Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Socialist Health Association will take place on Saturday, 28th February 2026 by zoom. This will be the date that the term of office of the current nationally elected Officers, Vice Chairs and all member representatives on to the Central Council comes to an end. SHA branch representatives to the CC are elected at branch AGMs. We are writing to invite you to stand in the 2026 elections for the following roles:
Chair, Secretary & Treasurer
These 3 officers meet weekly. Time commitment is at least 24 hours a month. Tasks: in addition to own role, representing the SHA in public events, attendance at Labour Conference. Officers need to be able to respond promptly to day-to-day issues. The SHA is a registered company, the officers, with the vice-chair team are all company directors. Officers are members of the SHA Central Council (CC) and report to it.
Vice-Chairs x 4
These vice chairs are part of the team of 7 directors which includes the officers. The directors meet monthly or sometimes more frequently. Directors lead significant functional areas of work with fellow CC members in various working groups. Time required at least 8 hrs a month. Tasks: representing the SHA at public events and may need to be available labour movement conferences. They report to CC meetings.
Central Council members x 15
As well as Central Council delegates elected by Scotland and Wales (at their AGMs) and by English branches, there are 15 Central Council seats elected from the whole of the SHA. There is no difference in role irrespective of how you are elected and SHA members can only be delegates to Central Council in one capacity. The Central Council meets at least quarterly, and it is expected that all delegates will participate in work streams to support the SHA.
Elections 2026
The deadline for submitting your nomination to stand in the election for one of the above posts is 12 noon, 7th February 2026.You need to be a SHA member on the freeze date, 3rdof January 2026 to vote and / or be nominated. You may include a 300 word election address indicating how you could contribute to the role you are standing for. If our systems permit passport style photos can be submitted. You may only submit your self nomination and election address on line through an on line form which will be provided. Late submissions will not be accepted, submissions over 300 words will be cut at 300. Your name will appear on the ballot in the form you submitted it (we suggest first name, SURNAME). The order of the candidates will be randomised. Candidates can only stand for one position (eg you can’t stand as Secretary and Vice Chair and Central Council member). The count is largely computerised but candidates may attend the count themselves or appoint a representative to be present.
Nomination form here: https://form.jotform.com/260301561804346
This election will take place electronically. To maintain the integrity of voting; ballots will be sent to unique email addresses (so couples sharing an email address will only get one ballot). Those who have not registered an up-to-date email address with the SHA will not get a vote. Please notify our admin before close of nominations if you wish to amend your email address at admin@sochealth.co.uk
In the week following the close of nominations if there are contested elections emails with links to the ballot will be generated and sent out in batches to those who were SHA members on the freeze date. If you have not received a ballot by 21st of February, please check your spam folder. If you have not been sent a ballot, please contact the returning officer by email with evidence that your membership was paid up in full as of the freeze date (a few payments on our membership record do not identify the originator).
If elections for some roles are uncontested then within 24 hours of close of nominations SHA members will be notified of these results (this is to try to ensure the work of the SHA continues smoothly).
Result The Returning Officer will declare the results at the start of the Annual Meeting.
A more detailed agenda for the AGM will be sent in due course.
Reminder
Eligibility to stand and/or vote in the elections
Only members who were fully paid up on the freeze date (3rd Jan.) are allowed to be nominated, attend and have full voting rights at the meeting. The SHA is a grassroots organisation and members of different parliaments and assemblies and their staff, staff of the Labour Party or other affiliated socialist societies while welcome to be SHA members are unable to stand for office in the SHA. (section 3e of our constitution)
The Returning Officer can be contacted here: https://form.jotform.com/260301761876357
Central Council previously approved the use of Election Buddy as the electronic tool for voting. We plan to continue to use this software.
We look forward to your involvement in these national elections. Please reserve the date of the AGM in your diaries.
Our Constitution (adopted 2021)
TIMELINE
- You must have been a fully paid-up member on 3rd Jan 2026 to vote in, or be nominated and stand for the election.
- 7th Feb. 12PM – 2025 deadline for submitting self-nomination.
- 16th Feb. Ballot distribution by email starts if there are contested elections – IF a ballot is needed
- 21st Feb. No ballot? Check spam / junk email folder then contact admin@sochealth.co.uk to request ballot be issued / reissued.
- 27th Feb., 12PM – Ballot closes
- 28th Feb. Returning Officer presents report of election and results to AGM.