Document #24

Committee Members: Director Jay Bellows, KØQB, Chairman; Director Frank Fallon, N2FF; Director Tom Frenaye

Introduction

The committee is charged with overseeing the election process for Directors and Vice Directors, including determining eligibility and supervising the integrity of the balloting for those offices. When requested the committee also makes a determination as to the eligibility of candidates for the office of Section Manager and forwards that determination to the Executive Vice President.

Committee Activities

1. Balloting process. As part of our supervision responsibility two members of the committee participated in the tallying of the ballots in contested Board races on November 16, 2001.Director Frenaye, EVP Sumner and I acted as tellers. The process of carefully and accurately counting thousands of ballots would not be possible without the willing assistance of the members of Headquarters staff. Helping out with this task is just one more of those unseen tasks performed by Headquarters employees in addition to their regular duties.

2. The committee received and evaluated eligibility questions raised in the Southeastern Division Vice Director race and the Virginia Section Manager race. In both instances the committee determined the candidate met the eligibility requirements and the findings were forwarded as provided by Bylaws and rules.

3. The committee was also asked to provide direction in a peculiar situation which arose in the Alaska Section Manager election. Shortly after the closing date for filing nomination petitions, the incumbent Section Manger indicated he wanted to withdraw from the election for personal reasons. Before staff could confirm this withdrawal the time for mailing ballots past. Shortly after the ballots were mailed the Section Manager confirmed he did not wish the be a candidate for reelection.

The committee was asked to provide direction as to whether the election should continue after the field was reduced to one. On the advice of EVP Sumner staff proceeded with the election. The withdrawn candidate was elected and declined to take office. A vacancy in the office was declared and as provided in the Field Organization Rules the Field Services Manager in consultation with the Northwestern Division Director appointed the runner-up candidate as Section Manager.

Committee Recommendations:

1. Elections with a single candidate.

The qualifications for eligibility as a Section Manager are set forth in Rule 5(b) of the Rules and Regulations of the ARRL Field Organization. The rule provides if there is only one eligible nominee on the appropriate listed closing date for receipt of petitions, the Field Services Manager shall declare him elected without balloting

The existing rules eliminate the need for an election and declare the sole candidate elected when there is only one eligible candidate for Section Manager prior the close of nominations.

There is no established procedure for dealing with a situation where there is only one eligible candidate for Section Manager after the close of nominations in the Section;

There is little reason to adopt a different procedure when there is only one eligible candidate for Section Manager based upon whether the situation arose before or after the close of nominations;

In the opinion of the committee, it is wasteful of the time and resources of the League and its members to expend precious funds for postage, printing and ballot counting when there is only one eligible candidate for the office of Section Manager.

The committee suggests Rule 5(b) of the Field Organization Rules is amended to read as follows:

b) If there is only one eligible nominee on or after the appropriate listed closing date for receipt of petitions, the Field Services Manager shall declare him elected without balloting.

Jay Bellows, KØQB
Chairman