Harvard Works Because We Do Harvard Union of
Clerical and Technical Workers

HUCTW Elections

September 29-30, 2026: Online Voting for 2027 Negotiating Team

HUCTW will hold a Special Election online for the 2027 Negotiating Team on September 29-30, 2026. Representatives to the Negotiating Team are elected by region. One elected HUCTW representative from each of the five regions of the University will join with elected HUCTW Officers and organizing staff to participate in the negotiation of a new agreement, scheduled to begin July 1, 2027. For more detailed information on the Negotiating Team Election, please download the Notice of Election/Notice of Nomination (PDF).

The Negotiating Team Election will open on September 29, 2026 at 8:00 am and close on September 30, 2026 at 5:00 pm. Results will be announced and posted on our website by October 1, 2026. We will use a system designed and managed by the company, ElectionBuddy. It is an approved system used by many other unions across the U.S. for voting and elections.

Members will be emailed a unique access link to open their electronic ballot. This unique access link will be randomly generated for each member by the ElectionBuddy system and it will allow you to vote securely and anonymously.

If you would also like to have this unique access link texted to your cellphone, please enter your cellphone number here by September 25 at 5:00 pm. If you choose to provide your cell phone, the same unique access link will be both emailed and texted to you, allowing you to vote only once. No matter which method you choose, your vote will remain anonymous, and election administrators will not be able to link a member to their vote. Please remember, do not share your link or invitation to vote email with anyone, this link is unique to you and represents your vote.

You will need to be a signed HUCTW member in advance of the vote. HUCTW Elections are only open to signed union members. Electronic ballots will be sent to those staff who have signed a card by September 25, 2026 by 5:00 pm. If you’ve signed or voted in the past, you do not need to sign again. Unsigned staff may join and become eligible to vote by downloading and filling out a writable pdf membership card and emailing it to huctw.info@huctw.org by the September 25 deadline.

Voter Checklist

  • Notify HUCTW​ by September 25th at 5pm if you’d like to use your cellphone number to vote by submitting your information here. ​If you opt in to vote by text, you will be both emailed and texted the same unique access key to vote when the election opens, allowing you to vote only once.
  • Sign a Membership Card in advance of the vote if you have not already done so. HUCTW Elections are only open to signed Union members. Electronic ballots will be sent to those staff who have signed a card by September 25th, 2026, by 5:00 pm. (If you’ve signed or voted in the past, you do not need to sign again!) Unsigned staff may join by downloading and filling out a writable pdf membership card and emailing it to huctw.info@huctw.org by the deadline.
  • Keep an eye out for your invitation to vote, which will arrive by email (and text, if registered) on September 29 shortly after 8:00 am. The invitation will contain a unique access link that will give you access to your electronic ballot. You will only be invited to vote if there is a contested election in your Region. See huctw.org/huctw-elections for an updated list of contested elections which will be posted on September 24, 2026.
  • Use the link to v​ote for your preferred candidate. Candidates are responsible for communicating with HUCTW members in their regions. Voting closes September 30 at 5:00 pm.
  • You will receive confirmation that your vote was received and recorded by the ElectionBuddy system. Results will be posted to our website by October 1st, 2026.

For general information about HUCTW elections, please visit our HUCTW Elections Basics page.

 

FAQ 

Q: Why are HUCTW Elections held online?A: Historically, HUCTW Elections have been conducted in person over the course of a single day at numerous voting locations where our members work. However, in 2021, we began holding elections online in order to address health and safety concerns due to COVID and the fact that most members work hybrid schedules, and we have continued to use that online voting process since then. Our goal has been to match the fairness, accuracy, and accessibility of our usual in-person process, while meeting established and new election regulations and recommendations from our parent union, AFSCME, and the federal government.

Q: How does the Union administer electronic elections?A: We use a system designed and managed by the company, ElectionBuddy. It is a system used by many other unions across the U.S. for voting and elections. We have ensured that ElectionBuddy satisfies all HUCTW, AFSCME, and Federal requirements around voter anonymity and security regulations.

Q: It’s Sept. 29 and I didn’t get a voting link—what should I do?
A: If you do not receive an email and/or text with a unique access code by 8:15 am on Sept. 29 (the first day of the election), please reach out to huctw.elections@huctw.org as soon as possible, and no later than 12:00 pm on Sept. 29.

If you have other questions, please contact the elections committee at huctw.elections@huctw.org.