This election marks a significant step in Cardano's ongoing decentralization, as all seven members of the Constitutional Committee (CC) will be chosen by the community. Notably, this commitment to decentralization extends to founding institutions, which must stand for election on equal footing with all other candidates if they wish to hold a seat.

Cardano’s path toward decentralized, community-led governance continues to progress. This update outlines preparations for the upcoming Constitutional Committee (CC) elections - shaped through collaboration between Intersect members and the wider community.

Initial work began in November 2024, with ideas refined through two workshops with the Interim Constitutional Committee (ICC), drawing on lessons from the 2024 ICC elections. Priorities included more time for candidate registration, better communication, and deeper community engagement. Formally launched in January, the CC Election Working Group includes representatives from the ICC, Civics Committee, constitutional delegates, and the broader community, supported by Intersect staff. This diverse group has now finalized the election plans and timeline.

Before diving into the roadmap, let's quickly recap: What is the CC and why is its election important? The CC is a key governance body tasked with upholding and interpreting the Cardano Constitution. This ensures the long-term integrity and direction of the ecosystem align with its foundational principles. Electing the CC transfers oversight responsibility to representatives chosen by the community, representing a major milestone in Cardano's journey towards greater decentralized governance.

The process of electing this fully representative Constitutional Committee (CC) on Cardano is moving forward, with important dates planned for the coming months. While some dates might need a little tweaking, the general plan gives a good idea of how things will proceed. 

Phase 1: laying the groundwork (now - May 1)

The first stage is all about getting ready for the election. This means building a secure and easy-to-use voting tool and setting up a simple form for people who want to become candidates. Keeping everyone in the loop is also a priority, with regular updates and ’Ask Me Anything’ (AMA) sessions planned to answer questions from the community.

Phase 2: candidate registration and campaigning (May 1 - May 31)

May will be a busy month for candidates and the community. People who want to be candidates can register, and anyone holding ada can put their name forward. They'll have online spaces to share what they stand for and what they hope to achieve on the committee. There will also be more AMAs and open discussions so candidates and the community can connect directly. Candidates will apply for a two-year term. The top three winners will serve the full two years, and the next four will serve for one year. This is a one-off solution for this election period only, to enable a staggered election process as required by the constitution. Following elections should all be for a set period of time.

Phase 3: voting and transparent verification (June 10 - July 10)

Voting will happen over a whole month, giving everyone holding ada a chance to have their say in Cardano's future. The voting system is based on how much ada you hold (one lovelace equals one vote). Voters can choose up to seven candidates. All votes will be recorded securely on the Cardano blockchain, so everything is transparent and can't be changed. After voting closes, independent experts will check to make sure the results are correct. This audit information will be available for everyone in the community to see.

Phase 4: training and onboarding of elected members (July 10 - August 1)

This stage is about getting the newly elected CC members ready for their roles. They'll generate the credentials they need, and there will be a training program to help them understand their responsibilities and how to work effectively.

Phase 5: formalizing governance and implementation (August 1 - September 1)

Finally, the elected Constitutional Committee will be officially set up. Intersect, working with the new CC members, will submit an update committee governance action to formally recognize the elected members. This change will include their official credentials as well as the expiration date for each member body. Then, delegated representatives (DReps) and stake pool operators (SPOs) will vote to approve this change. Once they do, the election process will be complete, and Cardano will have its first fully elected Constitutional Committee.

Continuous refinement

The CC election working group will keep working even after the elections are done. They will gather feedback from the community and look at how everything went to see how to make future elections even better.