These changes were made to increase engagement, responsibility, and accountability of the DLC and to ensure candidates running from the floor are evaluated by the DLC and meet the qualification requirements listed in the governing documents.

With these changes, the District Director appoints the DLC Chair no later than November 1. DLC members are selected by DLC Chair no later than December 1.

The call for candidate declarations is due by January 15. The deadline for candidates to declare their intent to run is determined by the DLC Chair.

The updates to the DLC are that the DLC Member Agreement form needs to be completed.

The committee must nominate at least one candidate for the District Director, Program Quality Director, and Division Director. Two candidates must be selected for Club Growth Director.

The DLC Chair may not serve in another District position, or as the Parliamentarian in which the DLC report is presented.

The report from the DLC becomes invalid, and all candidates must run from the floor.

The DLC should proceed in completing its work and nominate candidates for each position as prescribed in Protocol 9.0. There is still value in having candidates going through DLC evaluation process.

When the DLC report is presented, the presenter will state which deadline or requirement was not adhered to by the DLC and present the report as an “advisory report.”

The committee must nominate at least one candidate for the District Director, Program Quality Director, and Division Director. Two candidates must be selected for Club Growth Director.

If the requirements are not met per Protocol 9.0, the report may be deemed invalid.

The DLC chair is a non-voting member of the DLC and shall not hold another District position (include serving as a committee chair) during the program year in which the report is presented.

A qualified candidate is a candidate that meets the qualifications outlined in the District Administrative Bylaws, Article VII (d).

An eligible candidate is a candidate that meets the qualifications and has been evaluated by the District Leadership Committee.

The DLC may evaluate candidates for additional elected positions if desired. However, qualified floor candidates that have not been evaluated by the DLC may stand and run from the floor during the elections.

The DLC may extend the deadline for all positions if there is enough time to evaluate all candidates that apply and deliver the DLC report to the District Director no later than six (6) weeks prior to the elections.

The biographical forms are not part of the nominations report. They are two separate items and therefore would not impact the validity of the report.

No. Once the deadline to accept nominations has passed, consideration for nomination is not available unless the DLC Chair later extends the deadline for all candidates. The decision to extend the nomination deadline is at the sole discretion of the DLC Chair.

If a candidate withdraws after the DLC report is published, the report is still valid as the DLC has completed its task. Therefore, only candidates that have gone through the DLC process and were not nominated by the DLC are eligible to run from the floor.

Yes, if a candidate loses a position, they may run from the floor for another position if the candidate has gone through the DLC process for that respective position.

Protocol 9.0 requires two Club Growth Director candidates to be nominated. If only one candidate is nominated, the requirements of Protocol 9.0 have not been met, and the position will be considered incomplete on the DLC report. The single nominated candidate will NOT be listed on the report. The candidate should be informed the position requires two nominated candidates for the DLC to meet the nomination requirements and of the candidates’ eligibility to run from the floor. The candidate must submit their intention to run as a floor candidate to the DLC Chair or District Director at least seven (7) days before the election if they wish to continue.

The DLC should only nominate the candidate for one position, so that it does not create confusion during the elections. (1) The candidate should be nominated for the position that is most desired by the candidate or (2) nominated to the position in which the DLC believes they are the best candidate for.

All Division Director positions are considered the same position. Therefore, if a candidate goes through the DLC process for a Division, they are eligible to run from the floor for any Division for the election.

The DLC and Alignment committee should communicate with each other on the possibility of forming a new Division. This way, the DLC can plan to interview candidates for the new Division, with an understanding the position is contingent on the alignment being approved.

Yes, following the guidelines in the District Administrative Bylaws, Article VII (g), the incoming District Director would appoint a Division Director at a later date.

The DLC may begin evaluating candidates as soon as the District Leader Agreement and Release Statement, Candidate Biography Form, and photograph are submitted.

No, the DLC Chair is a non-voting member of the DLC.

The DLC Chair is not a voting member of the DLC. Therefore, they would not count as an equal representation for a Division.

If a tie occurs, the DLC would continue discussions and revote until a majority is reached. If a majority is not reached, the candidate may not be nominated by the DLC.

If the initial deadline of November 1 was met, the District Director may appoint a new DLC Chair without the DLC report being invalidated.

The District Executive Committee shall evaluate complaints regarding the DLC.

The District Executive Committee will determine the level of violation and take necessary action.

Elections Toolkit

Protocol 9.0

Candidate Evaluation Form

DLC Member Agreement Form

A candidate may begin campaigning as soon as they have submitted their Toastmasters International District Leader Agreement and Release Statement, Candidate Biography Form, and photograph to the DLC or District Director.