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How do I register to vote?
Mass Chess members with active memberships in March 2025 can register for an online ballot on or before Saturday, April 12, 2025 by completing this form, or
with your full name, USCF ID number and a unique email address. Each member registering to vote must provide a different, unique address of their own in order to vote online.
To register for a paper ballot instead of voting online, send a letter with the same information as noted above to Bob Messenger at 4 Hamlett Dr. #12, Nashua, NH 03062, postmarked no later than April 12, 2025. You can to confirm that your registration request has been received.
Note, Mass Chess members with active memberships in March 2025 were sent emails on Sunday, April 6 and/or Monday, April 7 reminding them to register to vote. Members who did not receive an email should check their spam folder and/or complete the registration process described above on or before Sat. April 12.
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If I registered last year, do I have to register again this year?
No. You only need to register once. You will then remain registered for future elections, provided that you maintain your active Mass Chess membership. If, however, your membership expires/lapses and you later rejoin Mass Chess, you must in that case register again to vote.
You must also notify Mass Chess if your e-mail address has changed (or, if you vote via paper ballot, your mailing address has changed), by sending an to the Elections Commission.
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Are junior members eligible to vote?
Yes, junior members are eligible to vote; however, each member registering to vote must provide a unique email address.
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What is the process to vote, and when will voting take place?
Members who registered to vote on or before Saturday, April 12, 2025 will receive an email invitation from ElectionRunner.com in late April (specific date to be determined) with full instructions on how to securely submit an online ballot.
The online ballot will also contain a link to the candidate statements, which will be also emailed to all registered members, as well as posted by late April on the Mass Chess website. Online ballots must be submitted by the end of the day on Friday, May 26.
Registered members who requested a paper-ballot will receive a ballot by mail in the last few days of April, together with printed candidate statements and a stamped envelope for submitting the ballot. Paper ballots must be received by Friday, May 26, 2023 or brought in person to the Massachusetts Open by noon on May 27.
Note: The above dates assume that the Annual Meeting will take place on May 29. Under the MACA By-Laws, if the date of the Annual Meeting is changed, the election dates will also change.
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Are the ballots anonymous?
Yes. Both online ballots and paper ballots are anonymous. At no point will the Elections Commission or any other persons be able to determine the identity of any voter who has cast a completed ballot.
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Who will be tallying the votes?
The Elections Commission will tally the paper ballots. The ballots will be examined to ensure validity (for example, no more than 8 directors voted for). The online ballots will be tallied by ElectionRunner.com and reviewed by the Elections Commission. As noted above, all ballots will be anonymous; there will be no voter identification associated with any ballot.
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When will results be announced?
Results will be made public at the Massachusetts Open during Memorial Day weekend, and posted in the Chess News section of the Mass Chess website.
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How can I nominate a candidate for officer or director for the next election? Can I nominate myself?
Mass Chess members may stand for election for President, Vice President, Treasurer or Clerk, or one of the eight Director positions. Members can nominate themselves or be nominated by other members.
Each February, Mass Chess will issue a Call for Nominations to all Mass Chess members, with instructions for nominations, which must be submitted before the specified deadline date. The Call for Nominations will be sent to members via email, as well as posted on the Mass Chess website (for example, see the 2025 Call for Nominations here.
When submitting nominations on behalf of another person, please confirm that you have communicated with the candidate and they are willing to appear on the ballot. Please include contact information for the candidate; preferably an email address.
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