ICANN ccNSO opens nominations for board seat election

The ICANN Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) has initiated the process to elect a director for its reserved seat on the ICANN board. The position, currently occupied by Byron Holland of the .ca registry CIRA, will become vacant following the conclusion of his first term at the next annual general meeting. Holland remains eligible for re-nomination, though the ccNSO’s geographical diversity requirements preclude candidates from the Latin America and Caribbean region, where the other ccNSO director, Patricio Poblete, is based.

Nomination and election timeline

Nominations for the board seat must be submitted by August 13, 2026. The ccNSO will conduct its internal voting in November 2026, with the formal appointment finalized by April 30, 2027. The successful candidate will assume the role at the end of ICANN’s 90th public meeting, scheduled for early November 2027. Only representatives of ccTLD managers who are members of the ccNSO may be nominated, a restriction that limits participation to country-code registry operators.

Geographical and eligibility constraints

The ccNSO’s rules mandate that its two board directors must come from different ICANN-defined regions. With the current second director, Patricio Poblete, representing the Latin America and Caribbean group, candidates for the open seat must originate from any other region. This requirement ensures regional representation but narrows the pool of eligible nominees. The ccNSO has published detailed guidelines for nominations on its website, outlining the criteria and submission process.

Implications for ccTLD operators

The election presents an opportunity for ccTLD managers to influence ICANN’s strategic direction, particularly on issues affecting country-code domains. The board seat carries significant weight in policy decisions, including those related to domain name system governance, security protocols, and internationalized domain names. Operators from regions outside Latin America and the Caribbean who meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to participate, either as candidates or voters in the November 2026 ballot.

What to watch

Observers will monitor whether Byron Holland seeks re-election or if a new candidate emerges from a different region. The outcome could shift the balance of regional representation on the ICANN board, potentially affecting policy priorities in the coming years. The ccNSO’s election process, which spans nearly a year from nomination to appointment, reflects the organization’s emphasis on deliberation and stakeholder input.