How to Vote in Annual Elections

Sister Cities International holds annual elections using a two methods of collecting votes. All member communities in good standing have the option to either cast its votes via mail-in ballot or appoint representative(s) to cast its vote(s) in-person at the 2010 Annual Conference in Albuquerque, NM. A community may either cast its votes by mail or in person; the community may not cast votes using a combination of methods. Regardless of the method chosen to cast votes, all elections materials must be returned to Sister Cities International by July 19, 2010.

Who Qualifies to Vote?

Each US member community in good standing will receive a predetermined number of votes based on its population. International member communities twinned with a US member community also qualify for two votes.

• Population 10,001 and Over: 4 votes
• State/Municipal Leagues: 4 votes
• Population 5,001-10,000: 3 votes
• Global Members and Population under 5000: 2 votes

How to Vote by Mail

In June, 2010, the primary contact for each member community will receive a packet that includes the appropriate number of ballots for their community. The community may cast its allocated number of votes however it chooses. Ballots must be received by Sister Cities International by July 19, 2010. Ballots received after this date will not be counted. If choosing to vote by mail-in ballots, member communities may not designate delegates to vote in-person at the Annual Conference. To determine who is designated as the primary contact for your community, please email membership@sister-cities.org.

How to Vote In-Person

In June, 2010, the primary contact for each member community will receive a packet that includes a form for the community to designate individual representative(s) to cast votes on the community's behalf. The community may designate one individual to cast all of its votes or split the votes among more than one individual. A community may also select alternates to vote should one of the original delegates be unable to vote. Communities must certify their voting representatives and alternates prior to the annual meeting and certifications must be received in the Sister Cities International office by July 19, 2010. Individuals who have not been certified by their member community will not be allowed to vote on-site. If choosing to cast votes in-person, member communities may not vote by mail-in ballot. To determine who is designated as the primary contact for your community, please email membership@sister-cities.org.