Editing Encyclopedia:Administrators (section)

=== Administrator elections ===
Administrators can also be selected by an [[Wikipedia:Administrator elections|administrator election]] with a secret ballot. Administrator elections, which began in 2024, do not replace RfA, and prospective administrators may freely choose which process to use. A trial election was held in October 2024. Administrator elections were authorized permanently on a 5-month schedule in an RfC held in early 2025. Excluding the pre-election windows for candidate nominations and ballot setup, the process lasts 12 days: a 5-day period for discussion and questions, followed by a 7-day period for a secret ballot vote. Election cycles and the timeframes for each window and period are advertised in advance, including by watchlist notices.

After voting has ended, the election will be scrutinised by three English Wikipedia CheckUsers or stewards. They will check for any duplicate, ineligible, or sockpuppeteer votes, and strike them as necessary. Once scrutineering is complete, votes are tallied, results are announced, and new admins are granted administrative privileges. To be successful, and a candidate must receive a support percentage of 70% or more and a quorum of at least 20 support votes. The vote tally is calculated by Support / (Support + Oppose) for each candidate.