Chapter election FAQ
Every three years, UFT members vote for chapter leaders, delegates and paraprofessional representatives. Those you elect will be responsible for communicating your views, priorities and ideas and also for communicating back to you decisions made by the UFT Delegate Assembly.
For this election cycle, we are reverting to the pre-pandemic election procedures that were in place for decades. School-based elections will be held in schools, and elections for the Retired Teachers Chapter and functional chapters will be conducted by mail ballot.
See some answers to common questions about chapter elections below.
General questions
Do I need to be a UFT member to vote in chapter elections?
Yes, only UFT members as of March 15, 2024, may vote in UFT elections.
How long will members serve in elected chapter positions?
Chapter positions have a term of three years. Members elected this year will start July 1, 2024, and will complete their terms on June 30, 2027.
What if I have questions or need election materials?
Speak with your chapter leader, check the UFT website's Chapter Election 2024 section, or call the UFT election hotline at 212-331-6310.
School-based chapter elections
For what chapter positions will school-based members vote this year?
Members in each school will vote for a chapter leader, delegate(s) and a paraprofessional representative.
Who is eligible to run for a school-based chapter position?
Any full-time UFT member may run for a position in a particular school if they are on the school's permanent table of organization or assigned to the school on the first Monday in May of an election year and have signed the union card at least 60 days prior to the election.
Who can nominate, run and vote for chapter leader, delegate or paraprofessional representative?
- All members of the chapter may nominate, run and vote for the chapter leader position.
- Only teachers are eligible to nominate, run and vote for school delegate.
- Only paraprofessionals may nominate, run and vote for paraprofessional representative.
- Additional chapter election rules can be found in the Chapter Elections 2024 section of the UFT website.
How is a school election committee chosen?
The school election committee may be designated by the chapter leader, with the approval of the chapter, or may be elected by the chapter.
Can a member of the school election committee also be a candidate for a chapter position at the school?
No, they cannot.
If I'm interested in running for an elected position at a school, how do I get nominated?
If UFT members are interested in running for chapter leader, delegate or paraprofessional representative, they should notify their school's election committee chair.
What is the deadline to submit nomination forms?
Nominations must be submitted to the election committee at least three school days after the distribution of the notice of election on the UFT bulletin board and in school mailboxes.
What happens if someone who is not a UFT member wishes to run for an elected position?
Only UFT members are eligible. All nominees must be UFT members in good standing on or before March 15, 2024.
What happens if a candidate runs unopposed?
If nominees run unopposed, the election committee must still certify and complete the official chapter certification data form and submit that document to the UFT Membership Department. No election is necessary.
How will members be informed who is running in their chapter election?
The election chair will post the candidates running in your chapter election on the UFT bulletin board at your school. If candidates are running unopposed and no election will be held, that information will be posted there as well.
How many delegates will be chosen per school?
It depends on the number of UFT members at your school. One delegate is elected for every 60 teachers.
What is the window during which voting will be conducted for school-based chapter elections?
Elections must begin no earlier than May 15 and conclude no later than June 18.
How will members be notified of the date of their chapter's election?
The election date will be posted on the Notice of Election located on the UFT bulletin board at your school, and a copy of the notice will also be placed in school mailboxes by the election committee chair.
How will the results of a school chapter election be communicated?
The election committee will post the results on the UFT bulletin board immediately after the election.
Functional chapter elections
How will functional chapter leader elections be conducted?
UFT members who are paraprofessionals, school secretaries, school counselors or another non-teacher title will receive their election ballots in the mail in May. The ballot will come from the American Arbitration Association (AAA), which is conducting the functional chapter elections. The ballot will be sent to the members' home address that is on file with the UFT.
School-based functional chapter members will also vote in their school chapter elections for chapter leader and, in the case of paraprofessionals, for paraprofessional representative.
How will we be notified of the date of our election?
Members of functional chapters with more than one candidate will receive ballots in the mail sent to the home address that is on file with the UFT. Election ballots will state the date of the election.
How can I find out which positions my functional chapter will be voting on this year?
Check your functional chapter's nominating form for a list of vacant positions or speak with your current chapter leader. You can check the Election Materials page to view or download nominating forms.
