2019 OSI Board Elections

The Open Source Initiative (OSI) is managed by a member-elected Board of Directors that is the ultimate authority responsible for the organization. The Board’s responsibilities include oversight of the organization, including its operations, staff and budget; setting strategic direction and defining goals in line with the mission, and; serving the community through committees and working groups. The eleven person Board is composed of Directors elected by OSI Individual Members (5) and Affiliate Members (5). The General Manager of the OSI also serves on the Board as a Director (ex officio). The results of elections for both Individual and Affiliate Member Board seats are advisory with the OSI Board making the formal appointments to open seats based on the community’s votes.

As a true corporate board, Board members must agree to, and comply with, the OSI Conflict of Interest Policy, and all Directors are expected to participate regularly in monthly Board meetings, any special meetings that may arise and the ongoing discussions related to the OSI specifically and open source generally.

Open Seats

(More information below, see “Nominations”)

Upcoming 2019 Election Schedule

  • January 14, 2019: Announcement of election.
  • February 3, 2019 (12:00 a.m. PST): Nominations open
  • March 1, 2019 (11:59 p.m. PDT): Nominations close
  • March 4, 2019 (12:00 a.m. PDT): Elections open
  • March 15, 2019 (11:59 p.m. PDT): Elections close
  • March 18, 2019 (12:00 a.m. PDT): : Run-off elections open (if needed)
  • March 25, 2019 (11:59 p.m. PDT): Run-off elections close
    [NOTE: Updated from originally published date of March 18 (typo)]
  • April 1, 2019: New Board Directors seated
  • May 6 & 7, 2019 : First in-person Board meeting (New York, NY)

Terms of Offices

No Board Director who has served for six consecutive years is eligible for re-election until a year has elapsed. As an example, someone elected to an Individual Member seat three consecutive times, and thus serving 6 consecutive years, or someone elected to an Affiliate Member Seat twice consecutively, and thus serving 6 consecutive years, will be term-limited and unable to be elected for a further consecutive term for either an Individual or Affiliate seat until a year has passed.

The representation of the board is as follows:

  • Five Directors of the Board are appointed based on Individual Members’ votes (2 year term, maximum 3 consecutive terms)
  • Five Directors of the Board are appointed based on Affiliate Members’ votes (3 year term, maximum 2 consecutive terms)
  • One Director of the Board will be dedicated to the General Manager, ex officio (term to last length of employment)

Election Process

Nominations
Only current OSI Individual Members may run for an Individual Member seat on the Board (learn more about joining the OSI as an Individual Member), however those running for an Affiliate seat on the Board need not be an Individual Member. Those interested in running for an Individual Member seat do not need to be nominated and may run by simply completing the candidate information. Those interested in running for an Affiliate Member Board seat must be nominated by a current OSI Affiliate organization.

Standing for election is extremely easy. Current Individual Members who would like to run for an Individual Member seat can simply send a contact request, with the category “Candidate Nomination” via the OSI contact form (http//opensource.org/contact).

Current Affiliate Members may send their nominations for Affiliate Member seats to the OSI via the OSI contact form (http://opensource.org/contact). Please select the “Candidate Nomination” category on the form.

Once we receive your request, we will promptly send you back information to create your election profile. Current election eligibility policy can be found here in the OSI Bylaws, Article V, Sections 3 – 5.

Voting
Voting in OSI elections is open to all Individual Members and the OSI Representatives of each Affiliate Member. Only Individual Members may vote in the election of Individual Member seats. Only Affiliate Member Representatives may vote in the election of Affiliate Member seats. Only one vote per Affiliate Member, as submitted by the Affiliate Representative will be counted in the election of an Affiliate seat. Elections for OSI Directors are held according to Bloc voting, or plurality-at-large, where each eligible voter votes for as many candidates as they feel are qualified to hold a Board seat. The candidates supported by the greatest number of voters will be elected to the open seats. Should a tie occur, a run off will be held between the tied candidates.*

Voting for all elections is done online using Helios Voting. When elections are held, OSI current and lifelong Individual Members and the Affiliate Members’ Representatives receive email notifications with instructions on how to access the online voting systems, instructions on how to complete their vote, and a list of the candidates with further information about them and their interests/qualifications.

Becoming a member
If you are not an Individual Member and would like to vote in the election for an Individual Member seat, and/or run, for an OSI Individual Member Board Director seat, please consider registering for Individual Membership. Your participation is fundamental to make the OSI more community oriented and to better represent your interests. You can vote in the next election becoming a member now through the end of the election calendar. You may stand for election as long as you join, before nominations close.

OSI Election FAQ

Can I run for an Individual or Affiliate Member seat?
Yes, you can run for either seat, but not both during the same election.

In addition, to run for an Individual Member seat, you must be a current OSI Individual Member . However, you do not need to be an Individual Member to run for an Affiliate seat on the Board. Also, as the Affiliate Member seats are nominated by OSI Affiliate Member Representatives, each Affiliate may have their own requirements to earn their nomination (e.g. membership in their organization).

What do I need to do to be a candidate for an Individual Member, or Affiliate Board of Director seat?
To be a candidate for an Individual Member seat, you must be a current OSI Individual Member .

To be a candidate for an Affiliate seat on the Board you must be nominated by an OSI Affiliate Member Representative. Each Affiliate Member may have their own requirements to earn their nomination (e.g. membership in their organization).

What if I’m not an OSI Member and want to run?
Individual Membership is easy, and you can become a member right now, and still run for election. You may also contact an OSI Affiliate to ask about a nomination from them.

Can I nominate someone else for an Individual Member Board seat?
No. The OSI Board needs to have the commitment of the candidate that they are really willing to serve on the Board. But, you can contact your desired candidate and suggest that they self-nominate. All that is required is that they send an email!

  • Won’t that leave out important candidates from this election?
    If candidates don’t have time or are not interested in completing a simple form to self-nominate themselves, they probably don’t have time, nor interest, to serve on the OSI Board, so they would not really be qualified candidates anyway.

Can I nominate someone else for an Affiliate Member Board seat?
No. Only OSI Affiliate Member organizations may nominate candidates for Affiliate Board seats.

Can I run for both an Individual Member Board seat and an Affiliate Member Board seat?
No. Candidates may only stand for one seat during each election.

As an Individual Member, can I vote for Individual and Affiliate Member candidates?
No, as an Individual Member you may vote only for candidates running for Individual Member seats on the Board. Affiliate Member representatives vote for candidates running for Affiliate seats on the Board. If you are both an Individual Member and an Affiliate Member representative you may vote for both Individual and Affiliate Member seats.