Following September’s Board elections, we now move into the second half of Election Season 2025. From noon UTC on October 1 to 14, members can stand as candidates in the committee elections for all Intersect committees, with every single committee seat being filled by an elected member. In each election, about half of the seats are up for election. This process ensures that core business knowledge is preserved and passed on to new members.

These committees have an important advisory role. They provide technical advice and guidance, scrutinize budgets, oversee security, make recommendations for ecosystem growth, and help to ensure Cardano remains at the forefront of blockchain innovation. From the Technical Steering Committee, which guides core development, to the Membership and Community Committee, which shapes our collective experience, every committee directly impacts your Cardano journey.

Election timeline

Applications open on Monday, October 1, and close on Tuesday, October 14. Voting will open on Thursday, October 16, and close on Wednesday, October 29, with results announced on  Monday, November 3. More details here



How to participate

If you have the passion and qualifications, please consider applying as a candidate. People with these attributes are encouraged to apply:

• Passionately committed to the vision that created Cardano: empowering the powerless, banking the unbanked, and connecting the unconnected
• Specific knowledge and skills in the domain of the particular committee
• Available to spend up to 20 hours per month attending virtual meetings, participating in online chats, and processing emails.

Before the application period officially opens, you’re welcome to start preparing your candidacy. To help you prepare, we’ve uploaded the complete application form in advance, allowing you to review each question ahead of time (here). Please note that when the window opens, all applications must be submitted through the Intersect Members Area—the preview form is for preparation only.

Apply through the Intersect member’s area. An application pack is also available for download. If you have questions, raise them in the Intersect Discord channel, email committees@intersectmbo.org, or reach out to other community members. Applications are visible to all members as they are submitted.

The relevant committee will review applications for completeness and may request additional information or clarification from applicants as needed.

When candidates are elected, the secretary of the relevant committee will extend an invitation accompanied by onboarding information. For more information, email committees@intersectmbo.org.

Candidate applications open on October 1 at noon UTC. To apply:

1. Log in to the Intersect member area
2. Navigate to the ‘Voting events’ section, in the ‘not started’ page (Opens at noon, October 1)
3. Select the committee you wish to apply for
4. Submit your application before October 14.

Vote in the election

Voting is open to all paid members of Intersect. All ada holders are invited to become members to protect their interests. Each member, whether an individual or an enterprise, has one vote in these elections. 

Voting will open on October 16 at noon UTC. The voting process is: 

1. Log in to the Intersect member area (members.intersectmbo.org)
2. Navigate to the ‘Voting events’ section, in the ‘open’ page
3. Select the committee you want to vote for
4. Review and select your preferred candidates by the closing date
5. A third party will audit the votes 
6. Intersect will announce the results.

Eligibility rules

• General: Only those who have been members for at least three months before the start of voting, or who have verified their membership, are eligible to vote.
• Verification is not needed for members (individual or enterprise) who joined before July 16, 2025, at noon UTC.
• Recent members who joined after July 16th and before October 16 at noon UTC can get verified at any time before voting ends.
• Members must join before October 16 at noon UTC to be eligible to vote.

If the last two items apply to you, you will see a ‘Verify Identity’ option on your main dashboard. Members will be able to choose between two methods of verification:

• Standard ID verification: Use a government-issued ID to confirm your identity through Sumsub, our trusted KYC provider
• Decentralized ID verification (DID): Verify your identity using our Decentralized Identity solution powered by Socious, an Enterprise Founding Member.

This process ensures fair and secure participation in elections while providing members with the flexibility to choose how to verify their identity. 

Election Overview: Committees and Seats

Seven standing committees report to a steering committee, each with a specific mission. For more information, refer to the Intersect knowledge base.

The Intersect Steering Committee
(ISC) serves as the forum where committee chairs, elected community members, and the Intersect Executive team collaborate to integrate committee expertise, member feedback, and operational insights, thereby guiding Intersect as a member-led organization. Unlike other committees, the ISC looks inward, providing broad, strategic recommendations to the Board rather than making binding decisions.

Cardano budget committee
The Cardano Budget Committee (CBC) is an advisory committee that brings together relevant stakeholders from within the Cardano ecosystem. The CBC relies upon the knowledge and observations of committee members to provide guidance, support, and oversight for Cardano’s annual budget processes.

Cardano civics committee
The Cardano Civics Committee ensures that Cardano's governance is accessible, fair, and transparent. It provides facilitation and oversight to the Cardano community on the governance of Cardano. This includes developing and facilitating processes that engage the broader Cardano community in governance, as well as coordinating with subject matter experts as needed. 

Technical steering committee
The Technical Steering Committee (TSC) provides recommendations to ensure that decisions made, either on-chain or off-chain, for Cardano development are based on sound technical awareness and best practices, thereby maintaining the security and sustainability of the blockchain.

Open source committee
The Open Source Committee (OSC) is a decision-making body that brings together relevant stakeholders from within the Cardano ecosystem. The OSC mission is to support the growth of Cardano through community-driven decision-making. We are committed to providing tools, policies, and guidance to ensure its success, adaptability, and accessibility.

Cardano product committee
The Cardano Product Committee (CPC) supports the community by facilitating the development of a shared vision and roadmap, while ensuring alignment with Cardano’s strategic goals and driving innovation throughout the ecosystem.

Membership and community committee
The Membership and Community Committee (MCC) supports Intersect by overseeing community grants, outreach, and education within the Cardano community. The MCC serves Intersect Members and the Cardano community, facilitating grassroots connection with the broader community, targeting Membership growth, community support, and events.

The Growth and Marketing Committee
The Growth and Marketing Committee (GMC) is a strategic planning and decision-making body bringing together founding entities of the Cardano blockchain ecosystem and a diverse group of experienced marketing professionals. The GMC is committed to attracting, empowering, and directing global marketing initiatives, breaking traditional boundaries that promote decentralization, growth, and widespread adoption for the Cardano ecosystem.

Why your participation matters now more than ever

Intersect empowers a distributed network of builders and contributors to share in the belief that every voice holds value and that building together is stronger. This principle isn't just our mission statement; it's the foundation of everything we're building together.

You are not just a member; you are a co-owner of Intersect and Cardano's destiny.