Ballot Petition Rules
Eligible petitioners are individuals who have met all the following criteria in the current election year and submitted a complete Biographical Information Form that was considered by the CDR Nominating Committees. No more than one petitioner will be added to the CDR ballot per election. The first individual who successfully collects the required number of validated signatures and meets the position qualifications will be included on the ballot.
The process for petitioners is as follows.
- Notify the Nominating Committee at cdr@eatright.org within five business days of the announcement of the slate to the Commission of your intention to petition. The CDR Nominating Committees will respond within three business days acknowledging your intention.
- Collect signatures from no fewer than 5% of registered dietitians and dietetics technicians, registered (approximately 5,700 signatures). Any duplicate name(s) will be counted once.
The petitioner will be governed by the same rules as the other candidates, including adherence to the Campaign Rules. Any violation of the campaign rules may result in disqualification from the ballot.
The use of Academy membership or CDR registrant lists, Academy or CDR communication channels or Academy social media platforms for petitioning is prohibited. The only statement a petitioner may use when soliciting signatures is as follows.
- I am seeking 5% of credentialed practitioners’ signatures for consideration as a Petition Candidate for the position of XXX on the Commission on Dietetic Registration national ballot. If you support the placement of my name on the ballot, please fill in all required information on the petition attached/linked here.
This information must be completed and returned to me by XX time on XXXX date.
This is an approved CDR Nominating Committee procedure and statement.
An electronic petition must be filed with the chair of the CDR Nominating Committee nominations@eatright.org in an Excel format. The petition form must include each supporter’s name, registration number and date.
Upon receipt of the completed petition, the CDR will notify the petitioner of its acceptance within five business days.
If successful, the petitioner will be identified as the “Petition Candidate” wherever displayed, such as on the list of candidates, the national ballot and CDR’s nominations and election website. The Petition Candidate’s name will be placed on the ballot following the slate selected candidates for that position. The definition of a “Petition Candidate” will be referenced on the ballot: In accordance with the CDR’s established petition process, a Petition Candidate is one who has petitioned to be placed on the ballot by obtaining the required number of valid signatures from members.
The completed petition, with all required documentation, must be received no later than 30 calendar days after the slate is announced to the Commission and will be valid only for the current election.
Send petitions and supporting documentation to:
Commission on Dietetic Registration
Attn: CDR Nominating Committee
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606
cdr@eatright.org