As part of its governance work, the NSPRA Executive Board recently approved holding a member vote on changes to the association's bylaws under Article IV – Officers, Section 8: Officer Vacancies. Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of professional NSPRA members. All association members are invited to review the proposed changes, and then on Monday, November 2, professional members only will receive digital ballots via email to vote on the amendments.

The amended language for Section 8 follows board discussions and guidance shared by legal counsel related to clarifying what happens in the event of a vacancy in the president-elect position. Specific changes are indicated below with strikeouts and red text. (View a text-only accessible version of the proposed amendments.)  

NSPRA Bylaws Article IV – Officers, Section 8: Officer Vacancies

Section 8.  A vacancy of one year in the office of Regional Vice President or Vice President for Diversity Engagement may will be filled by the Executive Board until the next regular election for that office, at which time a successor will be elected. to fill the unexpired term. In the case of a vacancy that is two years in length, the Executive Board will appoint an individual to fill the two-year term to ensure continuity and stability in the position. Vacancy in the office of President-elect, caused by the succession of the President-elect to the Presidency shall remain unfilled. In all cases, a vacancy in the office of President-elect shall be filled by a special election conducted in the same manner that is provided for holding the annual election of officers. In the event of a vacancy in the office of president-elect, the vacancy will be filled by the officer-elect who has been affirmed or elected through the normal election cycle to next assume that office, or if none exists, by a special election conducted in the same manner as other elections of officers. Vacancy in the office of Vice President at Large shall be filled by the Executive Board for the remainder of the term.

Current NSPRA Bylaws are available in full on the NSPRA website. 

Ballots regarding the proposed changes will be e-mailed to professional members on Monday, November 2, from sender National School Public Relations Association <invitations@mail.electionbuddy.com>. Professional members will have 15 working days to vote. If you are a professional member of NSPRA and cannot find your ballot after voting opens, please check your spam and/or ask your IT department to approve messages from invitations@mail.electionbuddy.com.

Voting will be open from November 2-20, 2026, and after voting closes and the Teller Committee certifies the results, the amendments will go into effect immediately if approved.