Returning Officer Report
SHA ELECTIONS 2024
Report of voting and uncontested positions
Close of nominations: noon 14 February 2024
As Returning Officer I can confirm that, as far as reasonably practicable, every person whose name appears on the electoral roll for the purpose of the election was sent the details of the election.
The following nominations were received by close of nominations.
Since none of these positions is contested I am pleased to congratulate the following on their election.
SHA Chair 2024 Mark Ladbrooke
SHA Secretary 2024 Judith Kramer
SHA Treasurer 2024 Esther Giles
SHA Vice Chairs 2024 (4 positions):
- Barbara Roberts
- Rathi Guhadasan
- Lesley Anne Spillard
- Mark Inch
SHA Central Council members (15 positions):
- Kal Ross
- Brian Gibbons
- Tony Beddow
- Pam Wortley
- Carmel Maria Cadden
- Jatinder Hayre
- Pat Schan
- Anne Brown
- Julius Marstrand
- Carmen Williams
- Julian Williams
- Caroline Bedale
- Eileen Rowbotham
- Claudia Turbet-Delof
Dorothy Macedo
Returning Officer
16/02/2024
NOW CLOSED … Self nomination for SHA Election 2024 – click this link for form
NOW CLOSED …Closing time for nominations 12 noon 14th February 2024. You need to be a SHA member on the 4th January 2024 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. Our systems do permit passport style photos which can be submitted. You may only submit your self nomination and election address through the on line form above. Late submissions will not be accepted,
Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Socialist Health Association will take place on Thursday 29th February 2024 from 7.30pm 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 2024 elections for the following roles:
Chair, Secretary & Treasurer
These 3 officers meet weekly or more frequently and deal with day-to-day issues. Time commitment is at least 16 hrs 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. These 7 directors 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 meets monthly or sometimes more frequently which leads 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 the Nations of Scotland and Wales (at their AGMs) and by English branches (at their AGMs in November), 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 2024
The deadline for submitting your nomination to stand in the election for one of the above posts is 12 noon 14th February 2024. You need to be a SHA member on the 4th January 2024 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 may 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.
This election will take place electronically. To maintain the integrity of voting; ballots will be sent to unique email addresses (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 either you or a partner wishes to amend your email address. admin@sochealth.co.uk
In the week following the close of nominations (12 noon 14th February 2024) the emails with links to the ballot will be generated and sent out in batches to those who were SHA members on the 4th January 2024. If you have not received a ballot by 21st 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 4th January 2024 (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.
Eligibility to stand and/or vote in the elections
Members who were fully paid up on 4th January 2024 are eligible to stand and/or vote. 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 can be contacted at admin@sochealth.co.uk
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.