View source for -elect

{{Short description|Suffix describing elected yet uninstalled officials}}
{{redirect|President-elect|the use in the United States|President-elect of the United States|the videogame series|President Elect (video game){{!}}''President Elect'' (video game)}}
{{redirect|Vice President-elect|the use in the United States|Vice President-elect of the United States}}
{{redirect|President-designate|the use in Colombia|Presidential Designate}}
[[File:Retrato oficial do presidente do Brasil, Tancredo Neves.jpg|thumb|[[Tancredo Neves]] was one of the two [[President of Brazil|presidents]]-elect of Brazil who died before taking office.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1985-04-22 |title=BRAZIL'S LEADER DIES AT AGE 75; NEVER SWORN IN |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/04/22/world/brazil-s-leader-dies-at-age-75-never-sworn-in.html |access-date=2025-11-10 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en}}</ref>]]

'''''-elect''''' is a [[suffix]] which describes the position of a person who has been [[Election|elected]] but has not yet been [[Inauguration|installed]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elect|title=Elect- Definition of Elect|publisher=Merriam-Webster Dictionary|access-date=11 October 2013|archive-date=16 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316220416/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elect|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/elect_3|title=English definition of "elect"|publisher=Cambridge Dictionaries Online|access-date=11 October 2013|archive-date=27 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627221529/http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/elect_3|url-status=live}}</ref> Notably, a [[President (government title)|president]] who has been elected but not yet installed would be referred to as the ''president-elect'' (e.g. [[president-elect of the United States]]).

Analogously, the term ''-designate'' (e.g. [[Prime minister–designate|prime minister-designate]]) is used for the same purpose, especially when someone is appointed rather than elected (e.g., justice-designate).

== History ==
This usage of the term ''-elect'' originated in the Catholic Church, where bishops were elected but would not take office until [[Consecration#Ordination of bishops|ordained]]. In addition, the winner of a [[papal conclave|papal election]] would be known as the ''pope-elect'' until he was confirmed and became pope.<ref>{{ws|"[[s:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Pope Severinus|Pope Severinus]]" in the 1913 ''Catholic Encyclopedia''|quote=...envoys were at once sent to Constantinople, to obtain the confirmation of his election ... This the pope-elect refused to do ...}}</ref>

The term entered politics with the practice of [[elective monarchy]]. For example, the [[Holy Roman emperor]] was elected by a college of [[prince-elector]]s, but the winning candidate would not become emperor until he was crowned by the pope. Between election and coronation, he was known as the ''imperator electus'', or emperor-elect.<ref>{{ws|"[[s:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Emperor Charles V|Emperor Charles V]]" in the 1913 ''Catholic Encyclopedia''|quote=In spite of the opposition of Rome and France, Charles was elected (28 June 1519), and everywhere received the title of "Emperor Elect".}}</ref>

By the 19th century, the term had expanded to describe any position in which a substantial period elapses between election and installation. For example, it was common in the 19th century to refer to a [[fiancée]] as a ''bride-elect''.<ref>{{Cite OED|term=elect, ''adj.'' and ''n.''|id=60216}}</ref><ref>{{Cite OED|term=bride, ''n.''|id=23206}}</ref>

== Official positions in organizations ==
The bylaws of some clubs and other organizations may define an official position of president-elect similar to a [[vice president]] position.<ref>{{Cite web|title = President-Elect/President/Immediate Past President|url = http://www.asha.org/About/governance/BOD/President/|website = www.asha.org|access-date = 2016-01-29|archive-date = 2016-02-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160204065332/http://www.asha.org/About/governance/BOD/President/|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Board Position - President Elect {{!}} Association for Childhood Education International|url = http://acei.org/board-position-president-elect|website = acei.org|access-date = 2016-01-29|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160204043625/http://acei.org/board-position-president-elect|archive-date = 2016-02-04|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Duties of President-Elect {{!}} OFWIM – Organization of Fish and Wildlife Information Managers|url = http://www.ofwim.org/?page_id=76|website = www.ofwim.org|access-date = 2016-01-29|archive-date = 2016-02-03|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160203023304/http://www.ofwim.org/?page_id=76|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = President-Elect Competencies and Responsibilities|url = https://www.tesol.org/support-tesol/volunteer/leadership-opportunities/serve-as-an-elected-leader/president-elect-competencies-and-responsibilities|website = www.tesol.org|access-date = 2016-01-29|archive-date = 2016-04-10|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160410035320/http://www.tesol.org/support-tesol/volunteer/leadership-opportunities/serve-as-an-elected-leader/president-elect-competencies-and-responsibilities|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = President-Elect Description - American Psychiatric Nurses Association|url = http://www.apna.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3795|website = www.apna.org|access-date = 2016-01-29|archive-date = 2016-03-08|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160308130642/http://www.apna.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3795|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = President Elect|url = http://www.tfla.info/president-elect.html|website = Texas Foreign Language Association - TFLA|access-date = 2016-01-29|archive-date = 2016-01-30|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160130012126/http://www.tfla.info/president-elect.html|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Elections {{!}} SOA|url = https://www.soa.org/Leadership/Elections/SOA-President-Elect-Job-Description.aspx|website = www.soa.org|access-date = 2016-01-29|archive-date = 2016-02-05|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160205132057/https://www.soa.org/Leadership/Elections/SOA-President-Elect-Job-Description.aspx|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title = Executive Committee - Radiation Research Society (RADRES)|url = http://www.radres.org/?ExecutiveCommittee|website = www.radres.org|access-date = 2016-01-29|archive-date = 2016-02-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160204065049/http://www.radres.org/?ExecutiveCommittee|url-status = dead}}</ref>{{Citation overkill|reason=|date=November 2025}} The members of the organization elect the president-elect, rather than directly electing the organization's president.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title = Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised|last = Robert|first = Henry M.|publisher = [[Da Capo Press]]|year = 2011|isbn = 978-0-306-82020-5|location = Philadelphia, PA|pages = 457|edition = 11th|display-authors=etal|title-link = Robert's Rules of Order}}</ref> The president-elect may be given limited duties, similar to a vice president. At the end of the term, the president-elect is promoted to the position of president, and a new president-elect is elected. The advantage of this schema is a clear continuity of succession, as well as the opportunity to familiarize the president-elect with the operations of the organization before becoming president. A possible drawback is that once a president-elect has been elected, another person cannot be elected president unless the president-elect resigns or is removed from office.<ref name=":0" />

