-elect

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Suffix describing elected yet uninstalled officials

title: "-elect" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["elections", "titles", "suffixes", "english-suffixes"] description: "Suffix describing elected yet uninstalled officials" topic_path: "politics" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/-elect" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Suffix describing elected yet uninstalled officials ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/Retrato_oficial_do_presidente_do_Brasil,_Tancredo_Neves.jpg" caption="language=en}}"] ::

-elect is a suffix which describes the position of a person who has been elected but has not yet been installed. Notably, a president who has been elected but not yet installed would be referred to as the president-elect (e.g. president-elect of the United States).

Analogously, the term -designate (e.g. prime minister-designate) is used for the same purpose, especially when someone is appointed rather than elected (e.g., justice-designate).

History

This usage of the term -elect originated in the Catholic Church, where bishops were elected but would not take office until ordained. In addition, the winner of a papal election would be known as the pope-elect until he was confirmed and became pope.

The term entered politics with the practice of elective monarchy. For example, the Holy Roman emperor was elected by a college of prince-electors, but the winning candidate would not become emperor until he was crowned by the pope. Between election and coronation, he was known as the imperator electus, or emperor-elect.

By the 19th century, the term had expanded to describe any position in which a substantial period elapses between election and installation. For example, it was common in the 19th century to refer to a fiancée as a bride-elect.

Official positions in organizations

The bylaws of some clubs and other organizations may define an official position of president-elect similar to a vice president position. The members of the organization elect the president-elect, rather than directly electing the organization's president. The president-elect may be given limited duties, similar to a vice president. At the end of the term, the president-elect is promoted to the position of president, and a new president-elect is elected. The advantage of this schema is a clear continuity of succession, as well as the opportunity to familiarize the president-elect with the operations of the organization before becoming president. A possible drawback is that once a president-elect has been elected, another person cannot be elected president unless the president-elect resigns or is removed from office.

The position of president-elect is different from someone who was elected president and is called "president-elect" between the time of election and the start of the term. For example, if an election for president was held in January, but the term of office does not begin until March, the person who was elected president may be called "president-elect" but does not hold any power until the term begins in March. On the other hand, someone in the position of president-elect has all the powers of that position that the bylaws provide.

Similarly, organizations may have other official positions such as vice president-elect, secretary-treasurer-elect, director-elect, and chair-elect.

References

References

  1. (1985-04-22). "BRAZIL'S LEADER DIES AT AGE 75; NEVER SWORN IN". [[The New York Times]].
  2. "Elect- Definition of Elect". Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
  3. "English definition of "elect"". Cambridge Dictionaries Online.
  4. {{ws. "[[s:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Pope Severinus. Pope Severinus]]" in the 1913 ''Catholic Encyclopedia''
  5. {{ws. "[[s:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Emperor Charles V. Emperor Charles V]]" in the 1913 ''Catholic Encyclopedia''
  6. {{Cite OED
  7. {{Cite OED
  8. "President-Elect/President/Immediate Past President".
  9. "Board Position - President Elect {{!}} Association for Childhood Education International".
  10. "Duties of President-Elect {{!}} OFWIM – Organization of Fish and Wildlife Information Managers".
  11. "President-Elect Competencies and Responsibilities".
  12. "President-Elect Description - American Psychiatric Nurses Association".
  13. "President Elect".
  14. "Elections {{!}} SOA".
  15. "Executive Committee - Radiation Research Society (RADRES)".
  16. Robert, Henry M.. (2011). "Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised". [[Da Capo Press]].
  17. "Secretary-Elect Position Description".
  18. "ACTE Global :: Association of Corporate Travel Executives".
  19. "Treasurer-elect, Treasurer or Immediate Past Treasurer Position Description".
  20. "Elections • National Art Education Association".
  21. "Director Elect- ISA".
  22. "State Director-Elect {{!}} Wisconsin State Council SHRM".
  23. "Vice-Chair / Chair-Elect".
  24. "Duties of the Chair/Chair-Elect of the Faculty".

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