2026 NFA Constitutional Ratification Election: Member Information Guide
Prepared by the NFA State Board | June 2026 | Official Election Information
This document provides factual information about the 2026 NFA Constitutional Ratification Election. It is not an endorsement of either YES or NO. Members are encouraged to review all materials, ask questions, and vote according to their own judgment.
Election dates: Voting opens June 17, 2026 at 12:01 AM and closes June 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Every NFA member in good standing will receive a unique, anonymous ballot link by email on or before June 17.
The Ballot Question
"Shall the Nevada Faculty Alliance adopt the proposed AFT Nevada Constitution, replacing the current NFA State Bylaws and transitioning the state organization to AFT Nevada?"
Members will vote YES or NO. Ratification requires a two-thirds majority of ballots cast.
A YES vote means: The proposed AFT Nevada Constitution is adopted, replacing the current NFA State Bylaws. The transition takes effect upon ratification.
A NO vote means: The current NFA State Bylaws are retained. No changes to NFA's governance structure occur.
Background: How This Proposal Was Developed
In September 2025, the NFA State Board formally established an ad-hoc Bylaws Committee and charged it with developing a revised governing framework. Andrew Lavengood, NFA Vice President, agreed to serve as chair. The committee's charge was to research governance models that would allow NFA to access additional resources from its national affiliates.
The committee researched state federation models across the country and developed multiple drafts over several months. Drafts were shared with the full State Board through scheduled meetings and open Google Drive documents where chapter leaderships could comment. A special State Board meeting was held to review the final draft. The full NFA State Board — including all chapter presidents — reviewed and approved moving the proposed constitution forward to a membership vote.
The proposed AFT Nevada Constitution is the document members are now being asked to ratify. It is available in full at the link listed in the Resources section of this guide.
What the Proposed Constitution Would Change
The following is a factual description of the substantive changes contained in the proposed AFT Nevada Constitution. This section describes what the document says — not whether those changes are desirable or undesirable. Members should read the full constitution and draw their own conclusions.
Name and Structure
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The state organization would operate under the name AFT Nevada as a formal AFT state federation chartered by AFT national.
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Campus chapters would continue to operate under the Nevada Faculty Alliance name.
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The existing Nevada non-profit corporation continues. A name change to the Articles of Incorporation would be filed after ratification.
Governance
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The highest governing authority would become the Convention, composed of delegates elected by secret ballot by local members. The current NFA structure uses direct statewide member voting for officer elections and major policy decisions.
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The Convention would meet at least once every two years, in odd-numbered years, no later than June 30.
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A statewide referendum may be initiated by petition of 10% of members in good standing statewide.
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Constitutional amendments would require a two-thirds supermajority of delegates at a Convention.
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Delegate allocation is governed by Article XIV of the proposed constitution, which establishes a formula based on local membership size and collective bargaining status.
Finance
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Dues would flow directly to each local rather than to the NFA State Board.
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The state federation would be funded through per-capita assessments from locals.
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AFT Nevada is explicitly prohibited from controlling, seizing, or directing local funds except as required by the AFT national Constitution or by lawful order.
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A minimum of 50% of NFA's current state-level reserves would be designated to the Legal Defense Fund at the time of transition.
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Remaining reserves would be distributed to each local as initial operating funds.
Membership and Affiliation
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Every NFA member currently holds membership in both AAUP and AFT. Under the proposed constitution, members continue to hold membership in both AAUP and AFT. AAUP dues and AFT dues continue to be paid on members' behalf under the existing national affiliation agreements.
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All AAUP benefits — academic freedom resources, legal support, Committee A, governance publications — continue under the proposed constitution.
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Individual membership is held through affiliated locals, consistent with AFT's federated structure.
Collective Bargaining
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All existing collective bargaining agreements remain fully in force. The transition does not affect any current CBA.
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NSHE payroll processing of dues continues without interruption under an arrangement agreed upon between the NFA State Board and NSHE.
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Locals retain full authority over their own collective bargaining. AFT Nevada is explicitly prohibited from interfering with local collective bargaining authority.
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The proposed constitution defines a local as an organizing unit that reaches 15% membership density in at least one potential bargaining unit. This definition differs from the AFT national default definition, which requires an active collective bargaining agreement.
Local Autonomy and Constitutions
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Each local would adopt its own local constitution. A template is being provided by the State Board with options for different governance models. Locals personalize the template consistent with AAUP, AFT, and AFT Nevada governing documents.
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Officers of current NFA chapters serve out their existing terms through the transition.
Legal Defense
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The Legal Defense Fund continues under the new structure, administered by a statewide Legal Defense Committee.
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The Legal Defense Committee chair is appointed by the AFT Nevada President and confirmed by the State Board.
Political Action
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AFT Nevada would maintain a dedicated Higher Education PAC account. Contributions to the PAC are voluntary and are not a requirement for membership.
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Local presidents collectively control PAC contribution decisions.
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As a formal AFT state federation, AFT Nevada would have access to AFT's Solidarity Fund for political organizing during election cycles.
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Each local would have the right to send delegates to regional AFL-CIO labor councils.
