Inside the CFA Credentials Committee

The “Inspectors of Election” is the formal term referred to in New York Not-For-Profit Law that applies to CFA operations. The group has been called “tellers” in previous meetings. As a group this also constitutes the “Credentials Committee.”

- Nancy Dodds

We are specifically provided for by law to ensure fair elections, determine challenges and questions, and to tabulate votes. This committee is the only group authorized to determine questions on the right to vote. The members of the committee are presented to the CFA Board of Directors for consideration. The group is selected because of our participation in and knowledge of CFA activities, our independence, geographical diversity, familiarity with Annual Meeting procedures, and reputations for integrity.

We pay for our own transportation, we pay for our hotel rooms, and we pay for our meals. We typically arrive at the Annual Meeting hotel on Wednesday so we can begin our work on Thursday morning, the day we handle any issues surrounding the eligibility for seating delegates, for voting, and any challenges regarding “ownership” of clubs, if necessary. Of necessity, we begin our meeting in the morning and complete our business before delegate check-in, which typically begins at 1:30 PM.

As a result of the Credentials Committee recommendations in the 1980’s to adopt more stringent requirements for clubs to provide membership/officer lists and payment of dues, the Constitution was updated with those requirements. Only the club Secretary of Record became authorized to provide Central Office with updated lists and any changes to the Officers of their club(s). Online registration of officer/membership lists, followed by online registration of delegates and by online voting, has reduced the number of challenges; previously, these challenges took up several hours of the Credentials Committee’s time to resolve.

How does the Credentials Committee get involved with delegates?