In the midst of the APA president-elect and Board of Directors elections, the Division Engagement Office has gotten several questions about whether APA elections are allowed to be discussed on division listservs. APA does not prohibit endorsement of candidates by divisions or discussion of APA or division elections on Listservs, but divisions may set their own rules for their Listservs in addition to the APA rules, and those rules should be considered also. The relevant APA rules are listed below:
The Association Rule 110-7.1 addresses this as follows:
- 8. Use of Listservs (electronic lists). APA Central Office will not establish or provide Listservs or other electronic communities for campaign purposes. However, list members may discuss APA elections and APA candidates on established lists to which they subscribe.
The APA Listserv Rules (see Rule 4) prohibit using the Listservs for “support for or opposition to any candidate for a federal, state, or local public office,” but this does not apply to APA or division elections.
If you have any questions, please contact your Division Engagement Liaison.