What Does Not Change Under Either Vote Outcome
The following items are not affected by the ratification vote under either a YES or NO outcome:
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All existing collective bargaining agreements
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AAUP membership for all NFA members — retained under both outcomes
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AFT membership for all NFA members — retained under both outcomes
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AAUP and AFT dues paid on members' behalf — continues under both outcomes
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NSHE payroll deduction processing
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Campus chapter names — Nevada Faculty Alliance at each institution
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Current officer terms
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Academic freedom, shared governance, due process, and legal defense protections
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The Nevada non-profit corporation's legal existence
Concerns That Have Been Raised About the Proposed Constitution
Members have raised a number of questions and concerns about the proposed constitution. This section summarizes the concerns that have been formally raised. It does not evaluate whether these concerns are valid — members should form their own views.
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AAUP membership: Some members have raised the concern that transitioning to a direct AFT charter could affect AAUP membership. The State Board's position is that AAUP membership is retained under the transition. Members should review the proposed constitution and the national AFT-AAUP affiliation agreement and draw their own conclusions.
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Loss of direct member voting: The current NFA structure provides for direct statewide member voting on officer elections and bylaw amendments. The proposed constitution shifts this to a delegate convention model. Members should consider whether this change affects their view of member representation.
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501(c)(6) and 501(c)(5) tax status: The NFA state federation will maintain its current 501(c)(6) tax status, which provides broad lobbying authority for higher education issues. Individual locals will be classified as 501(c)(5) labor organizations, consistent with their collective bargaining functions. These classifications apply at the state federation and local levels respectively.
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Articles of Incorporation: A constitutional ratification vote cannot by itself supersede NFA's Articles of Incorporation. The State Board has indicated the Articles will be amended through a separate legal filing after ratification.
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Asset disposition: The proposed constitution does not specify asset disposition in detail. The State Board has determined that assets will be allocated to create reserve accounts for all locals and the state federation, while preserving a substantial Legal Defense Fund accessible to all members statewide.
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Other sector affiliation and the AFT Nevada name: The proposed constitution allows locals from sectors other than higher education to affiliate with AFT Nevada in the future. The name AFT Nevada at the state level is not limited to faculty, which means NSHE employee groups who are not academic faculty would be eligible to affiliate as locals. Under the current Nevada Faculty Alliance name, non-faculty employee groups may perceive the organization as faculty-specific. The proposed constitution does not require non-faculty affiliation — it permits it. Article XIV contains a delegate allocation formula that addresses voting strength among locals of different sizes and CB status.
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15% organizing threshold: The 15% organizing threshold for local recognition is a definition established by the proposed constitution. The following chapters currently meet or exceed this threshold and would qualify as locals upon ratification: UNR, UNLV, CSN, TMCC, NSU, and WNC. GBC existing funds will be preserved and a plan for membership growth toward local status is in process. GBC members retain access to all NFA member services and the Legal Defense Fund throughout.
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Administratorship: AFT national holds the authority to place a state federation or local under administratorship under certain conditions defined in the AFT national Constitution. This is not a new condition created by the proposed transition. NFA current national affiliates — AAUP and AFT — already hold this authority over NFA and its chapters under their respective governing documents. The proposed constitution does not create new external oversight that does not already exist.
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Alternatives: Some members have proposed alternatives to a full constitutional transition, including a memorandum of understanding, a parallel AFT state federation structure, or amendments to the existing NFA State Bylaws. The State Board considered these alternatives and chose to proceed with the full transition proposal.
How to Cast Your Vote
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Check your email on June 17, 2026 for your unique ballot link from ElectionBuddy. Check your spam folder if you do not see it in your inbox.
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Click your unique link. Do not share it — it is assigned specifically to you and can only be used once.
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Read the ballot question and select YES or NO.
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Submit your ballot before June 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
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Your vote is anonymous. Your identity and your vote are kept entirely separate.
Did not receive a ballot? If you are a member in good standing and do not receive your ballot link by June 18, contact your local president or the NFA State Board immediately. No eligible member should be excluded from voting.
Your Rights in This Election
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Every member in good standing has the right to vote.
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Every member has the right to campaign for or against ratification using their own time and personal resources. Campaign activity must be clearly identified as the personal view of the individual, not an official NFA communication.
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NFA funds, staff time, and official resources may not be used to advocate for YES or NO.
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Every member has the right to review the proposed constitution and all election materials before voting.
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Every member has the right to attend open information meetings and ask questions.
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Any member who believes this election was not conducted in accordance with the NFA Bylaws or the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) may raise a challenge. Challenges should first be directed to the NFA State Board. Final appeal rights under LMRDA may be exercised with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS).
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Election records will be retained for a minimum of one year following the close of the election.
Resources
Members are encouraged to review the following before voting:
Proposed AFT Nevada Constitution (full text)
Member Q&A document
Current NFA State Bylaws (for comparison)
Questions about the election process may be directed to the NFA State Board at stateboard@nevadafacultyalliance.org.
Nevada Faculty Alliance | AAUP, AFT & AFL-CIO | www.nevadafacultyalliance.org | Voting: June 17 – June 30, 2026
