BOARD ELECTIONS
Board of Directors Elections
Voting ballots will be sent to only the voting delegate assigned for each Member. Voting delegates will receive an email with instructions to vote. Voting will be open June 5-July 23, 2026. Election results will be announced at the 2026 Annual Business Meeting.
The Sister Cities International (SCI) Board of Directors (Directors) is elected by its voting members. The election will be held through an online voting ballot software. The results of the election will be announced at the SCI Annual Business Meeting scheduled for Friday, July 24, 2026, in Washington, DC. More information on the election, as well as service on the Board of Directors can be found in the FAQ section on the SCI website and in the downloadable application packet on this page.
Our Board of Directors is looking to elect ten (10) at-large members this year for full three-year terms (2026-2029). Learn more about member voting in our FAQ section.
Candidates seeking these positions must agree to all requirements listed on the Board application. If elected, you agree to attend in person or virtually four annual leadership meetings; except you must attend in person for the annual business leadership meeting, in which you are a candidate. Every Board member agrees to make a minimum dues contribution of $2,500 at the beginning of each year served on the Board of Directors.
It is the policy of the SCI that every candidate applying for a Board position, including current Directors running for a second term, must submit their application materials and all supplemental before 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, April 27 to Kerri Carter at [email protected]. Applications received after this date and time will not be considered.
The application materials to be submitted include
- Application – to be completed, signed, and submitted as a PDF.
- Narrative Portion – submit answers to the following in Word format with your application materials. All narrative answers will be reproduced in each candidate’s profile on the SCI website and in other election materials provided to voting members. Please take note of all word count limits throughout the application. If an applicant exceeds the desired word count, Sister Cities International may edit your response to meet the requirements.
- A brief biographical description, including relevant experience in your sister city program or other organizations (up to 250 words).
- A statement of why you want to run for the Board of Directors (up to 200 words).
- The major skills and assets that you will bring to the Board (up to 75 words).
- Headshot/Photograph – for use on election materials and ballot. Please submit as JPEG or PNG.
- Letter of Support – from an elected official or representative of a local sister city program (Board Chair/President/Committee Head). If you have questions about recommender’s eligibility, please contact Kerri Carter at [email protected]. Please submit as a PDF (max size, 1 MB).
Please be sure to review the FAQs for Board applicants, attached to the application and also available online.
All candidates will receive electronic confirmation of their applications within two days of receipt. If you do not receive confirmation within two days, please contact Kerri Carter at [email protected] or call 202-347-8630.
PLEASE NOTE: The email is “election” and not “elections.”
2026 Board of Directors Election Calendar
Monday, March 2
For more information, send an email to [email protected].
FAQ
When is the election?
After candidates have been certified by the Elections Committee of the Board of Directors, the candidates will be presented to Sister Cities International voters via electronic communications as well as postings on our website. Voting will be open for approximately six weeks prior to the Annual Business Meeting on Friday, July 24, 2026 in Washington, DC.
How will people vote?
Voters will be sent an electronic ballot on Friday, June 5, 2026, and must submit their electronic ballot by Thursday, July 23, 2026, before midnight Eastern Time. Election winners will be announced at the Annual Business Meeting held on Friday, July 24, 2026.
Who are the voters?
Directors are elected by SCI’s member communities, with one or more representatives from each community serving as the voter(s)/delegate(s). Electronic ballots are sent to the voting delegate, or the primary contact SCI has on record, which is often either the President & CEO, Board Chair, or city liaison for a member community.
Is voting weighted?
Yes. Votes are weighted as either two, three, or four votes depending on the size of the community.
What information will be presented to voters?
Candidates’ answers to the narrative questions – bio, why you are running, skills and assets – will be provided to members. There will also be a virtual candidate forum conducted by the SCI State Representatives that will be posted on the Sister Cities International website.
When is the Annual Conference/Business Meeting?
The Annual Business Meeting will be on Friday, July 24, 2026 in Washington, DC.
I cannot attend the Annual Business Meeting but would still like to run. Can I?
When will the results be announced?
Voting results will be announced at the Annual Business Meeting on Friday, July 24, 2026.
Is there a Board orientation?
A Board orientation occurs on the day the new board members are elected.
Why are there term limits?
SCI’s Board of Directors has term limits to strive for a diverse board with a deliberate scheduled turnover of members in order to bring new ideas and keep the organization growing.
How many Directors serve on Sister Cities International’s Board?
There are up to twenty-seven (27) members of the Board of Directors, including the Chair, Immediate Past Chair (Chair Emeritus), twenty-one (21) At-Large Members, one Young Professional Representative, one State Representative, and two (2) members appointed by the Chair with the approval of the rest of the Board. The twenty-one (21) At-Large Directors serve three-year terms, with the other five serving two-year terms.
How is the Board structured?
The Executive Committee is composed of the Board Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and three (3) At-Large members. In addition to the Executive Committee, there are committees for Audit, Board Development, Finance, Fund Development, Governance, Human Resources, Membership, and Strategy & Programs. Committees include Directors, State Representatives, Honorary Board Members, or others appointed by the Board Chair. Ad hoc committees or task forces may also be created at the Chair’s discretion.
How are the Officers selected?
All officers (Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and the three (3) At-Large Executive Committee members) are elected each year, except for the Vice Chair, who is elected every other year and who assumes the position of Board Chair upon the expiration of the Chair’s term. Officers are elected by the Board during the first Board meeting of the newly elected board members (which is the second board meeting during the summer leadership meetings), following the election and appointment of new Directors.
What are the responsibilities of each Director?
Each Director agrees to attend in person or virtually four (4) Board meetings every year: two meetings at the Summer Leadership Meetings (plus the Annual Business Meeting usually held mid-July to early-August], one Fall Leadership Meeting, (usually in October with the location determined by the Board), and one at the Spring Leadership Meeting (usually in March in Washington, DC.) All dates and locations are subject to change. In addition, each Director must serve on at least one committee, which typically meets once per month via conference call, and which may include additional tasks depending on the committee. The Officers’ responsibilities can be found in Sister Cities International’s Bylaws.
What is the financial commitment?
Board members agree to make a minimum dues contribution of $2,500 at the beginning of each year served on the Board of Directors. Board member contributions are expected by September 1 of each year. Special payment options may be arranged with prior approval by the Board Chair. In addition, each Director is expected to bear the cost of travel, hotel, and incidental expenses for the four (4) annual Board meetings.
What are other commitments to be aware of?
Each Director must sign Sister Cities International’s Disclosure Statement, Conflict of Interest policy, and Code of Ethics upon assumption of Board duties.