How to Address the Vice President-Elect
—-Envelope or address block on letter or email:
—-—-The Honorable
—-—-(Full Name)
—-—-The Vice President-elect
—-—-(Address)
—-Letter salutation:
—-—-Dear Mr./Ms. (Surname): *
—-Conversation:
—-—-Mr./Ms. (Surname) *
—-—-—-* See #2 in the post below “In Conversation or a Salutation”.
vice president elect
How to Address a Vice President-Elect of the United States
Is sthe vice-president elect correctly addresses as, say, Mr./Madame Vice President-Elect?
—-—-—-—-– BP
Dear BP,
Someone might say ‘Vice President-elect (Name) will be here in five minutes’ but that is not a form of address. This is a form you see & hear in the media as they craft stories so we will know who they are talking or writing about. While a reporter might write ‘according to Football Coach James Wilson…’ – it’s not a formal form of address. It’s a way to be specific of who is who in the news report.
When directly addressing a Vice President-elect, use a formal form of address.
In Writing, Including an Email: The vice president-elect has been elected in a general election. Thus, he or she is addressed as the Honorable (Full Name) in writing in a letter’s address block or mailing envelope, and in a formal introduction.
In Conversation or a Salutation: The VP-elect isn’t addressed as Mr./Madam Vice President until he/she has taken the oath of office. Until then, the current office holder retains the courtesies of office (None of the courtesies of office have been transferred at this point). Until he or she has taken the oath of office, he or she is adddressed orally and in a salutation with the honorific to which he or she is entitled prior to taking office – e.g., ‘Mr./Ms./Dr./Senator/etc. (Name)’.
– Robert Hickey
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?
You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.) The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them.
___What I don’t cover on this site are many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions, etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.
Not Finding Your Answer?
—-#1) At right on desktops, at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones, is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.
—-#2) If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.) Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.
—-#3) If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question – but always change all the specifics.
— Robert Hickey
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
Recommended Resources: The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) and Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA) For more information see the Protocol Resources page.