ASHA Election Practices

The following election practices are acceptable:

1. Candidates may:
   • Network with professional colleagues via face-to-face meetings, one-to-one telephone calls, text messaging, group mailings, social media platforms and/or group or individual emails to inform them of their nominations and seek their support
   • A candidate is allowed to use social media platforms in certain circumstances to promote their candidacy. The following is acceptable when using social media.
     • All candidates must comply with the guidelines of social media platforms they choose to use in addition to ASHA’s election practices.
     • Candidates are allowed to post one candidacy message per each ASHA social media platform (Community Sites).
     • Candidates can answer questions about their candidacy asked of them on ASHA social media sites.
   • Participate in ASHA planned activities provided to inform ASHA members of all of the candidates
   • Respond to Allied and Related Professional Organizations (ARPO) questions that their group deems important to their members that could be published in ARPO publications
2. Candidates’ supporters, including state associations and related professional organizations, may communicate with friends and colleagues through face-to-face communication, one-to-one telephone calls, group mailings, social media platforms, and/or group or individual e-mails.

The following practices are unacceptable:

1. These social media practices are not acceptable:
• Individually contacting members through ASHA Community sites about their candidacy.
• Posting prearranged questions by supporters on ASHA related social media sites.
• Candidate supporters communicating or asking for support of their candidate of choice via posts on ASHA social media sites.
• Posting on private ASHA Community Sites (e.g. an ASHA Committee, Board or Council working site).
2. Expenditures associated with candidacy (with the exception of the calls and mailings referred to in #1 and #2 above) including:
• Soliciting or accepting financial support from either individuals, professional associations, corporations, or employers
• Seeking or accepting an employer or corporate sponsorship that would distribute campaign items or mailings on a candidate's behalf
• Seeking assistance from commercial entities in creating and/or managing a candidate’s social media presence
3. Production and use of campaign paraphernalia including, but not limited to: buttons, fliers, balloons, display booths, stickers, ribbons, business cards, or other give-aways.
4. Seeking or accepting financial contribution from any ASHA Special Interest Group, committee, board, or specialty commission.
5. Seeking or accepting candidate endorsements from members of the Board of Directors, Committee on Nominations and Elections, SIGs, other ASHA committees, boards or councils or ASHA employees/staff.
6. Running on a "ticket" (i.e. encouraging members to vote for individuals as a part of a slate).

Members of the Committee on Nominations and Elections (CNE) shall remain neutral and non-partisan during the elections process. It is unacceptable for any ASHA member to lobby a member of the CNE on behalf of potential nominees.

Questions about election practices should be directed to the Chair, Committee on Nominations and Elections, via Andrea Falzarano, Senior Director, Association Governance Operations Team, afalzarano@asha.org or 301-296-5710.