What are the UAW national elections which are taking place in 2022?

The first-ever direct elections of the UAW national leadership, on the basis of “one member, one vote,” are taking place in October and November this year, 2022. In a 2021 referendum, UAW members had overwhelmingly voted to approve direct elections of the union’s top positions.

The referendum came about as a result of a years-long UAW corruption scandal, which revealed that a large portion of the UAW leadership were either accepting corporate bribes or embezzling workers’ dues. Two of the last four UAW presidents—Dennis Williams and Gary Jones—were sentenced to prison in connection with a federal corruption investigation, and the UAW was placed under the oversight of a court-appointed monitor (the “UAW Monitor”).

Which UAW positions are being voted on?

UAW members will be voting to elect the officers on the UAW International Executive Board (IEB). These positions include the national president of the UAW as whole, for which I, Will Lehman, am running as an official candidate. Other positions being voted on include the UAW secretary-treasurer, vice presidents, and regional directors.

Which candidates for UAW president will be on the ballot?

The following are the official candidates for UAW International president who will appear on the ballot:

• Will Lehman (me)

• Ray Curry

• Shawn Fain

• Mark Gibson

• Brian Keller

When will ballots be mailed out for the UAW elections?

The UAW Monitor states that the “first formal mail distribution” of ballots will take place on October 17.

When must ballots be returned?

Ballots should be placed in the mail no later than November 18, according to the UAW Monitor, in order to be received by the final deadline of November 28.

How do I ensure I receive a ballot?

Ballots will be mailed to the address on file with your UAW local. Therefore, it is critical that you make sure your local has your current home address. Efforts to inform your local of your address should be documented in writing, for example, via email.

How do I track my ballot, or get a ballot if I didn’t receive one?

The UAW monitor has stated that it will maintain a ballot-tracking page at uawmonitor.com/ballots. The monitor also states that if you do not receive a ballot by October 24, you will be able to request one from uawmonitor.com/ballots.

What will the ballots look like?

The UAW Monitor has provided copies of VOID ballots. These ballots are not official, and are solely for the purpose of members familiarizing themselves with the ballot instructions. View a PDF copy of the VOID ballot for UAW International Officers here.

Who is eligible to vote in the UAW elections?

“All UAW members in good standing as of October 31, 2022, are eligible to vote in the 2022 Election, including members who are part-time workers, reinstated members, and retired members,” according to the UAW monitor (emphasis added). To be in good standing, a member’s dues payment must be current as of October 31, 2022.

When will UAW election ballots be counted?

Counting of ballots will be carried out by an “Election Vendor” and will begin on November 29.

Where do I find the full list of rules for the UAW elections?

The UAW Monitor maintains the official rules for the 2022 International Officer Election of the UAW. The official election rules can be viewed on the Monitor’s website here.