2026 RIRA Elections
Every two years (even years) we hold an election for our Common Council – our Board of Directors. To assure geographic diversity, roughly each building complex is one district, and there is representation at the district level, but your work, your opinions, and your efforts are all Island-wide. President and Vice-President positions are elected and Island-wide. We were unable to hold elections in 2020 due to COVID, and in 2022 due to a lack of personnel.
Elections info/Q&A webinars October 19 & 21 @7 PM
Expectations
Being a Common Council member means committing some time to RIRA, typically an hour-long monthly meeting (first Wednesday of the month at 8 PM), and then approximately 1-2 hours of committee work. Each Common Council member must join at least one committee. We have the following committees:
- Communication Committee;
- Government Relations Committee;
- Housing Committee;
- Island Services Committee;
- Legal Action Committee;
- Planning Committee;
- Public Safety Committee;
- Social, Cultural and Educational Services Committee;
- Youth Committee;
- Community Emergency Committee.
The officers President and Vice President typically require ~20 hours/week. The officers Secretary and Treasurer (elected from within the Common Council) typically require ~5-10 hours/week. Committee Chairs typically require ~10-20 hours/month.
Nominations
We are holding elections this year. The first step is to nominate yourself. The nominations forms and elections info are here.
Please complete the form and drop it off at the Island House Doorstation at 555 Main St (RIRA Nominations Envelope) by 6 PM October 25, 2026. You will be called to confirm we have received your nomination, so please include your phone number. If you have questions, contact rira.president.farance@gmail.com for info, put RIRA in the Subject: line.
IMPORTANT: You don’t have to be a US citizen to vote in the RIRA election, and you don’t have to be a US citizen to run for a RIRA elected office, you just need to be a Resident of Roosevelt Island.
Elections
After receiving the nominations, they will be announced on October 26, with a Meet the Candidates Zoom discussion on October 28. For contested positions, we will hold elections on Elections Day at PS/IS 217 (paper ballots), and early drop off at places around Roosevelt Island (places/times to be announced).