(Revised April 2003) Section 2.C

Section 2.C -- Extension Council Elections

Extension Council Election Process

The law states that biennial elections will be held to select members of the council. Council members are elected for a four-year term during the general election held the first Tuesday in November. The number of members elected is determined by a rotation--four members elected one year, five members elected the next.

Nomination procedure

A four member nomination committee is selected by the extension council. There are to be no council members on the committee and it is to be gender balanced.

Duties of Nomination Committee:

  • Select candidates that will help ensure a geographical distribution of the council members.
  • Assist nominees with circulating their petitions.
  • Nominate enough candidates so that voters have a choice (more than five candidates when four are to be elected, and more than six candidates when five are to be elected).
  • Present nominating committee report to extension council by August meeting.

Duties of Nominee

  • To qualify for the election ballot, each nominee shall file a nominating petition signed by at least 25 qualified electors of the district with the county commissioner of elections at least 69 days before the date of election.

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Vacancies on the Extension Council

Should a vacancy occur because of death, moving, or resignation, the council is responsible for filling the vacancy as prescribed by the law.

Procedure:

1. Whenever a vacancy is created on the extension council, there is need for formal action (by motion) by the council, e.g. accept a resignation; acknowledge a death, etc.

2. A copy of the letter of resignation along with an indication of the council's action is to be sent to the county commissioner of elections (county auditor). This can accompany notification that an appointment has been made (process discussed in appointment section Section M, County Director Handbook).

3. Notify area extension education director and associate vice provost of action taken.

A vacancy is not necessarily created when a council member moves. Only if the move is out of the county. In that case, a resignation needs to be requested and acted on by the council.

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Appointment to fill a vacancy

Extension Law (Chapter 176.A-Code of Iowa) gives council the power and duty to make appointments to fill vacancies on the council.

Procedure:

1. The council will have created the vacancy as provided and discussed earlier in this section.

2. The council will need to discuss potential candidates for appointment and establish a means to consulting them.

3. The council, by motion, makes the appointment.

4. The county commissioner of elections is notified of the council's action.

5. The newly appointed council member needs to sign an oath of office at the auditor's office within 15 days of the appointment.

6. The appointment will be to complete the unexpired term of the resigning council member. The exception to that is when the vacancy is created in time for a nominating petition to be completed and filed in which case the appointment goes only to Dec. 31 of an election year.

7. Explanatory examples:

a. An individual is elected to a 4-year term on Nov. 7, 2000, and takes office Jan. 1, 2001, and:
1) Resigns Aug. 15, 2001 - Council appoints to fill term to Dec. 31, 2002, and someone will be elected in November 2002 to a two-year term. This completes the original 4-year term.

2) Resigns Nov. 15, 2002 - Council appoints to fill term ending Dec. 31, 2004. It is too late to qualify a candidate for the 2002 election, thus appointee completes 4-year term.

8. Whenever this happens, be sure to discuss process with your area extension director and/or your county auditor.

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Election Process Calendar

Prepared by William E. Linstrom, former associate vice provost.

The Election Process Calendar is available at the following location.

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Council/election.html#calendar

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Sample Election News Releases

Fill-in-the-blanks news releases for use by field staff in informing the public about the Extension Council Election process are available at the following location.

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/communications/ExtCouncil/

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Forms for Conducting Elections for County Extension Council Members -- General Election

This list of forms is updated each election year by the associate vice provost's office, Iowa State University Cooperative Extension Service, Ames, Iowa.

The forms are available at the following location.

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/council/#Forms

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Paper copy of this section should include the following items that are in separate online files:

1. Election Process Calendar (October 2000)

2. Sample Election News Releases (April 2000)

3. Forms for Conducting Elections for County Extension Council Members -- General Election

Form CAED-1 (Notice of Appointment of Nominating Committee)
Form CAED-2 (Certification of Nominees for Extension Council)
Form CAED-3 (Letter to Nominees for Extension Council)
Form CAED-4 (Nomination Petition)
Form CAED-5 (Affidavit of Candidate)
Form CAED-6 (Oath of Office)
Form CAED-7 (Summary Report - Election Process)

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Revised April 29, 2003. Content questions? Ask the experts.
Comments or suggestions? Contact the committee, (e-mail: ofcguide@iastate.edu)