This official notice of candidacy filing has been issued by the BANA Election Committee 2025 to notify eligible members of BANA, as listed in the Final List of Voters, who meet the qualifications outlined below, about the opportunity to apply for candidacy in the BANA General Election to be held on April 6, 2025, for a post in the 2025-2028 BANA Executive Committee.
(i) Positions Open for Candidacy
One President, one Senior Vice President, one Vice President, one General Secretary, one Secretary, one Treasurer, and eight Board of Directors.
(ii) Qualification for Candidacy
(a) As per current BANA Bylaws (with 2021 Amendment), only life members qualify to file for a candidacy. Since all trustee members are life members as well, trustee members are also qualified to run for a candidacy under the same eligibility criteria. Therefore all eligible voters listed as either Trustee Members (TM) or Life Members (LM) in the Final List of Voters will qualify to file for a candidacy. Any other membership status will not qualify.
(b) A person who meets all the provisions outlined in the BANA Bylaws (with 2021 Amendment), along with the requirements set forth by the Election Committee in this notice, the Election Code of Conduct issued by the Committee, the requirements in the candidacy form, and any other applicable provisions, will qualify to file for candidacy. Failure to meet any of these requirements will result in disqualification from candidacy.
(iii) Valid Physical Maryland ID Required for Verification
The applicant (prospective candidate) must present an original, valid physical Maryland ID or driver’s license for identity verification by the Election Committee at the time of filing the candidacy. The same requirement applies to the applicant’s nominating and seconding voters, with the distinction that the responsibility for verifying their identities lies solely with the applicant. Any discrepancies or failure to verify the identity of the nominating or seconding voters will result in the cancellation of candidacy.
(iv) Filing Fee
To support the operational costs of the upcoming election, and according to the recommendation of the BANA Executive Committee, the Election Committee has instituted a filing fee for all prospective candidates, as outlined in the table below. Each candidate must submit the required non-refundable filing fee in cash, cashier’s check, or money order, payable to “Baltimore Association of Nepalese in America (BANA)”, along with their application, based on the position they are applying for. Applications without the required fee will not be accepted. If the submitted payment (cashier’s check or money order) is rejected for any reason, the application will be invalid, and the candidacy will be void. The filing fees for each position are detailed in the following table:
| S.No. | Position | Filing Fee |
| 1 | President | $3,500.00 |
| 2 | Senior Vice President | $2,500.00 |
| 3 | Vice President | $2,000.00 |
| 4 | General Secretary | $2,000.00 |
| 5 | Secretary | $1,500.00 |
| 6 | Treasurer | $1,500.00 |
| 7 | Board of Director | $750.00 |
Note: The filing fees are non-refundable. In the event that a candidacy application is not approved due to the applicant’s ineligibility, is canceled due to the candidate’s failure to meet all requirements, or is withdrawn, the filing fee will not be refunded.
(v) Candidacy for Multiple Positions by a Person
One qualifying member can file candidacy for one position only. Filing for more than one position will invalidate all of his/her applications.
(vi) Format of the Candidacy Application
The candidacy must be filed using the official Candidacy Application Form (available to download here or available in the office on the day of filing). The completed and duly signed form should be submitted by the applicant by being physically present in front of the designated election official(s) in the Office of the Election Committee on the day and within the time outlined in Section (vii) below and as posted in Election Programs/Timelines. Any other type/method of application will not be accepted.
If a prospective candidate is unable to submit the application in person due to unavoidable circumstances, he or she must provide valid, verifiable, notarized written proof acceptable to the Election Committee. In such cases, the candidate may submit the signed application form and supporting documents via personal email to the Election Committee (election@banaonline.org) or a legally valid power of attorney, provided all the documents are notarized by a licensed notary public. A legible, notarized color copy of a valid ID, as outlined in Section (iii), must also be submitted. Additionally, both the nominating and seconding voters must be present in person with their original valid IDs as outlined in Section (iii) to verify the authenticity of the application before the Election Committee at the time of filing. The Election Committee reserves sole discretion in determining the acceptability of such submissions based on the justification and authenticity of the documents. Any false or fraudulent documents, information, or statements by the candidate, their power of attorney, or their nominating and seconding voters will result in the revocation of the candidacy and may lead to further legal consequences.
(vii) When to file
The application must be filed on Sunday February 23, 2025 between 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
(viii) Where to File
The application must be filed to the Office of the Election Committee located in the BANA Resource Center at 2906 Taylor Ave, Parkville, MD 21234.
(ix) Must Read Materials
All prospective candidates seeking to file for candidacy are required to carefully and comprehensibly review this notice, the Candidacy Application Form, BANA Bylaws (with 2021 Amendment), 2025 Election Code of Conduct, and any other relevant provisions, policies, or requirements issued by the Election Committee. By submitting their candidacy application, candidates acknowledge their full responsibility for familiarizing themselves with these documents and provisions. No candidate shall be excused from compliance on the grounds of unfamiliarity with any of the aforementioned documents or provisions, whether due to lack of review or understanding. It is the candidate’s responsibility to review and understand the materials, either independently or with the assistance of a qualified translator if necessary. The Election Committee will not provide a translator; this responsibility rests solely with the candidate.
If you have any questions, you may contact us by writing to election@banaonline.org.
Last updated 2/19/2025
