This section reflects information prior to May 14, 2024.In the upcoming election, eligible graduate students will be asked to vote Yes or No on whether the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) should represent them in a process to negotiate their terms and conditions of employment with Princeton.Because unionization could materially change the experience of certain graduate students at Princeton, the University believes it is essential for eligible voters to be fully informed before deciding whether unionization is right for you and your fellow graduate students. We encourage you to explore the four sections of extensive information: Communications from the Graduate School; Student Support and Benefit Highlights; Peer Institution Collective Bargaining Agreements, and FAQS About Graduate Student Unionization.Election OverviewQuestionAnswerElection Dates and HoursMonday, May 13:9:00 am-1:00 pm2:00 pm-6:00 pm Tuesday, May 14:9:00 am-1:00 pm2:00 pm-6:00 pm On April 12, 2024, the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board seeking to hold an election on May 13 and 14, 2024, to represent certain Princeton graduate students. With oversight and approval by the NLRB, the UE and the University reached a stipulated election agreement regarding the date and times of the election.Election Location302 Frist Campus Center. Voters will be required to present an official University ID (TigerCard) or a valid government-issued photo ID, if their University ID is unavailable. This is for proof of eligibility only. This is a secret ballot election: No one will know whether you vote Yes or No. Will anyone know how I voted?Please be assured: This is a secret ballot election. Your vote is not traceable to you. It is not possible for anyone to know how you voted – not the union, not the University, not the NLRB, not your fellow students. Multiple NLRB agents are present during the election to ensure the anonymity of the ballots and to oversee the election process. When you enter the voting site (Room 302, Frist Campus Center), you will present your University or government ID ONLY to check against the list of eligible voters. You then will step over to an available voting booth with privacy shields, mark and fold your ballot in secret, and then deposit your ballot in the ballot box. Your vote is completely anonymous.Who can vote?Princeton graduate students, including international students, who currently serve as AIs or ARs (Assistants in Instruction or Research). If a union were voted in, only AIs and ARs would be included in the bargaining unit and represented by this union.Who cannot vote?Graduate students supported exclusively on internal fellowships, exclusively on external fellowships, or a combination of both, are ineligible to vote. Students who cannot vote include those whose stipends are funded solely by first-year fellowships, honorific fellowships, or University fellowships. These students are not permitted to vote because, if this union is voted in and established at Princeton, they would not be included in the bargaining unit represented by this union. Why vote?The election will be decided by the majority of eligible students who actually cast votes. If only 50 students vote and 26 of them vote “yes”, all 1500+ eligible students will be represented by the union with no ability to opt out of union representation at a later date. Your vote is important.How was eligibility decided?Eligibility was determined through a negotiation between the University and UE (the union). The UE and the University agreed, and the NLRB approved, this definition of the proposed bargaining unit and eligibility.How many students are eligible to vote?1,523 students, about 49% of Princeton graduate students. 82% of eligible voters are students in the Natural Sciences or Engineering and Applied Sciences. Have I been notified if I am eligible to vote?The University has emailed eligible students. Check your email for an April 24 message from the Dean of the Graduate School, Subject: “NOTICE TO ELIGIBLE VOTERS OF RIGHTS UNDER THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT.” Can I vote remotely?No. The NLRB is requiring in-person voting. Communications from the Graduate School Peer Institution Collective Bargaining Agreements FAQs about Graduate Student Unionization