The position of president-elect is different from someone who was elected president and is called "president-elect" between the time of election and the start of the term. For example, if an election for president was held in January, but the term of office does not begin until March, the person who was elected president may be called "president-elect" but does not hold any power until the term begins in March. On the other hand, someone in the position of president-elect has all the powers of that position that the bylaws provide.

Similarly, organizations may have other official positions such as vice president-elect, secretary-treasurer-elect, director-elect, and chair-elect.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title = Secretary-Elect Position Description|url = http://ncuraregioni.org/secretary-elect-position-description.html|website = NCURA Region I "Supporting research together... in New England"|access-date = 2016-01-30|archive-date = 2020-03-25|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200325013407/http://ncuraregioni.org/secretary-elect-position-description.html|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = ACTE Global :: Association of Corporate Travel Executives|url = https://www.acte.org/about/board/treasurer_responsibilities.htm|website = www.acte.org|access-date = 2016-01-30|archive-date = 2016-04-30|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160430015325/https://www.acte.org/about/board/treasurer_responsibilities.htm|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Treasurer-elect, Treasurer or Immediate Past Treasurer Position Description|url = http://www.eatrightpro.org/resource/leadership/nominations-and-elections/national-leadership-positions/treasurerelect-or-treasurer|website = www.eatrightpro.org|access-date = 2016-01-30|archive-date = 2017-05-10|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170510145402/http://www.eatrightpro.org/resource/leadership/nominations-and-elections/national-leadership-positions/treasurerelect-or-treasurer|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Elections • National Art Education Association|url = http://www.arteducators.org/about-us/elections|website = www.arteducators.org|access-date = 2016-01-29|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160207015147/http://www.arteducators.org/about-us/elections|archive-date = 2016-02-07|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Director Elect- ISA|url = https://www.isa.org/templates/two-column.aspx?pageid=132268|website = www.isa.org|access-date = 2016-01-30|archive-date = 2020-07-30|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200730234437/https://www.isa.org/templates/two-column.aspx?pageid=132268|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = State Director-Elect {{!}} Wisconsin State Council SHRM|url = http://www.wishrm.org/index.php?module=cms&page=43|website = www.wishrm.org|access-date = 2016-01-30|archive-date = 2016-02-02|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160202212312/http://www.wishrm.org/index.php?module=cms&page=43|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Vice-Chair / Chair-Elect|url = http://www.aallnet.org/sections/ts/about/Handbook/Executive-Board/Vice-Chair-Chair-Elect|website = www.aallnet.org|access-date = 2016-01-30|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160203012245/http://www.aallnet.org/sections/ts/about/Handbook/Executive-Board/Vice-Chair-Chair-Elect#|archive-date = 2016-02-03|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Duties of the Chair/Chair-Elect of the Faculty|url = https://ncsu.edu/faculty_senate/items-interest/faculty-chair-and-chair-elect-official-duties.php|website = ncsu.edu|access-date = 2016-01-30|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222141539/https://www.ncsu.edu/faculty_senate/items-interest/faculty-chair-and-chair-elect-official-duties.php#|archive-date = 2015-12-22|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Citation overkill|reason=This looks like who ever added this tried to add as many citations as there could ever possibly be.|date=November 2025}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{wti}}

[[Category:Elections]]
[[Category:Titles]]
[[Category:Suffixes|Elect]]
[[Category:English suffixes]]