At the recent 100th U.S. Bahá’í National Convention, 171 delegates elected the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, which governs the affairs of the Faith for the 160,000 members in this country.

Chicago Public Radio's Eight Forty-Eight program featured a story today on the unique Bahá'í election process, through which the Faith's national governing body is elected each year without nominations, campaigning or electioneering.

In prayerful silence, 171 delegates at the 100th U.S. Bahá’í National Convention elected the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly, which, in lieu of clergy, governs the 160,000 members of the Faith in this country.

From May 22-25, 171 Bahá’í delegates in the United States will gather at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Ill., to elect the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. At the same time, Bahá’í delegates in virtually every country of the world will gather to elect their National Spiritual Assemblies.

Diversity outdid itself at the recent 10th annual Baha'i International Convention in Haifa.

Members of National Spiritual Assemblies throughout the world have elected nine members to the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith, at the Baha'i World Center in Haifa.

What if they held an election without candidates? Without the requisite hand-shaking and baby-kissing, debates or campaign promises. Without even a personal discussion of whom to vote for.

Jacqueline Left Hand Bull-Delahunt, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe (Sicangu Lakota), recently was elected chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. She is the first American Indian and the third woman to hold that position.

Tiffany Walters felt the thrill of voting in her first government election in 1995. But it didn't compare to the thrill of voting on April 28 for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, which governs in lieu of clergy.

From April 26 to April 29, 171 Baha'i delegates in this country will gather at the Baha'i House of Worship for the North American Continent in Wilmette, Ill., to elect members to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.