In 2024, at the 46th International Convention, the delegates approved an amendment to the International Constitution to authorize the International Executive Board to approve a method for submitting electronic credential forms. Following such approval, delegates may now submit electronic credential forms instead of the forms included in the Call packet. The International Union strongly encourages the use of electronic credential forms, but paper credential forms remain an option. Enclosed with the Convention Call mailing are paper credential forms that may be used to report those members elected by an affiliate to serve as a delegate or alternate delegate at the International Convention. Below are instructions for completing either the electronic credential forms or paper forms and submitting them to the International Union Secretary-Treasurer. Do not use both types of forms. Please submit either an electronic form or a paper form.
PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. Incomplete credentials may prevent a delegate or alternate from being seated at the Convention.
Accessing Electronic Credential Forms
Credential forms can now be completed and submitted online. Your local, council or retiree chapter can visit digital-credentials.afscme.org to complete and submit electronic credential forms. You can find your local’s, council’s or retiree chapter’s unique 5-digit website access code on the right side of the mailing label of the envelope in which you received the Convention Call packet. For assistance with your code, please email digitalcredentials@afscme.org.
Visit the AFSCME Digital Credential Submission Portal.
Find instructions on completing digital credentials in the links and videos below.
Completing Credential Forms
There are different credential forms for each type of affiliate. If you choose to use the paper forms, the applicable paper forms for your affiliate are included in the Convention Call mailing. The electronic form is a fillable form that is identical in format to the paper form. Please follow these instructions on how to complete either form.
Paper forms are color-coded as follows:
Local Unions
BLUE: Delegate Credential – A separate form must be submitted for each local union delegate.
GREEN: Alternate Credential – One or two local union alternates may be submitted on a single form.
Councils
YELLOW: Delegate and Alternate Credential – One Council delegate and one Council alternate may be submitted on a single form.
Retiree Chapters
PINK: Delegate and Alternate Credential – One Retiree Chapter delegate and one Retiree Chapter alternate may be submitted on a single form.
Special Designations (Local Unions Only)
There are special designations on the Local Union Delegate and Local Union Alternate credential forms that must be made by any local union sending more than one delegate or more than one alternate to the Convention.
The LOCAL UNION DELEGATE CREDENTIAL contains a box in the top left corner of the form in which the local must designate only one of its delegates to serve as the chairperson of the local’s Convention delegation. If a delegate is not selected as the chairperson, the local could lose any votes that cannot be evenly divided among the delegation.
The LOCAL UNION ALTERNATE CREDENTIAL contains a box next to the name of each alternate that must be used to designate the priority in which an alternate is seated at the Convention if a delegate is absent. Most local unions prioritize alternates based on the election results — i.e., the alternate with the highest number of votes is given Priority Number 1, the alternate with the second highest number of votes is given Priority Number 2, etc.
Note: An affiliate may elect one alternate for each elected delegate. If the number of alternate credentials received exceeds the number of delegate credentials, the alternate with the lowest priority designation will not be accepted.
Member Information
For each delegate and alternate, legibly print in ink or type the following information:
- Member contact and AFSCME identification – name, AFSCME member number, home address, personal email, personal cell phone;
- Name and number of the member’s home local union or retiree chapter;
- Name and number of the affiliate the delegate is representing at the Convention.
Proxy Delegates (Local Unions Only)
A local union may send to the Convention an elected delegate from another local union or council within the same jurisdiction (i.e., same council, organizing committee, state, commonwealth or territory) to represent it at the Convention.
The name and number of the local union whose membership voted to send another delegate to represent it at the Convention should be inserted in the “Member is a Delegate representing” box referenced in the Member Information section above.
Method of Election
Delegates and alternates must either be elected by the membership or designated under the affiliate’s constitution to be an automatic delegate or alternate delegate to the Convention by virtue of a secret ballot election to office by the membership.
Indicate the method by which the delegate or alternate was selected.
Note: Delegates elected by Executive Board or Delegate Assembly are not eligible to vote in the election of International Union Officers.
If selected by Delegate Election (Section 1) indicate whether the election was by: A) the membership or B) the Executive Board or Delegate Assembly. Provide the date (MM/DD/YYYY) on which the election was held.
If selected as an Automatic Delegate by virtue of holding a position under the affiliate’s constitution (Section 2), indicate whether the member was elected to the position by: A) the membership or B) the Executive Board or Delegate Assembly. Provide the position held and the date (MM/DD/YYYY) on which the member was elected to the position.
Note: Nominations and elections shall not be held more than 120 days prior to the International Convention — April 19, 2026 — unless the affiliate meets less often than quarterly or the member is elected as a delegate or alternate by virtue of a position under the affiliate’s constitution.
Officer Certification
All delegate and alternate credential forms must be signed by the president and secretary of the affiliate they are representing. Electronic forms are e-signed and, upon submission, you will have an opportunity to save and print the credential form, and you will receive an email confirmation of receipt. If using a paper form, before mailing the original signed form to International Union headquarters, copies should be made. Delegates and alternates should be provided a copy of their credential form and a copy should be kept in the affiliate’s files.
Note: The secretary of an affiliate includes any officer holding the position of recording secretary, secretary-treasurer, corresponding secretary, financial secretary, etc.
Pre-convention Submission
Electronic credential forms must be completed and submitted through the online portal no later than July 28, 2026. If submitting paper credential forms, the original of the completed and signed delegate or alternate credential forms, along with other required materials (see checklist on page 10), should be mailed to the attention of the International Union Secretary-Treasurer in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. These paper materials must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Due to changes in the Postal Service’s postmarking practices, we recommend mailing at least seven days prior to the postmark deadline. Credentials postmarked or received later than Tuesday, July 28, 2026, will be treated as irregular and will preclude the seating of the delegates and/or alternates at the opening of the Convention.
Convention Registration Submission
All delegates and alternates must register in person at the International Convention. Credential forms that are not received by the International Union Secretary-Treasurer before the International Convention must be submitted by the delegate when they appear to register at the Convention. No delegate or alternate can be seated at the Convention without a properly completed and submitted credential form.