How do USCCB presidential elections actually work?
The U.S. bishops’ conference on Tuesday afternoon will elect a new president and vice president, in an unusually open election lacking the customary presumption that the current vice president will be elected president.
The election breaks from tradition because conference vice-president Allen Vigneron is 74, too old to serve a term as USCCB president. Ten bishops have accepted the nomination to be elected USCCB president, and will be voted on during a run-off style election Nov. 15.
How does that election actually work?
The Pillar explains.
How are the candidates decided?
According to USCCB policy, diocesan bishops are eligible to be elected to the office of president and vice president. Several months before an election each member of the USCCB is asked to propose up to five names of bishops qualified for the office of conference president. The ten bishops with the most nominations – if they are willing to stand for election – become candidates for the offices of both president and vice president.
