Nomination by Petition

UUA bylaw 9.6 states:

  1. For Moderator and President. A nomination for the office of Moderator or President, for a regular or special election, may be by petition signed by no fewer than fifty certified member congregations, including one congregation from three of the regions of the Association. A certified member congregation may authorize the signing of a petition only by vote of its governing board or by vote at a duly called meeting of its members. Such a petition shall be filed with the Secretary of the Association, only in such form as the Secretary may prescribe, not later than February 1 of the year of the election and not earlier than the preceding March 1.
  2. For Other Elective Positions. A nomination for any elective position, for a regular or special election, may be by petition signed by not less than fifty members of certified member congregations, with no more than ten signatures of members of any one congregation counted toward the required fifty. A separate petition, in form prescribed by the Secretary, shall be filed for each nomination not later than May 1 of the year of the election and not earlier than the preceding October 1. A petition for nomination to the Board of Trustees must designate the position number for which the person is being nominated.

To run by petition a candidate must:

  • Be a voting member of a Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregation.
  • Secure signatures in the following manner:
    • Those petitioning to run for Moderator or President must procure signatures of no fewer than 50 certified member congregations, including one congregation from three of the regions of the Association.
    • Those petitioning to run for other elective positions must procure signatures of not less than 50 members of certified member congregations, with no more than ten signatures of members of any one congregation counted toward the required 50.
  • File requisite papers (see below) with the UUA Secretary by February 1 (for President and Moderator) or May 1 (for positions on elected boards, committees, and commissions) of an election year.

Altogether, the documents linked below compose a total petition packet which must be filed by a potential candidate, in full, on or before the yearly deadline — February 1 / May 1.

Petition Forms for Moderator and President

Note: These forms must be filed with the Secretary by February 1 of the election year.

For the 2025 UUA Moderator election, please review the job description for UUA Moderator, which was crafted by the UUA Moderator Search Committee for the purpose of evaluating potential candidates to be nominated by the UUA Board of Trustees.

For Potential Candidates

For Congregations Supporting Potential Candidates

Petition Forms for Elected Positions on Boards, Committees, and Commissions

Note: These forms must be filed with the Secretary by May 1 of the election year.

For Potential Candidates

For Individuals Supporting the Petition of Potential Candidates