GSA Elections Information

Becoming a GSA Representative

If you are interested in running for the GSA, the first thing you should do is check and see if there are any vacancies in your department. You can do so here. If there is a vacancy in your department you should send the secretary an email at secretary.gsa@yale.edu and nominate yourself. (Alternatively, you can wait until nominations open and then just use the online service.) We will be holding elections over the next few weeks, and you'll receive some further instructions soon about how to post your platform so members from your department can see it. Note: we will only be holding elections for departments with vacancies in this round of elections.

Elections Process

Elections are held twice a year in the spring and fall. The primary elections are in the spring so that new Assembly's first meeting overlaps with the old Assembly's final meeting. The spring elections are held after the first meeting of the new Assembly in order to fill any vacancies, and also to allow new first-years a chance to participate. Periodically, a special election may be held to fill a vacancy mid-year. GSA elections consist of a nomination period and a voting period. The entire process is conducted online, and you'll need your netID and password to participate.

Nominations

Nominations run for one week. At the beginning of the nomination period, you will receive an email directing you to the online elections system. Once you log in, you'll be able to nominate as many people from your department as you like. You may even nominate yourself! If you've lost your email, you can reach the nominations page at https://gs.app.yale.edu/votegsa/nominate. If you've been nominated, you'll have a chance to create a platform that everyone in your department can see.

Voting

Voting runs for one week and begins immediately after nominations close. You'll receive an email with a link to vote, but you may also access the voting system at https://gs.app.yale.edu/votegsa/vote. You'll only be able to vote for people in your own department. Depending on how many vacancies there are, you may be able to vote for more than one person.

Results

If you have won a seat on the Assembly, you will be contacted with further instructions within a few days after the voting has closed.

In the case of a tie, the affected parties will be contacted and each given the option to concede. If neither is willing, the GSA elections committee (with the involvement of the department) will mediate a runoff.

By-elections

If there are vacancies in between the fall and spring elections, a department by-election may be held to fill that spot. The elections committee assists the affected department with holding a by-election. The most typical form for these elections is as follows: 1. A nomination is received by the GSA to fill the spot. 2. The elections committee canvasses the department for objections. If none are received, the nominee may fill the vacancy. More complicated scenarios are handled on a case-by-case basis.