Sec. 13a.07.13.07. Election

A. The Department shall conduct an online election.

B. Ballots.

(1) Candidates shall be listed in alphabetical order on the ballot.

(2) Each certified teacher in the State shall receive access to a ballot through notice provided by the Department’s Education Information System.

(3) The ballot shall, at a minimum, have the name of each candidate and the candidate’s current school and teaching assignment.

(4) The Department may include additional relevant biographical information about the candidates on the ballot, including a candidate’s personal statement, resume, biography, and other information submitted as part of the nomination form.

C. Voting.

(1) The Department shall designate one week during which votes may be cast.

(2) In the event that more than 25 candidates are on the ballot, the Department shall schedule a second round of voting that includes the five candidates who received the most votes during the first round of voting.

(3) The Department shall extend the voting period for a run-off election in the event that the final two candidates receive the same number of votes.

(4) The Department may extend the voting period for up to an additional week at its discretion.

(5) Each certified teacher in the State may cast one vote.

(6) Voiding Ballots. The Department may void a teacher’s ballot if:

(a) The teacher loses certification during the election period; or

(b) The teacher attempts to manipulate election results, cast multiple votes, or otherwise interfere with the integrity of the election process.

(7) Technical Assistance.

(a) The Department or election vendor shall provide technical assistance to teachers who experience technical problems in casting a ballot if the problems are reported during the voting period.

(b) Technical problems that are reported after the end of the voting period may not be grounds to cast a new ballot or otherwise delay the election results.

D. Reporting the Results.

(1) The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall win the election.

(2) In the event of a tie, the Department shall conduct a run-off election.

(3) The Department shall notify all candidates of the preliminary results of the election, including the total number of votes received by each candidate.

(4) The Department shall report to the public the total number of votes received by each candidate and the Department’s final determination of the winner within 30 days after the end of the voting period.

E. Challenging the Results.

(1) An unsuccessful candidate may challenge the election results by filing a formal protest in writing to the Department within 5 days of being informed of the preliminary results.

(2) The Department shall decide all protests within 10 days of receiving them.