National Representatives

National Representatives at WAPOR serve an important role within the organization promoting the mission of WAPOR in their countries and facilitating advancement of public opinion research worldwide. National Representatives are required to maintain membership in WAPOR and familiarity with WAPOR’s Constitution and its Code of Professional Ethics and Practices. They are expected to encourage professional colleagues and students to consider WAPOR membership and participation. National Representatives participate in WAPOR’s Freedom Survey conducted approximately every 5 years that serves as the basis for the ESOMAR-WAPOR Freedom Report. National Representatives are invited to contribute information to WAPOR’s newsletter regarding important developments in opinion polling in their country/region. National Representatives also provide a brief annual report and current advice as needed to WAPOR regarding polling-related issues within his/her county/region including, but not limited to, threats to the freedoms to conduct and publish opinion polls, as well as general trends in the opinion research business. 

Tasks and duties of National Representatives

1. Agreeing to be listed on WAPOR’s website as your country’s/region’s National Representative as an expert who is available to discuss WAPOR in general and/or specific polling issues in your country/region.
2. Providing advice as needed to WAPOR regarding polling-related issues within your county/region including, but not limited to, threats to the freedoms to conduct and publish opinion polls, as well as general trends in the opinion research business.
3. Completing WAPOR’s Annual Country Report for your country and up to one additional country in your region as needed, which is an online survey which WAPOR will initiate in the fourth quarter of each year.
4. Contributing information to WAPOR’s newsletter regarding important developments in opinion polling in your country/region in WAPOR’s working language (English) plus one local language if it is different from the WAPOR working language.
5. Participating in WAPOR’s periodic Freedom Survey which is conducted on-line with National Representatives, WAPOR members and other subject matter experts.
6. Including a link to WAPOR’s website on your own personal or organizational website (if available).
7. Initiate and/or participate in one or more events per year in your country/region with students, colleagues, and/or the press, educating them on WAPOR’s mission.
8. Encouraging professional colleagues and students to consider WAPOR membership and participation.
9. Maintaining membership in WAPOR and knowledge of WAPOR’s Constitution and its Code of Professional Ethics and Practices. 

Terms of service 

1. Period of service. National Representatives are appointed by the President for a two-year term, with the possibility of one additional two-year term, for a total of four years. To improve the efficiency of administration, renewals shall be processed for all eligible National Representatives within 30 days prior to the expiration of their term. National Representatives who do not wish to renew their period of service for another term must inform the WAPOR Secretariat 60 days prior to the expiration of their term. Except for reappointments to fill a seat due to mid-term vacancy, former National Representatives may reprise their position only after two years.
2. WAPOR Membership. National Representatives are required to be members of WAPOR in good standing. To represent the association, membership in WAPOR global is mandatory (chapter membership is optional). Membership must be renewed/ acquired no later than December 1 prior to the commencement of the 2-year term. National Representatives need to acquire 2-years membership corresponding to the period of their service. Only candidates who hold active membership can be invited to sign the National Representative agreement.
3. Period of grace. In case the National Representative did not acquire/ renew their membership prior to January 31, WAPOR has a right to withdraw the title and open a call for a new nomination.
4. End of service. National Representatives who finished their term shall recommend a new nominee in their country (application subject to review by the Membership Committee and approval by the President).
5. National Representatives are required, upon availability, to respond to the inquiries from WAPOR concerning completion of the annual report, providing inputs for the newsletter etc. National Representatives who do not respond to the correspondence from WAPOR for over 3-months’ time will have their titles withdrawn.

Nomination and renewal

1. National Representative positions are filled through nominations and self-nominations of WAPOR membership in good standing. Expressions of interest shall be sent to the WAPOR Secretariat at waporoffice@gmail.comand/or admin@wapor.org. (Self)Nomination shall consist of a completed application form accompanied by a resume. The name of the nominee and the country they apply to represent shall be clearly listed. All applications will be reviewed by the Membership Committee; recommended nominees shall then be approved by the WAPOR President. 
2. Nominations for the next term (2025-2026) are due by November 1, 2024. The results will be communicated to all applicants by November 15, 2024. The period of service of the newly nominated National Representatives shall comprise 2 years (2025-2026) commencing on January 1, 2025. 
3. Invitations for a renewal shall be issued by the WAPOR Secretariat, following the approval of the Membership Committee and the President, no later than December 1 of each year. In case the National Representative does not respond to the renewal invitation within 60 days, WAPOR has a right to withdraw the title and open a call for a new nomination.
4. All WAPOR members in good standing are eligible to be their country’s National Representative if they are working (or retired from) the opinion polling field in the country they would represent, in academe, business, government, media non-profits and other organizations commissioning or consuming public opinion polls. 
5. A person may represent only one country at a time. At the discretion of WAPOR’s Council, National Representatives may be appointed if they reside outside of the country they would represent, as there may be good reasons due to threats to their political freedoms, civil rights and personal safety.