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Post by alaskarambo on Nov 9, 2009 22:26:27 GMT -9
I have a few concerns:
I think a lot of us would prefer that voting be anonymous.
2nd I think that those listed under the ballot who are running against others should be listed in alphabetical order.
I don't feel comfortable otherwise.
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Post by alaskarambo on Nov 9, 2009 22:27:31 GMT -9
One more. Why does it matter if a voter is a premium member? I ask because it makes one feel that their vote might not be as "appreciated"
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Post by FrostG1anT on Nov 9, 2009 22:53:54 GMT -9
I have a few concerns: I think a lot of us would prefer that voting be anonymous. 2nd I think that those listed under the ballot who are running against others should be listed in alphabetical order. I don't feel comfortable otherwise. To address these issues, first in order to vote on any GeocacheAlaska! Inc business you must be a Premium member of GeocacheAlaska! Inc. Only Premium members where mailed the ballot and only premium members have the right to vote on it. For more information on membership please refer to the GeocacheAlaska! Inc Bylaws: www.geocachealaska.org/documents/geocachealaskabylaws.pdfPremium membership can be obtained from the web site geocachealaska.org/join_geocachealaska.htm. Elections are not anonymous as they are only open to Premium members and are validated as such. All lists of candidates are in random order and appear in a different order every time the ballot is opened. Voting is a perk of Premium membership. Premium membership is one of the things that allows GeocacheAlaska! Inc. to exist.
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Post by arcticbutterfly "Akbfly" on Nov 9, 2009 23:04:12 GMT -9
Yes ballots are sent to premium members which I understand, due to the fact we are voting for who we believe is the best leader for the organization in which we belong to.....which is our choice. However ballots should be anonymous.....that is the democratic way is it not? When you go to a voting pole you check in, you get handed a ballot, you vote in privacy, and the your ballot is tabulated anonymously. At no point in time are you identified. I have personally voted for enough years and worked the voting poles enough years to understand this. So my question is how are you going to insure my vote is anonymous?
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Post by arcticbutterfly "Akbfly" on Nov 9, 2009 23:07:02 GMT -9
I am not trying to get to anyones feathers its just the right thing to do. I hope all parties understand and are not offended by this matter what so ever. Thank you!
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Post by alaskarambo on Nov 9, 2009 23:13:58 GMT -9
Very interesting. I don't remember premium membership discussed regarding the voting process. But I only get a chance to catch "snippets" here and there regarding more "official business" anyway. ;D I can appreciate the "random" of the ballot however, I do believe that alphabetical order is more correct in regard to a voting process. Its always alphabetical. I have never stepped behind a curtain and found a ballot with names listed any other way. I will say I am speaking for a few "premium" members. I seem to be pretty comfy voicing my opinion in an public forum so I am here to do so. I will ask this to clarify my "anonymity" question. If the ballot is only sent to premium members...then why would the premium member be asked to verify their identity? Why not afford them the option of anonymity? I think even as adults we like to avoid hurting other cachers/friends feelings and when you are not sure who is tallying the votes, it makes you uncomortable. I think that this should be corrected if you want a good honest voter turnout. I don't think you are going to get all of your ballots back unless you afford the member their privacy on who they vote for. This makes perfect sense to me but as a non paying regular member is my voice heard? (I am not being snotty Greg I am making a point. I am not a NON premium member by choice, I just cant remember my name half the time let alone remember to fill out and send in my registration and pay my fee ) If I ever remember to do so I think I would move to ammend the bylaws that state only premium members may vote. Maybe some people dont wish to join unless the feel right on how the ogranization is led? Regardless this is only the opinion of a small handful of Cachers in Alaska. Perhaps we are the minority. However, we do appreciate the forum so we may be heard.
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Post by arcticbutterfly "Akbfly" on Nov 9, 2009 23:45:23 GMT -9
I recommend we work on ammending the voting process for elections to insure privacy and fairness for all persons involved. I am more than willing to go lengths in helping all parties involved in this change.
