On this page

2025 Alumni Trustee Election

Please join us in congratulating your two newly elected alumni trustees:
Paul Hayre ’91 and Karen E. Stewart ’85. Thank you to the more than 20,000 alumni who voted in this election and to all of this year’s candidates, who together reflect the wonderful breadth of engagement, uniqueness of Cornell alumni, and priorities set by the Cornell University Board of Trustees.

2026 Alumni Trustee Election

Nominations for the 2026 Alumni Trustee Election are open through June 1, 2025. Consider nominating an outstanding Cornellian who is qualified and prepared to serve the university as an alumni-elected member of Cornell’s Board of Trustees. Read more about the nomination criteria and process and nominate a Cornellian.

Meet your new alumni-elected trustees

Why vote?

  • Cornell is one of the few major universities that offer its alumni an opportunity to vote for alumni board members. By voting, you are helping to select members of the Cornell University Board of Trustees who guide the future of our alma mater.

    Nominations for the 2026 Alumni Trustee Election are open. Please take a moment to think about the most extraordinary Cornell alumni volunteers you have worked with over the years. Consider nominating an outstanding Cornellian who is qualified and prepared to serve the university as an alumni-elected member of Cornell’s Board of Trustees.

How to vote

  • Election vendor

    Cornell uses a full-service election management agency, YesElections, who offers state-of-the-art election security and data privacy protection.  YesElections administers all internet and phone voting, the mailing and processing of paper ballots, and secure and accurate tabulation. YesElections offers single-vote verification, guaranteed protection of voter files, and a system that ensures ballots remain secret. Your vote is confidential and secure.

  • Customer service contact information

    For general questions related to the election or candidates, or to request your Cornell NetID, alumni may contact Cornell at: electalumtrustee@cornell.edu

    For customer service related to voting during the month of February (i.e. to request an election code or paper ballot), alumni should contact the help desk of our third-party election vendor, YesElections. The help desk is only open in February when voting is live:
    Phone: (844) 413-2929 (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. EST)
    Email: Help+Cornell@YesElections.com

    Alumni who need technical assistance with their NetID can contact the Cornell IT Service Desk during business hours:
    Phone: (607) 255-5500 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. EST)
    Email: itservicedesk@cornell.edu

  • Email

    Alumni will receive an email with a personalized link to vote from our election vendor, YesElections, on February 1, as well as several email reminders throughout the month. This is the easiest and preferred method of voting, as the voting link will be personalized for each recipient.

  • Website

    Alumni who arrive at the election website through any other means will be required to log in with their Cornell NetID or an election code (available by request in February at Help+Cornell@YesElections.com).

  • Paper ballots

    Alumni will be mailed a paper ballot in early February if they have voted by paper in any of the past five elections, but any alumni can request that a paper ballot be sent to them. Paper ballot requests must be received by February 14 at Help+Cornell@YesElections.com.

  • Phone

    The toll-free number to vote is: (877) 318-8665. A numeric election code is required, available on mailed paper ballots or by request from the election vendor in February at Help+Cornell@YesElections.com.

  • Recent election data