Legal Definitions - open nominations

Open nominations refers to the formal process in a meeting where, after a group has formally agreed to do so, participants are invited to propose candidates for a specific position or role. This procedure allows any eligible individual present to suggest someone for consideration, typically for an election or appointment.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Community Homeowners' Association Meeting: During the annual meeting of a neighborhood homeowners' association, the current president states, "We have passed the motion to elect a new Treasurer. We will now open nominations from the floor." At this point, any homeowner present can stand up and propose a fellow homeowner for the Treasurer position. The meeting then proceeds to record these suggested names before moving to a vote.

  This illustrates open nominations because the formal announcement, made after a motion was approved, signals the start of the period where attendees can propose candidates for the Treasurer role.

• Professional Society Conference: A national professional society is holding its annual conference, and one agenda item is to select new members for its ethics committee. The presiding officer announces, "The board has approved the motion to expand the ethics committee. We are now opening nominations for new committee members." Following this, members of the society attending the conference can put forward names of colleagues they believe are qualified to serve on the committee.

  This demonstrates open nominations as the presiding officer's statement, following a prior decision (motion), initiates the opportunity for members to suggest individuals for the ethics committee.

• University Student Government Election: At a university's student government meeting, the election committee chair declares, "We have formally decided to hold elections for the new Student Body Vice President. We are now opening nominations for this position." Students present at the meeting can then propose names of fellow students who they believe would be suitable candidates for the Vice President role.

  This example shows open nominations because, after the decision to hold an election, the floor is formally opened for students to propose candidates for the Vice President position.