The 'Intersect election season' is a period of heightened community engagement and decision-making. It includes the nomination and voting phases for Intersect’s board of directors and the third election for Intersect’s committees, as well as the announcement of results and the subsequent transition of leadership.

We stand at a pivotal moment in the evolution of Intersect. This September and October, you have the opportunity to directly shape Intersect's future and offer informed recommendations to the broader Cardano community. The upcoming elections for Intersect's board and committees aren't just procedural milestones; they represent the very essence of what makes Cardano extraordinary: true community governance in action.

September: expanding our leadership foundation

In September, we’ll elect four members to the Intersect Board, following the recent decision to expand the Board to seven seats, with four to be filled by members. This expansion isn't just about numbers; it’s about ensuring that diverse perspectives, innovative ideas, and community wisdom guide Cardano’s strategic direction.

Intersect is committed to ensuring our members have a strong voice in shaping its direction. The Intersect Board is responsible for approving the organization’s strategic priorities, overseeing performance against those priorities, and ensuring that Intersect stays true to its mission and legal obligations under Wyoming law. You can learn more about the Board and its responsibilities here.

Applications are open from Monday, September 1, to Friday, September 12. Voting opens on Monday, September 15, and closes on Friday, September 26. Results will be announced at the end of the month. More details here

The board sets the vision, allocates resources, and makes critical decisions on how to achieve the goals our members set for us. Your vote determines who will champion your interests, advocate for your priorities, and represent your voice in the rooms where Cardano's future is discussed.

October: full committee democracy

October brings an even more transformative milestone: elections for all Intersect committees, with elected members filling every single committee seat.

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.

Applications open on Monday, October 1, and close on Wednesday, October 15. Voting will open on Friday, October 17, and close on Wednesday, October 29, with results announced on  Monday, November 3. More details here

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 Cardano's destiny.

Consider what's at stake:

• Technical excellence: The committees you elect will oversee the development roadmap, ensuring Cardano continues to set the gold standard for security, scalability, and sustainability.
  
  
• Ecosystem growth: The leaders you choose will forge partnerships, drive adoption, and position Cardano as the blockchain of choice for the next generation of decentralized applications.
  
  
• Governance evolution: These elections set precedents for how true decentralized governance operates at scale, with implications far beyond our ecosystem.

The power of distributed democracy

Intersect's objective is to transition the Cardano blockchain network toward a fully decentralized governance structure, whereby the community is responsible for the network's technical maintenance and sustainability. We're not just implementing governance, we're pioneering a new model for how blockchain communities can collaborate, innovate, and thrive.

Every vote you cast strengthens this model. Every candidate you evaluate helps ensure we select leaders who share our values of transparency, innovation, and community-first thinking. Every moment you spend considering the issues demonstrates the thoughtful engagement that makes democratic governance work.

Voting Eligibility and What It Means for You

In traditional systems, individual voices often get lost in bureaucracy and hierarchy. In Intersect, your membership carries real power. The candidates elected in these historic elections will serve communities comprising over 1,750 individual members and over 3000 associates, each a stakeholder in Cardano's success.

To be eligible to vote in the upcoming board elections, members must have held a paid membership with Intersect for at least 6 months before the start of voting (before 15th March 2025 at noon UTC), or have completed the verification process. For committee elections, the eligibility period is shorter; members must have held a paid membership with Intersect for at least 3 months before voting begins (before 16th July 2025 at noon UTC), or must be verified to participate. Watch out for more details in the coming weeks!

Anyone who is not yet a fully paid member must join Intersect before voting starts and complete the verification process before voting ends to be eligible to vote. 

Members should log into the member area and check their renewal date. If renewal lapses, members may find they are unable to vote, as there is a limit between signing up and voting, designed to avoid vote purchasing. If you are an associate and you want to participate, you will need to upgrade to full membership.

When you vote, you're not just selecting representatives; you're actively participating in the most advanced experiment in blockchain governance ever attempted. You're helping prove that communities can self-organize, make complex technical decisions, and drive innovation without centralized control.

How to make your vote count

As we approach these crucial elections, here's how you can maximize your impact:

1. Stay informed: Follow the candidate nominations, review their platforms, and understand their vision for Cardano's future.
2. Engage actively: Participate in the X Spaces, ask tough questions, and help your fellow members make informed decisions.
3. Vote thoughtfully: Consider not just individual qualifications, but how candidates will work together to advance our collective goals.
4. Encourage participation: Reach out to fellow members who may not be aware of the significance of these elections. Every vote strengthens our democratic foundation.

Your Voice. Your Vote. Your Intersect.

The future of Intersect is in your hands, literally. When those ballots open in September and October, remember that you're not just voting for candidates; you're voting for the kind of blockchain ecosystem you want to be part of, the kind of governance you want to practice, and the kind of future you want to build.

Stay tuned for candidate announcements, voting instructions, and election updates. Together, we're not just building a blockchain; we're building the future of community governance.