IGS COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2022 – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    Who can vote?

    All Individual, Honorary and Corporate Members of the IGS who are “in good standing”.

    What is “good standing”?

    A Member who has complied with all their obligations under IGS membership, while not being subject to any form of sanction, suspension or disciplinary censure.

    Who may not vote?

    Student Members and any Members not “in good standing”.

    Can I vote for myself?

    If your name is on the ballot paper, yes.

    Does the President and/or Vice President sit on the Council?

    Yes. The President (or VP in their absence) will normally chair the Council and General Assemblies.

    Is the elected Vice President automatically the next President?

    No. Vice Presidents usually stand for President at the end of their VP term, but there is no obligation to do so, and other candidates may challenge them.

    How long are the terms?

    Council members are elected from an Ordinary General Assembly until the next OGA. This is usually four years, but may be up to five years, and normally coincides with an International Conference on Geosynthetics (ICG). Exceptionally this year, elections are taking place out of step with the OGA and ICG, due to the twelfth ICG’s postponement to 2023 as a result of the Covid pandemic.

    Why are there only eight seats for election?

    Council elects half of its 16 elected seats every two years. This allows for a balance of rotation and continuity.

    Are there regional or country limits on candidates?

    No. Any number of candidates from each region or chapter may stand.

    Should I vote only for candidates from my region?

    You may vote as you wish. However, the IGS encourages you to have due regard for all aspects of diversity when casting your votes.

    Should I vote for candidates from all regions?

    The IGS encourages you to have due regard for all aspects of diversity when casting your votes.

    What if I don’t cast all my votes?

    Only the votes you cast will be counted.

    Can I abstain?

    If you wish to abstain from one of the votes, simply do not select candidate. You will still be able to participate in the remaining votes.

    Can I vote for the same candidate more than once?

    No. You can vote for candidates in order of preference. Your first-choice candidate will receive the most points, and your last-choice will receive the least.

    Where can I learn more about the candidates?

    Details of all candidates are on our website: https://www.geosyntheticssociety.org/igs-council-candidates

    IGS previously announced two candidates for President. Why is there only one name on the ballot?

    One candidate, Professor Timothy D. Stark, voluntarily withdrew his candidature before the ballot opened. Professor Stark was recently appointed as a senior touring lecturer in 2022-23 which meant he could no longer commit the time needed to perform the duties of the IGS President. We wish Professor Stark every success in this role, and he will continue his active involvement with the IGS Council and Pan American Committee for the remainder of his elected term(s).

    I didn’t know I could stand.

    The nominations were opened in December 2021 and announced across all IGS channels. These notifications were regularly repeated, with daily notifications in the final two weeks. If you have missed a chance to stand, please look out for the next opportunity in 2024.

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