This organization is young and there are still a few kinks that could be ironed out. That is what we are all here for, to make sure the organization is successful in all that it is and can become.
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Post by ladybugkids on Nov 10, 2009 6:24:07 GMT -9
A Premium Member's name is requested for the online ballot because at this time it is the only way the Nominating Committee has a means of verifying the legitimacy of an online ballot. FrostG1anT will be posting further on this issue later today, but what I can tell folks is that a cacher's name and votes don't automatically appear together. There were "bogus" ballots cast in last year's election and having the name allowed those ballots to be discarded. Even with the link to the ballot e-mailed only to eligible Premium Members, there is still the opportunity for spurious ballots to be cast. I can personally vouch for the fact that the contents of the individual ballots were not disclosed last year. One option for cachers with concerns about the electronic process is to vote by paper ballot at the GeoFest on November 23. Cachers may pay Premium Member dues at the GeoFest and receive a paper ballot at that time. Alphabetizing names on ballots is not standard process. Here's a Slate article and a paper with links to several other articles that explain at a high level why randomization of names is important. Studies have shown that the first person on a ballot has a distinct advantage and the last person on a ballot has a distinct disadvantage. Re: Having one's voice heard. All geocachers can have their voice heard via conversations/e-mails with members of the Board and via these forums. Per the by-laws, Premium Members have voting privileges and receive event and merchadise discounts. Development of the by-laws was a long process that involved a steering committee and member meetings. Other than that, everyone enjoys the benefits of an organization supporting a wide range of activities. If someone doesn't like how the organization is being run, the Board of Directors welcomes that feedback and encourages all cachers to provide feedback on what we're doing right and what could be improved. Why do people who sit on the sidelines because they don't like something think things will change more to their liking if they don't get involved?The Premium Membership level was created out of necessity to establish working capital for GeocacheAlaska! Inc. to pay for ongoing expenses such as website hosting, event prizes, event consumables, etc., and to provide seed money for wholesale geobling purchases. All these and more items had previously been funded out of individuals' pockets (sometimes to the tune of several hundred dollars), but geocaching has grown so popular that personal underwriting got to be a pretty large for individuals acting alone.
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Post by polgera on Nov 10, 2009 13:45:27 GMT -9
LBK is correct in the random listing of persons on a ballot. I have run an election within the state guidelines and they actually require that you rotate the name on paper ballots so that one person is not listed first every time.
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Post by FrostG1anT on Nov 10, 2009 22:14:51 GMT -9
As Ladybug Kids has already stated the voting process is not open to anyone other than Premium members of GeocacheAlaska! Inc. and we have had "bogus" ballots cast in the past.
Because it is a closed vote it requires that the votes be valid and verifiable. One of the processes in places to ensure that votes are valid is that the members are asked their geocaching handles/nicknames and what city in Alaska they are from. The city question is also so statistical as Premium members of GeAK! Inc. must be Alaskan. The answers to these questions are not included in election results reports and are only called into play if there is a question of the legitimacy of the votes.
This is a private organization and the vote is closed to those who are not Premium members. As such the validity of a vote hinges on the legitimacy of those casting their votes. The simplest way to look at it may be to think of it as an electronic show of hands vote.
If anonymity is an issue, you are welcome to cast a paper ballot at the GeoFest on November 23. There will be paper ballots available for Premium members. Voting will only be open for a short time at the beginning of the GeoFest.
You are welcome to write in candidates for any position. There is space included for that.
We are all working toward making this organization the best we can and continually building the organization hoping to make it into something to benefit and empower geocachers throughout Alaska.
I welcome everyone to step up and get involved.
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Post by arcticbutterfly "Akbfly" on Nov 11, 2009 1:20:45 GMT -9
Thank you for answering my question Greg. See you at Geofest!
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Post by arcticbutterfly "Akbfly" on Nov 11, 2009 1:21:00 GMT -9
And thank you too LBK!
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