Who is eligible to run for a functional chapter position?
Individuals who are UFT members at least 60 days prior to the date of election.
Which functional chapters require petitions to qualify as a nominee for a position?
The following chapters require nominating petitions for members who wish to run for a chapter position: Retired Teachers Chapter, School Secretaries, Paraprofessionals, Attendance Teachers, School Nurses and Administrative Education Officers and Analysts.
For chapters which require nominating forms, how can they be obtained?
Nominating forms are available at UFT borough offices for members of the retiree, paraprofessionals and school secretaries' chapters. Members of the Attendance Teachers, School Nurses and Administrative Education Officers and Analysts' chapters will have petitions mailed to their home address on file with the UFT. Petitions will also be available on the Election Materials page or by calling the UFT election hotline at 212-331-6310.
For functional chapters that do not require petitions for nominees, how do members indicate that they wish to run for a position?
Potential candidates would need to submit a paper nominating form before the deadline posted for their chapter before the deadline listed on the nominating form for your chapter, These can be downloaded from the UFT website.
When are nominating forms for functional chapter positions due?
Check the deadline listed on the nominating form for your chapter.
What is the deadline for the receipt of mail ballots?
The AAA must receive all ballots at 120 Broadway in Manhattan by 8 a.m. on June 13 for all DOE functional chapter elections. The AAA must receive all ballots by 8 a.m. on June 14 for the Retired Teachers Chapter election.
How can I update my mailing address on file with the UFT to ensure I receive my ballot?
You can update your address on the UFT Member Hub or via the UFT website on the My Account page. In addition, you can call the UFT at 212-331-6311 and ask to speak to the Membership Department.
How can members of functional chapters receive a duplicate ballot to vote?
If you do not receive your ballot in the mail, contact the American Arbitration Association at 800-529-5218 after May 20.
When will we know the results of our chapter election?
For chapters with uncontested elections, members of that chapter will receive an email about a week after the deadline posted on the nominating form. For chapters with contested elections, they will receive results after ballots have been counted on June 13 and the results have been certified by the the American Arbitration Association.
Paraprofessionals Chapter
What are the positions to be filled within the Paraprofessionals Chapter?
This year, paraprofessionals will elect members to the following positions: officers (chapter leader, first vice chair, second vice chair, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer and assistant treasurer), five borough coordinators, 15 at-large members of the executive board, 32 district coordinators, 262 Delegate Assembly delegates and a paraprofessional representative for each school.
Who is eligible to run for officer positions in the Paraprofessionals Chapter?
You must have been a UFT member of the paraprofessional chapter for two years prior to your date of nomination.
Who is eligible to run for as executive board member in the Paraprofessionals Chapter?
Candidates must be UFT members for 60 days prior to April 12, 2024, which is the final date nominations may be received.
Who is eligible to run as a borough coordinator in the Paraprofessionals Chapter?
A candidate for borough coordinator must have been a member of the paraprofessional executive board for two years. In addition, nominating forms must be signed by at least two paraprofessional district coordinators from the same borough or at least one from Staten Island.
Who is eligible to run for paraprofessional district coordinator?
Members must meet one of the following qualifications:
- You must be a paraprofessional working in a school within the geographic boundary of the school district you are running to represent.
- Be a present or past paraprofessional representative for at least one year
- Be a present or past paraprofessional chapter executive board member for at least one year
In addition, nominating forms must have the signature of at least two paraprofessional representatives from the same district.
When are nominating forms due for paraprofessional district and borough coordinators?
Nominating forms were due at the respective UFT borough office by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
When are nominating forms due for officers, executive board members and delegates?
Nominating forms were due by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 12, 2024.
Who is eligible to run for a school-based paraprofessional representative position?
You must be a UFT member for at least 60 days prior to the date of your school election and a working paraprofessional.
When will we know the results of the chapterwide election?
For positions with uncontested elections, members will receive an email approximately a week after the deadline posted on the nominating form. For positions with contested elections, members will receive results after ballots have been counted on June 13 and the results have been certified by the the American Arbitration Association.
How will we know the results of school-based elections for paraprofessional representatives?
Results for school-based elections for paraprofessional representatives will be posted at your school location on the UFT bulletin board.