Hello, judges around the world!
The time has come to elect the first group of Regional Representatives (RR) and Program Leads (PL) for the International Judge Program (IJP).
New Regional Distribution for 2025
Every IJP member has the right to vote for their Regional Representative. The Temporary Regional Advisors (TRA) have unanimously approved the following regional structure for the 2025 elections.
While this distribution is not perfect, it adheres to the legal requirement in our statutes, which mandates a minimum of 100 members per region.
We recognize the challenges with the current setup, particularly the “International Associated Regions.” This grouping is a temporary solution, and our priority for 2025 will be to develop these areas so they can reach 100 members and become distinct regions that reflect their unique culture, history, and identity.
We also aim to restore the two separate regions that Latin America once had.
Regional Distribution for the 2025 Elections
| Region | Members | Countries |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 145 | Brazil |
| France * | 101 | France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Switzerland (French-speaking) |
| German-Speaking | 117 | Austria, Germany, Switzerland (German-speaking) |
| Iberia | 123 | Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal, Spain |
| Italy and Malta | 113 | Italy, Malta |
| Japan | 201 | Japan |
| Latin America * | 125 | Argentina, Bolivia, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela |
| Southeast Asia * | 113 | Brunei, China, Guam, India, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Northern, Mariana Islands, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam |
| International Associated Regions * | 213 | All other countries not listed above |
Term Details
- Two-year term: Brazil, German-speaking countries, Iberia, Italy and Malta, Japan.
- One-year term (temporary): France, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and International Associated Regions.
- This adjustment allows for staggered terms, ensuring that half of the RRs are elected every year moving forward.
Election Timeline and Logistics
1. Applications for Regional Representatives
- Open: December 20, 2024 – January 11, 2025
- Eligibility: Any IJP member can apply.
- How to Apply:
Post your application on this forum: Forum Link.
Use the format:[REGION NAME - YOUR NAME](e.g.,[Iberia - Alfonso Bueno]). - Application Content:
Share all relevant information in the language(s) of your choice. - Questions for Candidates:
Judges may post questions on the candidate’s application thread. Candidates can choose how and when to respond.
2. General Assembly
Date and Time:
January 12, 2025, at 15:00 CET. (Duration: 1 hour)
Local Times:
- São Paulo/Buenos Aires: 11:00
- Mexico City: 8:00
- Tokyo: 22:00
- Singapore: 21:00
Agenda:
- Updates from the current Program Leads.
- Submit Questions: Share your questions for Program Leads on this forum.
- If you have any initiative you want to be voted in the General Assembly, make the proposal on this forum before the end of January 10th 2025 (anywhere in the world). Use the subject “Initiative to vote – [Initiative Name]” . Check the majorities required for decission making in the IJP statutes.
How to Join:
- Join The Gathering Point Discord server: https://discord.gg/thegatheringpoint.
- Navigate to the #skills-and-certifications channel and click the “International Judge Program” button.
- Scroll down the channel list to find the IJP Stage channel and join.
- This is a voice/video channel, but your microphone and camera will be off by default.
Already on the Server?
If you have the IJP role, an event notification will appear on the server. Mark yourself as “interested” to receive a reminder when the General Assembly begins!
3. Voting Period
- Open: January 12 – January 19, 2025 (23:59 in your local time zone).
- How to Vote:
- You’ll receive an email with a unique code to cast your vote via a secure Google form.
- Ensure your JudgeApps email is up-to-date to receive your code.
- Transparency:
After voting closes, all votes will be made public to ensure fairness.
4. Announcement of Regional Representatives
- Date: January 21, 2025
- Results:
- The candidate with the most points (based on Ranked Voting) becomes the RR.
- The runner-up becomes the Substitute Regional Representative.
5. Applications for Program Leads
- Open: January 21 – January 28, 2025
- How to Apply:
Post your application here: Forum Link.
Use the format:[PROGRAM LEAD - YOUR NAME].
6. Election of Program Leads
- Date:
January 31, 2025Delayed until February the 3rd - Process:
The newly elected RRs will elect three Program Leads:- Two candidates will serve for two years.
- The third candidate will serve for one year (to align with staggered terms).
- The fourth-place candidate becomes the Substitute Program Lead.
Ranked Voting System Explained
- Each voter assigns:
- 3 points to their top choice.
- 2 points to their second choice.
- 1 point to their third choice.
- The candidate with the most points wins.
- In case of a tie:
- The candidate with the most unique voters wins.
- If the tie persists, a random selection will decide the winner.
- Voters may leave votes unused if there are fewer than three candidates.
FAQ
Q: Who is eligible to vote?
A: Any IJP member as of the start of the General Assembly. A member is defined as anyone holding an IJP certification in JudgeApps. Notably, users with the tag “Uncertify (International Judge Program)” are not considered to hold an IJP certification and are therefore ineligible to vote.
Q: Who can apply as a Regional Representative or Program Lead?
A: Any IJP member, as defined above.
Q: Where can I stay updated with news and insights about the International Judge Program?
A: Visit our official blog for the latest updates, articles, and resources about the International Judge Program. Stay informed and connected!
Q: How can I support the International Judge Program beyond voting and participating?
A: You can help by donating to the Foundation of the International Judge Program. Your contributions will strengthen our efforts to grow and support judges worldwide. Every donation makes a difference!
-Questions added on Dec 27th-
Q: Each member has 3 votes (3 points; 2 points; and 1 point). Is it mandatory to use them all?
A: No. You can leave blank any number of your votes. For example, you can give your 3 points vote to one candidate and leave the other two votes blank.
Q: In what Region do I vote?
A: You will vote in the Region you have set up as your main region in judge APPS on January 11th 2025.
If you have further questions, feel free to reach out. Let’s shape the future of the International Judge Program together!
