On VOTING issues. IP: 71.180.97.43 Posted on February 14, 2008 at 03:15:43 PM by Jerry Wotherspoon
Voting? As I sat and listened during the last Board meeting (2/12) the subject of “Voting by the membership” came up. Several good ideas on how to share input from non-local members were tossed around. But, one that stood out to me was “Proxy Votes”. I liked the idea for several reasons.
1. It allows those living in places far from Tampa an opportunity to participate in voting when attending General Membership meetings is difficult.
2. It also gives our board and opportunity to move faster on an mid-level issues.
3. It could allow the voter an opportunity to withdraw or withhold the proxy vote if they are in town and attending the General Meeting.
4. Paper Ballots can still be used. (A much slower process, but on major issues it will allow the voter to oppose their proxy if they want.)
How would “Proxy” work? In the quarterly news letter after the election a “proxy ballot” will be printed including the names of each New board member. Those wanting to use the “proxy ballot” will complete the proxy form by checking the board member they wish to cast their proxy votes. The proxy request must include their name, address, phone number and signature, on the proxy ballot and return it to the Associations Secretary.
If a proxy ballot is not completed and returned, it will indicate that the voter is abstaining from the process and may then attend the General Meetings and vote in person.
This is not a new process; in fact “Proxy Voting” is conducted around the world, most often in the “business community”.
Proxy voting is a good example of allowing the Board to move quickly on issues of “mid-level” importance. On major issues, balloting can still be used.