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Associate of (ISC)² 
The (ISC)² Board Election was conducted over the course of two weeks beginning on September 12, 2019 and ending on September 26, 2019 this year.How does the (ISC)² Board of Directors election process work?
The election takes place for two weeks every year. All members in good standing as of the date specified in the election notice and of the date of the election may vote. The Board puts forth several recommended candidates each year, and members in good standing as of the date specified in the election notice may petition to have their names added to the ballot.
Who is eligible to vote in the Board election?
(ISC)² credential holders in good standing as of as of 15 May 2019 and the date of the election 12 September 2019 can participate in the Board of Directors election process.
Why are only some Board positions available for election?
Board members are elected to three-year terms, and those terms are staggered so that only one-third of the members stand for election each year. This is consistent with common practices for nonprofit organizations, providing continuity of leadership and stewardship.
Why doesn't the Board place a call for nominations?
Early in the year, the Board begins looking for potential candidates for the Board. This review begins by asking for suitable nominations from its various advisory boards and committees. This search typically yields approximately 25 potential candidates. The Nominations Committee then spends time vetting the candidates against various criteria listed below. This nomination and vetting process ensures that candidates have demonstrated their ability and desire to provide their time and energies to the organization over an extended period of time and are likely to be productive Board members.
What does the Board look for in candidates it puts forth on its endorsed slate?
When assembling the endorsed slate every election year, the Board is looking for a balance of experience and particular personal characteristics. Prospective Board candidates must:
- Have an established record of leadership in the field of information systems security.
- Have experience in a managing or directing strategic program across an enterprise.
- Have earned the respect and trust of peers in the subject of information security.
- Have an established record of advancing the field of information security.
- Have not been a salaried employee of (ISC)² or its affiliates.
- Possess the ability to: listen, analyze, think clearly and creatively, and work well with people both individually and in a group.
- Have the willingness to prepare for and attend four or more in-person board meetings, weekly teleconferences and committee meetings, ask questions, take responsibility and follow through on a given assignment, and read and understand financial statements.
- Create opportunities for (ISC)².
- Have a commitment from his or her employer to support the time off from work required to support this commitment.
- Have a willingness to cultivate and recruit future Board members and other volunteers.
- Possess honesty, sensitivity to and tolerance of differing views, and a desire to serve as a member of a team.
- Be friendly, responsive, and patient in dealings with fellow Board members, and possess a sense of humor.
- Adhere to the (ISC)² Code of Ethics.
- Promote the agreed collective Board opinion above their own personal views.
- Advocate for the organization. Work for change or acceptance where organizational views do not mirror those of the Board member.
- Refrain from bringing the organization into disrepute through personal actions or words.
- Qualify for eligibility based on the current (ISC)² Bylaws.
What selection criteria does the Board Nominations Committee use?
The primary criteria used by the Nominations Committee are a matching of potential candidates to the ‘Experience and Personal Characteristics’ described above. The Committee will not nominate anyone whom the members feel, or know from experience, cannot meet these requirements. Above all, the Board is concerned with how well the membership will be served through the work and responsibilities of their proposed nominees.
Can (ISC)² members nominate others for Board election?
Yes. As detailed in the (ISC)² Bylaws, the name of any qualified person who agrees to serve if elected may be submitted by a signed, written petition, of at least 500 members in good standing as of the date of the election announcement, to the Board at least 60 days in advance of the start of the election.
Why do the Bylaws set 500 members in good standing as the requisite number for the petition process?
When the membership ratified the current Bylaws, they determined one percent was seen as a low enough number that could reasonably be achieved by any member, particularly given that signatures could be electronic and the numerous mediums that are available, both official and unofficial, for gathering those signatures. The Bylaws set a number that would not be so small as to make the process so easy as to be perfunctory and not accurately reflect the size of the organization but at the same time not so large as to be an impediment.
Does (ISC)² notify the membership when and how to recommend Board member candidates or prepare a petition for candidacy?
While (ISC)² is not required to notify the membership of any deadline pertaining to the petition process according to its Bylaws, (ISC)² notifies its members of petition procedures and deadlines every year. The Bylaws provide that petitions for names to go on the official ballot must be received no later than sixty (60) days prior to the election in time for the Board to ensure that they are otherwise qualified and agree to serve if elected and to place them on the official ballot. Eligible members may vote for any qualified candidate who agrees to serve.
What are the instructions for submitting petitions* to nominate a Board candidate?
To submit a petition, follow these steps:
- No later than the deadline, submit a written or electronic petition to (ISC)², containing the signatures of no less than 500 (ISC)² members who are in good standing.
- For electronic petitions, the candidate must submit an e-mail that contains (a) original encapsulated emails from supporters using their e-mail address of record and providing their (ISC)² member ID number; and, (b) an Excel spreadsheet listing of all such names with corresponding email address of record and (ISC)² member ID number.
- All petitions will be verified to ensure that they meet all of the requirements. If yours does not, we will notify you as soon as possible, giving you the opportunity to resolve the matters that prevented your first submission from being accepted and submit a corrected petition.
- If someone else nominates you, you may decline the nomination.
*NOTE: (ISC)² does not endorse petitions. It is up to petitioners to promote their own petition and encourage other members to visit the site and "sign" their petition. (ISC)² will, however, send one email message per election year to all members on behalf of any candidate providing a link to more information about that candidate.
Other than receiving the required number of petition signatures, what determines if a candidate is qualified?
The minimum qualifications, as set forth in the Bylaws, are that the candidate be a member in good standing, have sufficient command of the English language, meet the term limits requirement, and agree to serve if elected. Members may vote for anyone who meets this minimum qualification. See the question titled, "What does the Board look for in candidates?" for more details on candidate qualifications.
Where should I go if I have questions any about the Board of Directors election?
Contact bodelections@isc2.org.
