MEA Elections

DEADLINE: 5:00pm on January 16th, 2026

Board of Directors vacancies for election year 2026 exist in the following MEA Board of Directors Election Districts:

1-year term: Districts F and M

2-year term: Districts B and J

3-year terms:  Districts A, C, G, I, K, L, P, R, and ESP

See Elections Resources forms below for a list of all local associations within each Board Election District.

The Board of Directors duties include:

• General interest of the Association
• Carry into effect all orders and resolutions of the Association not otherwise provided for
• Appoint and fix the salary of a full-time Executive Director
• Provide input to the preparation of the Association budget
• Manage the business and property affairs of this Association.
• Charter governance affiliates: censure, suspend, or expel a governance affiliate pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board; communicate with and report to their constituency policies and actions of the Board of Directors
• Decide questions arising as to the interpretation of the provisions of this Constitution, Bylaws, and Standing Rules
• Attend meetings and the annual Board of Directors Retreat, UniServ district-wide and Governance meetings within their district, MEA-sponsored conferences, the MEA Representative Assembly, and national governance meetings and training sessions as approved by the MEA President
• Act as liaison to or serve on various MEA and other committees as requested by the MEA President and shall attend meetings associated with those committees

Experience in Association leadership is recommended. All candidates should have flexible schedules for evening and weekend meetings and be available to travel occasionally on weekends and during the summer. Public speaking and meeting facilitation experience are highly recommended.

To become a candidate, the following must be completed by 5:00pm on January 16, 2026:

1. Notice of Intent
2. Biographical Sketch Form (part of the Notice of Intent) – for publication in the Maine Educator or other official MEA publication (OPTIONAL)
3. Submit a color or black and white photo – for publication in the Maine Educator or other official MEA publication to mea-elections@maineea.org (OPTIONAL)
4. Candidate Campaign Statement (part of the Notice of Intent) – to be published on a separate sheet to accompany the ballot if there is more than one candidate.

Conduct of Elections

MEA will distribute the ballots the week of February 2, 2026 if necessary. Unopposed candidates who seek election to the MEA Board of Directors will be declared elected by the MEA Elections Committee.

DEADLINE: 5:00pm on January 16th, 2026

One vacancy for election year 2026 exists for a NEA Director for a 3-year term. This position serves on the Board of Directors for NEA and MEA.

Duties include:

• Implement policies established by the NEA Representative Assembly;
• establish procedures and requirements for affiliation;
• authorize the establishment of contractual relationships between the Association and non-affiliates groups;
• set salaries of executive officers;
• shall propose a budget for two fiscal years to the NEA RA;
• shall meet four times per year to conduct the business of the Association, one meeting being held with connection to the Annual Meeting;
• shall enact rules and procedures to govern the conduct of its meetings.

 The candidate must have been an active member of the Association for at least two years immediately preceding the election. The NEA Director is also charged with the roles and responsibilities of an MEA Board of Director’s member as described in Article V of the MEA Bylaws.

Experience in Association leadership is recommended. All candidates should have flexible schedules for evening and weekend meetings and be available to travel extensively on weekends, on school breaks, and during the summer. Public speaking and meeting facilitation experience are highly recommended.

To become a candidate, the following must be completed by 5:00pm on January 16, 2026:

1. Notice of Intent
2. Biographical Sketch Form (part of the Notice of Intent) – for publication in the Maine Educator or other official MEA publication (OPTIONAL)                                      
3. Submit a color or black and white photo – for publication in the Maine Educator or other official MEA publication to mea-elections@maineea.org (OPTIONAL)

Conduct of Elections

Elections for candidates for NEA Director will be conducted by the MEA at the MEA Representative Assembly on May 17, 2026.  Unopposed candidates will be declared elected by the MEA Representative Assembly.

DEADLINE: 5:00pm on January 16th, 2026

One vacancy for election year 2026 exists for a ME Public Employees Retirement System (MePERS) Trustee for a 3-year term. Candidates must be members of the Retirement System through employment as a teacher. The successful candidate’s name will be submitted to the Legislature by the Governor and is subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over retirement matters and to confirmation.

From mainepers.org

The responsibility for the operation of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System is held by the System’s Board of Trustees. State law specifies the composition of the Board, whose members are confirmed by the Legislature. All appointed trustees are required to have “a working knowledge of retirement policy and legal issues and a general knowledge and understanding of banking, finance and investment practices.”

Experience in Association leadership is recommended. All candidates should have flexible schedules for meetings and be available to travel to an annual meeting, and provide an annual report to the MEA RA. Public speaking experience is highly recommended.

