2026 NAMI Elections
NAMI is pleased to announce that the 2026 NAMI elections are open! The NAMI Board welcomes nominations of current NAMI members from NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates across the Alliance to serve on the NAMI National Board of Directors. If your NAMI State Organization or NAMI Affiliate is considering nominating a candidate for the Board, please review the Election Information 2026 document.
2026 Open Letter to NAMI Membership
For more information on this year's call for candidates, please read the 2026 Open Letter from the NAMI Board President. This year, the board is highlighting specific skills that they are seeking in candidates to strengthen the current skill sets on the board.
This year, the NAMI Board is seeking candidates with the following skills and/or expertise:
- Information technology (IT) which includes AI, cybersecurity, data management, and digital strategy to help navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
- Human Resources to strengthen the Board’s ability to oversee an effective organizational culture.
- Data Analysis to measure outcomes and turn information into insight.
- Legal Professionals to provide essential governance oversight and risk mitigation.
- Finance Management, including experience with accounting, banking, trusts, investments to ensure fiscal responsibility and sustainable growth.
2026 Elections Key Dates
Below are important deadlines and key dates related to this year's NAMI elections process:
- March 19, 6:00 p.m. ET: NAMI Board Expectations call for interested candidates. Register for the call here.
- April 12, 11:59 p.m. ET: Candidate nominations deadline.
- Only complete submissions will be accepted through Sunday, April 12. Any submission received after Friday, April 10 cannot be amended if they are determined to be incomplete.
- Monday, May 4: Deadline for NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates to be in good standing to vote in the NAMI elections.
- NAMI Affiliates must have a signed agreement with NAMI and at least five NAMI members.
- NAMI State Organizations must have a signed agreement with NAMI and three NAMI Affiliates In Good Standing for the purposes of voting.
- Monday, May 11: Voting information emailed to eligible NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates.
- Tuesday, May 12: Online voting opens. Ballots will be emailed directly to credentialed voters.
- Thursday, May 28 – Saturday, May 30: NAMICon in Atlanta, GA.
- Tuesday, June 9, 6:00 p.m. ET: Online voting closes.
- Thursday, June 11: NAMI Annual Business Meeting (virtual).
Candidates for the NAMI Board of Directors
The election of members to the NAMI Board of Directors takes place prior to the NAMI Annual Meeting which will be held on Thursday, June 11.
Starting in 2026, four members will be elected to serve for a standard three-year term.
Nominees must be current NAMI members of the NAMI Affiliate or NAMI State Organization making the nomination. Each NAMI Affiliate and NAMI State Organization may nominate no more than one candidate. Nominations may be made only by NAMI Affiliates and NAMI State Organizations that are in good standing. For the purposes of submitting nominations and voting eligibility, “in good standing” means NAMI Affiliates and NAMI State Organizations must have 1) a signed NAMI Affiliate Agreement or a signed State Charter Agreement, and 2) the required level of membership – NAMI Affiliates must have five active members and NAMI State Organizations must have three affiliates In Good Standing.
For further direction on making a nomination to the NAMI Board, NAMI Affiliates and NAMI State Organizations can refer to Guidance for NAMI Board Nominations.
To ensure compliance with NAMI's Bylaws, at least 75% of the NAMI Board must be "persons with a lived experience of mental illness, a relative or caregiver of a person with a lived experience of mental illness, or a friend of a person with a lived experience of mental illness". Candidates are asked to make a statement to this effect. Currently, more than 75% of the elected board members self-identify under this definition.
NAMI Board Service
NAMI Board service is an honor and a privilege. For those who earn the opportunity, NAMI Board service must be a top volunteer priority.
Potential candidates are encouraged to read the Undertaking NAMI Board Service document to help them make an informed decision before embarking upon NAMI Board service and should attend the NAMI Board Expectations Call on Thursday, March 19 at 6:00 p.m. ET (Register here).
The NAMI Board has adopted a 100% giving policy. All Members of the NAMI Board are required to make an annual unrestricted financial contribution to NAMI each fiscal year of his/her term.
Candidate Nominations Submission Requirements
To nominate a Board candidate, the nominating NAMI State Organization or NAMI Affiliate must complete a nomination packet (linked below). The completed packet with accompanying materials must be sent to candidates@nami.org no later than Sunday, April 12 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Due to the NAMI office being closed on the deadline, it is recommended to submit nominations by Friday, April 10. Only complete submissions will be accepted through Sunday, April 12. Any submission received after Friday, April 10 cannot be amended if they are determined to be incomplete.
- Nomination Packet for Incorporated NSONAs (NAMI State Organizations & Model A/C Affiliates)
- Nomination Packet for Unincorporated NAMI Affiliates (Model B)
Bylaws Amendment Proposals
In accordance with the NAMI Bylaws, bylaws amendments may be proposed by any NAMI Affiliate, NAMI State Organization, or NAMI Director. Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to NAMIBoard@nami.org. In order to be included on the ballot for an upcoming election, proposed amendments must be received at least 14 days before a Regular Meeting of the Board that allows for the proposed amendments to go to the NAMI voting members at least 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting.
Any bylaw proposals submitted for review at any upcoming NAMI Board meetings will be slated for the 2027 ballot if approved.
Proposed amendments to the NAMI Bylaws must be submitted in amendment form, with the full text of the relevant bylaws section(s) including any strikeouts or additions. For guidance on making submissions, please contact us a voting@nami.org.
Voting Information Distribution
NAMI will be sending voting materials electronically to the leadership of each eligible NAMI State Organization and NAMI Affiliate. These voting materials will be emailed Monday, May 11. The email will contain the necessary information to credential a voting delegate, as well as direct leaders to the NAMI website for details about candidates for the Board as well as any bylaws amendments and Board resolutions. Eligible NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates should credential the designated voter for their organization as soon as possible by following the directions in the voting packet.
To be sure that voting information gets to the correct leaders for your NAMI organization, please work with NAMI Member Services to update your current leadership contacts in our national database.
Online Voting
To cast a ballot in the 2026 NAMI elections, each NAMI State Organization and NAMI Affiliate must credential their organization to vote by assigning a delegate to cast the online ballot on behalf of the organization. The voting information that will be sent out on Monday, May 11 will include a link to credential the voting delegate for those that have not already done so. Once confirmed, the voting delegate will receive an email from the online voting system inviting them to vote on behalf of the organization.
Voting opens on Tuesday, May 12 and will close on Tuesday, June 9 at 6:00 p.m. ET SHARP
Election Results
Election results will be reported at the NAMI Annual Meeting being held on Thursday, June 11.