2017-2020 Quad USOC AAC Elections Procedures for
National Wheelchair Basketball Association

Outcome sought

Election of one (1) athlete representative and one (1) alternate from the National Wheelchair Basketball Association, to the USOC Athletes' Advisory Council for the 2017-2020 quadrennium.

Eligibility

Eligible athletes shall be those who have represented the United States at the Paralympic Games, Parapan American Games, or World Championships within the ten (10) years preceding January 1, 2017.

• Eligible events are: 2016 Paralympic Games; 2015 Parapan American Games; 2014 World Championships; 2013 America’s Zonal Qualifier; 2012 Paralympic Games; 2011 Parapan American Games; 2010 World Championships; 2009 America’s Zonal Qualifier; 2008 Paralympic Games; 2007 Parapan American Games.

Athletes shall not be eligible if they are paid employees of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), an NGB/HPMO, or a city’s domestic bid committee for an Olympic or Paralympic Games.

An athlete may not have served two previous terms on the AAC as a Representative. Status as an Alternate does not constitute serving a term.

Athletes must be willing to commit to a minimum of two (2) of the three (3) meetings a year. All expenses for either the Representative or Alternate (in the event that the Representative cannot attend), associated with attending the meetings are paid by the USOC.

Administration and Governing Authority

The NWBA shall administer the election. All contact for the election will be through Anthony Bartkowski: anthonybartkowski@nwba.org

Process

NWBA will send an email (by April 24, 2017) to all eligible athletes in the NWBA database who meet eligibility requirements for the USOC Athletes’ Advisory Council (USOC AAC), and the NWBA will post the information on its website at www.NWBA.org. The NWBA database of e-mail addresses only goes back to 2015, and requests those who may not receive an e-mail to contact the NWBA Contact to update their information.

Eligible athletes shall notify the NWBA contact with a completed Declaration of Candidacy form. The Declaration of Candidacy forms must be returned to the NWBA contact no later than noon Mountain time on Monday, May 1, 2017.

The NWBA will compile and post a list of eligible athletes who have self-nominated for the one (1) representative for the NWBA’s USOC AAC Representative to the NWBA website (www.nwba.org) by end of the day on Tuesday, May 2, 2017. In addition, these procedures will be posted on the website.

The NWBA will e-mail a voting ballot to each eligible voting athlete.

All voting by eligible athletes must be completed by noon Mountain time on Monday, May 8, 2017, and e-mailed to NWBA contact: Anthony Bartkowski at anthonybartkowski@nwba.org.

All athletes’ individual votes are confidential.

Depending on how many athletes are nominated, the following will apply:

• If only one (1) athlete is nominated then that athlete shall be the representative. An alternate will be elected at a subsequent time.
• If two (2) athletes are nominated then the athlete with the most votes (plurality) shall be the representative. The other athlete shall be the alternate regardless of gender.
• If three (3) athletes are nominated then the athlete with the most votes (plurality) shall be the representative. The highest voted athlete of the opposite gender shall be the alternate. If there are no athletes of the opposite gender then the runner up shall be the alternate.
• If four (4) or more athletes are nominated and one athlete wins a majority of the votes then that athlete will be the representative. The highest voted athlete of the opposite gender shall be the alternate. If there no athletes of the opposite gender then the runner up shall be the alternate.
• If four (4) or more athletes are nominated and no athlete wins a majority of the votes then three athletes will move forward to a second round of voting. The two highest voted athletes will always move forward to the second round. If the two highest voted athletes are of the same gender then whenever possible, the highest voted athlete of the opposite gender. If there are no athletes of the opposite gender then the third highest voted athlete will move forward to the second round.

Majority is defined as fifty percent (50%) or more of the votes cast and any informal grievances should be addressed to NWBA Executive Director Jim Scherr, at jimscherr@nwba.org.

If a second round of voting is necessary, the NWBA will e-mail ballots on or about May 8, 2017 with eligible candidates as described above. All voting needing a second round must be completed through NWBA contact Anthony Bartkowski by noon Mountain time on Friday, May 12, 2017.

Winners will be announced on or about May 15, 2017.

Vacancies

If a Representative vacancy remains leaving no Representative and no Alternate, another election shall be conducted at a later date but within a year. The election dates shall be communicated to all eligible athletes. These election procedures shall remain in effect to govern the elections.

If an Alternate athlete vacancy remains, another election shall be conducted at a later date within a year of the close of this election. The election dates shall be communicated to all eligible athletes of the opposite gender from the Representative. If there is not an athlete of the opposite gender nominated or interested by the time of the next election, the alternate position shall be open to all eligible athletes regardless of gender. These election procedures shall remain in effect to govern the elections.

If a Representative vacancy occurs during the quadrennium (for reasons such as recusal, removal, etc.), then the Alternate shall become the Representative. A new election shall take place for the Alternate, as described above for an Alternate vacancy.