To become a candidate, the following must be completed by 5:00pm on January 16, 2026:

1. Notice of Intent
2. Biographical Sketch Form (part of the Notice of Intent) – for publication in the Maine Educator or other official MEA publication (OPTIONAL)                                      
3. Submit a color or black and white photo – for publication in the Maine Educator or other official MEA publication to mea-elections@maineea.org (OPTIONAL)

Conduct of Elections:

Elections for candidates for MEA’s MainePERS Trustee will be conducted by the MEA at the MEA Representative Assembly on May 17, 2026.  Unopposed candidates will be declared elected by the MEA Representative Assembly.

Higher Education, Maine Public Broadcasting and Student MEA Delegate/Alternate Openings

The following vacancies exist for members of higher ed and Maine Public Broadcasting for delegates and alternates to the Maine Education Association Representative Assembly.

To become a candidate, the following must be completed by 5:00pm on January 16, 2026:

1. Notice of Intent
2. Candidate Campaign Statement -to be published on a separate sheet to accompany the ballot if there is more than one candidate.

Conduct of Elections

MEA will distribute the ballots to all members in their respective membership categories the week of February 2, 2026 if there is a contested election.  Unopposed candidates who seek election as MEA Representative Assembly delegates/alternates will be declared elected by the MEA Elections Committee and not have a ballot.

MEA Representative Assembly Clusters – 1 delegate and 1 alternate seat for each cluster district, except where noted

(see Attachment J to find local association cluster district)

                                                                                                                                                                 Term Expiration                  

To become a candidate, the following must be completed by 5:00pm on January 16, 2026:

1. Notice of Intent
2. Candidate Campaign Statement -to be published on a separate sheet to accompany the ballot if there is more than one candidate.

Conduct of Elections

MEA will distribute the ballots to all members in their respective membership categories the week of February 2, 2026 if there is a contested election.  Unopposed candidates who seek election as MEA Representative Assembly delegates/alternates will be declared elected by the MEA Elections Committee and not have a ballot.

MEA – Retired Delegate/Alternates for MEA Representative Assembly

The following vacancies exist for retired members for delegates and alternates to the Maine Education Association Representative Assembly.

Delegates – 5 vacancies                                      Alternates – 10 vacancies                                                

Members of the MEA-Retired are eligible to file as candidates for delegate and/or alternate delegate seats.

To become a candidate, the following must be completed by 5:00pm on January 16, 2026:

1. Notice of Intent
2. Candidate Campaign Statement -to be published on a separate sheet to accompany the ballot if there is more than one candidate.

Conduct of Elections:

MEA will distribute ballots to all retired members the week of February 2, 2026 should an election be required.  Unopposed candidates who seek election for MEA Representative Assembly delegate/alternate delegate will be declared elected by the MEA Elections Committee.

Vacancies for election year 2026 exist for local associations for MEA Representative Assembly delegates/alternates. The MEA Representative Assembly Delegate/Alternate Vacancy List (Attachment I) found below lists delegate/alternate allocations for all local associations. Current delegate names have been removed for security, and replaced with “delegate seat filled”; if you are unsure who your current delegates are, please  Contact Us.

To become a candidate, the following must be completed by the date determined by your local association:

1. MEA RA – Notice of Intent (Local Associations K-12)– submit this form to your local president by the date determined by your local association.

 Conduct of Elections

The local association will distribute ballots to all members if the number of Notices of Intent received exceeds the number of vacancies allocated to the local association. Unopposed candidates who seek election as MEA Representative Assembly delegates/alternates will be declared elected by the Local Association. Following the election, the local president must submit to MEA the Certificate of Election by 5:00pm on March 13, 2026. Late filers are no longer permitted, and the Certificate of Election will not be accepted past the published deadline of March 13, 2026.

Vacancies for election year 2026 exist for local associations for NEA Representative Assembly Local delegates/alternates. NEA emails the local association president directly with delegate/alternate allocations.

To become a candidate, the following must be completed by the date set by your local association:

1. NEA RA – Notice of Intent (Local Associations K-12) – submit this form to your local president by the date set by your local association.

Conduct of Elections

The local association will distribute ballots to all members if the number of Notices of Intent received exceeds the number of vacancies allocated to the local association. Unopposed candidates who seek election as NEA Representative Assembly delegates/alternates will be declared elected by the Local Association. Following the election, the local president must submit to MEA the Affiliated Association Official Report of Elected Delegates by 5:00pm on April 3, 2026.