AVMA District Elections: The Real Rules vs. The Unwritten Rules

💡 Did you know that AVMA district directors are elected positions? But in many cases, members never actually vote in these elections because of an unwritten rule that districts follow.

📜 The Real Rules vs. The Unwritten Rules

According to AVMA bylaws (the real rules), district representatives should be nominated either by their state’s veterinary organization or through a petition by voting members. If more than one nominee is submitted, an election must take place, where members in that district vote for their representative.

However, the established convention (or unwritten rule) follows a “take-your-turn” system, where states within a district pre-arrange who gets to nominate a candidate. Because only one name is submitted, there’s no actual election.

This rotational norm ensures:
✔ Every state eventually gets a representative.
✔ There’s a predictable leadership pipeline.
✔ Districts avoid internal competition between states.

But it also means:
❌ Some states wait 18 to 42 years before they can nominate a candidate.
❌ AVMA members in most districts don’t get a chance to vote.
❌ Highly qualified candidates may never get a chance to serve.

So, are we following the real rules, or are we sticking to the unwritten rules because that’s how it’s always been done?

⚖️ The Discussion: Should AVMA Rethink This?

The question isn’t whether AVMA should completely change its approach—it’s about whether members want more competitive elections when a district seat opens.

Some might argue that a shift toward more contested elections would:
✅ Ensure the best-prepared candidate is selected.
✅ Increase AVMA member engagement in leadership selection.
✅ Allow fresh ideas and diverse perspectives to enter leadership sooner.

Others might say that the current structured approach works well, ensuring:
🔹 Every state gets representation over time.
🔹 The election process remains collaborative rather than competitive.
🔹 There’s no need for campaign-style politics in AVMA leadership.

🚀 Is There a Hybrid Solution?

One idea could be keeping the rotational norm but allowing multiple candidates from a state to run when their turn comes up. That way, districts still get fair state representation while giving members more say in leadership selection.

🤔 What Do You Think?

Should AVMA continue with its established convention, or should we encourage more frequent elections? Are we following the real rules, or are we just used to how things have always been done?

Drop your thoughts in the comments or join the conversation on social media!