2024 NAMI Elections

NAMI is pleased to announce that the 2024 NAMI Elections are open. The NAMI Board welcomes nominations of current NAMI members from NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates across the Alliance. Members are also invited to bring forward proposed amendments to the NAMI Bylaws and Board resolutions. 

If your state or affiliate is considering nominating a candidate for the Board or proposing an amendment or resolution, please review the Election Information 2024 document. 

2024 Open Letter to NAMI Membership

For more information on this year's call for candidates, please read the 2024 Open Letter from the NAMI Board President. Again this year, the board is highlighting specific skills that they are seeking in candidates to strengthen the current skill sets on the board. The letter also highlights the nomination process and requirements of the candidates.

NAMI Board President, Joyce A. Campbell, explains what NAMI Board service means and outlines requirements for potential candidates in the following video.

 

2024 Elections Key Dates

Below are important deadlines and key dates related to this year's NAMI elections process:

  • March 27, 11:59 p.m. ET: Membership submission deadline for NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates
  • April 6, 11:59 p.m. ET: Candidate nominations, proposed bylaws amendments and resolutions are due
  • May 3: Voting packets emailed to eligible NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates
  • May 6: Online voting opens
  • June 3: Live candidate speeches at NAMICon 2024
  • June 4, 6:00 p.m. MT: Online voting closes
  • June 5, 1:45-2:45 p.m. MT: NAMI Annual Meeting at NAMICon 2024


Candidates for the NAMI Board of Directors

The election of new members to the NAMI Board of Directors takes place prior to the NAMI Annual Meeting which will be held at NAMICon on Wednesday, June 5. 

Five new members are elected each year to serve for a standard three-year term. Nominees must be current NAMI members of the NAMI Affiliate or NAMI State Organization making the nomination. Each NAMI Affiliate and NAMI State Organization may nominate no more than one candidate. Nominations may be made only by NAMI Affiliates and NAMI State Organizations that are in good standing and have submitted their memberships and dues to NAMI by the membership deadline of Wednesday, March 27 at 11:59 p.m. ET (70 days prior to the NAMI Annual Meeting).

To ensure compliance with NAMI's Bylaws, 75% of the NAMI Board must be "persons who have or have had lived experience with serious mental illness, or parents or other relatives, including civil partners, thereof". Candidates are asked to make a statement to this effect. Because all currently seated board members for the 2023 - 2024 term do self-identify under this definition, nominations of those who do not have lived experience as an individual or as a family member are welcomed to this 2024 election cycle.

Potential candidates are encouraged to watch this recording from a recent Board Expectations call held on Tuesday, March 5, as well as read the Undertaking NAMI Board Service document, to help them make an informed decision before embarking upon NAMI Board service. 

Candidate Nominations 
 

To nominate a Board candidate, the nominating NSONA must complete a nomination packet. The completed packet with accompanying materials must be sent to candidates@nami.org no later than Saturday, April 6 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

  • Nomination Packet for Incorporated NSONAs (NAMI State Organizations & Model A/C Affiliates)
  • Nomination Packet for Unincorporated NAMI Affiliates (Model B)


Bylaws Amendment Proposals

For consideration in the 2024 NAMI elections, proposed amendments to the NAMI Bylaws must be submitted in writing to NAMIBoard@nami.org and received by NAMI no later than Saturday, April 6, 2024. Proposed amendments to the NAMI Bylaws must be submitted in amendment form, with the full text of the relevant bylaws section(s) including any strikeouts or additions. For guidance on making submissions, please contact us at voting@nami.org.

Resolutions

For consideration in the 2024 NAMI elections, proposed resolutions must be received by NAMI at the address below by United States Postal Service (USPS), either by registered mail, certified mail, Express Mail or Priority Mail, or any other USPS service offering Return Receipts or Signature Confirmation no later than Saturday, April 6, 2024 (Please note: The submission deadline falls on a weekend when the NAMI office will be closed. Please plan to submit any proposals well in advance of the deadline.)

NAMI, Attn: Elections 2024
4301 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22203

For guidance on making submissions, please contact us at voting@nami.org.

Voting Information Distribution

NAMI will be sending voting materials electronically to the leadership of each eligible NAMI State Organization and NAMI Affiliate. These voting materials will be emailed Friday, May 3. The email will contain the necessary information in order to participate in the election process, and direct affiliates and state organizations to the NAMI website for details about candidates for the Board as well as proposed bylaws amendments.

To be sure that voting information gets to the correct leaders for your NAMI organization, please work with NAMI Member Services to update your current leadership contacts in our national database.

Online Voting

Eligible NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates will communicate to NAMI the person who should submit their organization's ballot on their behalf. Those credentialed voters will then be sent instructions to cast their ballot in the online voting system. Voting opens on Monday, May 6, 2024 and will close on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. MT SHARP.

Election Results

Election results will be reported at the NAMI Annual Meeting being held at NAMICon on June 5, 2024 from 1:45-2:45 p.m. MT. Results will also be posted on www.nami.org/voting.

Help Center

Visit our Help Center to learn about and share knowledge on a variety of topics, including NAMI 360, membership management, the NAMI Convention, Helpline FAQ, class reporting and more.