challenge a candidate, please complete the Challenge Form and submit it to the Office of the Assemblies in 109 Day Hall by Thursday, June 7, 2018 @ 2:00pm.

PLEASE NOTE: The elected candidate must be able to attend the New Trustee Orientation meetings on June 13-14, 2018, in New York City.

View the full Employee-Elected Trustee 2018 Election Calendar.