At this election, RAs will vote to determine whether we want GEO to be our exclusive bargaining representative (meaning that we will be able to negotiate a contract with the university through GEO).

The ballot text will read, “I choose the following employee organization (or no representative) to represent me in bargaining with my employer with respect to my wages, hours and other terms and conditions of employment:

• Graduate Employees Organization, IFT/AFT Local 6300, AFL-CIO

• No Representative”

To vote for unionizing with GEO, you should select the “Graduate Employees Organization” option.

If you are an RA eligible to vote (see below), go to Ikenberry Commons on Thursday, July 10 between 9:30 and 4:00 pm to vote. You may be asked to verify your identity by showing your identification, so be sure to bring your driver’s license or your I-Card.

To get an absentee ballot, you will need to request one by email no later than 10 days prior to the election. 

To request an absentee ballot, email Board Agent Ryan Sinclair at Ryan.Sinclair@illinois.gov using the subject line "2025-RS-0035-C Absentee Ballot Request" by June 30. Your email should explain why you are not able to be physically present at the polling place at the time the election is scheduled. (Inconvenience is not enough of a rationale.) The request must include your physical mailing address. 

The Board will mail absentee ballots through the U.S. Postal Service. Absentee ballots may be returned by U.S. mail, overnight delivery service or hand delivery to the Board's Chicago office (160 N. LaSalle, Suite N400, Chicago, Illinois, 60601). Absentee ballots must be received by the Board by the close of business (5:00 P.M) on July 9, 2025.

Research Assistants are eligible to vote if they were/are employed as an RA at UIUC with a 25% to 67% appointment both

• During the pay period that ended on May 15, 2025, and 

• On the date of the election (July 10).

Unfortunately, this means that some RAs cannot vote. This group includes 2024-2025 academic year RAs who don’t have summer appointments, and RAs with Summer 2025 appointments who were not employed as RAs in the spring semester. This restriction is due to the IELRB’s policy for determining election eligibility and is out of GEO’s control.

Yes. Voters will be asked their name at the polling location to determine their eligibility, but your vote will be secret and not linked to your name. No one—including your advisor, GEO, or the university—will know how you voted.

There is no set number of votes needed for unionization to happen. Instead, a majority of voting RAs will need to vote in favor of unionizing with GEO, meaning 50% of votes plus one.