The Unit Election is the beginning of a Scout’s journey in the Order of the Arrow.

Each unit election is held at a Troop, Crew, or Ship meeting by the local Chapter’s election team.

Every youth member in the Order of the Arrow has been chosen by their peers.

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The 2025 unit election season for the OA will run from February 1, 2025, to May 31, 2025.  All unit leaders should have received an email asking them to request their election.  If you did not receive an email please contact us at tahosalodge383@outlook.com and we can send you one.  Please check your spam or junk folder to make sure it did not get lost. 

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Requirements for Youth Election:

• Be a registered member of Scouting America.

• Youth must be under the age of 21

• Hold the Scouts BSA First Class rank, the Venturing Discovery Award, or the Sea Scout Ordinary rank or higher

• Have experienced 15 nights of camping while registered with a Troop, Crew, or Ship within the two years immediately before the election.

• The 15 nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of at least five consecutive nights of overnight camping under the auspices and standards of Scouting America.  

• The balance of the camping (10 nights) must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps of, at most, three nights each.  Ship nights may be counted as camping for Sea Scouts.

• Approved by the Scoutmaster, Crew Advisor, or Sea Scout Skipper

• Be elected by the youth members of their unit.

• Adults (age 21 or older) who meet the camping requirements may be selected following nomination to and approval by the lodge adult selection committee. (See your election team for more information)

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What to Expect:

• All election teams will consist of at minimum one youth and one adult current member of the Order of the Arrow. 

• Most elections can take between 15 to 30 minutes depending on your unit size.

• Before the election, you will be asked for a list of eligible scouts to build a ballot.

• Before contacting your local chapter adviser, please have your list of eligible scouts prepared.

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As soon as the election is completed the OA members may announce to the entire unit the names of members who have been elected.

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Some Chapters have a scheduled call-out ceremony for the newly elected Scouts. This chapter call-out ceremony does not take the place of the announcement of names following the election, this is an addition to the announcement. Please talk to your local chapter adviser about call-out opportunities when you schedule your unit election. 

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After the Election:

 

Those adults selected by the troop need to have the form completed and then handed into the adult conducting the election. 

 

Unit leaders are encouraged to fill out the Unit Election Evaluation and turn it in the the lodge.