The AHA wants our members to feel fully informed about the election process. We have prepared a list of FAQs to help members navigate the process.
What is the Nominating Committee?
The process of putting nominees on the ballot begins with the Nominating Committee, which is a group of 9 historians elected by AHA members. They represent many institution types, regions, and fields. The Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying candidates to run for AHA leadership positions. The Committee does its work entirely separately and without input from the current AHA Council. Each fall, all AHA members are invited to submit to the Committee names of possible nominees (due January 15).
What does the Nominating Committee consider when putting forward candidates for election?
The Nominating Committee is charged with ensuring that the various AHA constituencies— types of institutions, field specializations, genders, races, geographies, and career stages—have representation in the AHA’s member-elected leadership. Every year, the Committee considers the existing composition of the AHA Council and elected committees to construct a ballot that addresses the specific vacancies and needs that have been identified.
What does “by petition” mean?
According to the AHA Constitution, in addition to candidates identified by the Nominating Committee, candidates may also be placed on the ballot “by petition.” While the Nominating Committee adheres to its guidelines for diversity and inclusion in putting forward candidates and ensures representation of fields (for example, public history), petition organizers may not.
Petitions require a threshold of 100 member signatures (less than 1% of the current membership). In the last twenty years, there have been 11 candidates by petition, 10 in the last two years.
This year, 5 petition candidates appear on the ballot. These candidates were recruited as a slate by Historians for Peace and Democracy, the Palestinian Historians Group, and Historians4Palestine.
Why should I vote in the AHA election?
By voting to elect Council and committee members, you ensure that the AHA is governed by people who you believe will be active and responsible stewards of our professional organization and act in the interests of the historical profession. Be sure to consult candidates’ ballot statements before casting your vote.
What other items may be included on an AHA election ballot?
Amendments to the AHA Constitution can be proposed by 1) the AHA Council, 2) by petition, or 3) at an annual business meeting, and then voted upon during the annual election in June. The Constitution requires that “any amendment shall be reported to the membership with arguments pro and con.”
Constitutional amendments are rare and consequential for the Association’s governance. As such, they have historically been considered on a long timeline to enable members to meaningfully consider proposed changes, to allow for the proper preparation of a pro/con by appropriate legal counsel, and the circulation of the proposed amendments to members. At the latest, proposed amendments should be submitted by January 15 (after the annual business meeting and the date by which nominations are due to the nominating committee).
In 2026, constitutional amendments were submitted by petition by the Coordinating Group for Democracy in History (the Palestinian Historians Group, Historians for Palestine, Historians for Peace and Democracy). The petition was received on March 31, 2026, and the proposed amendments will therefore be put before the membership during the 2027 election.
