The
online voting service is designed to provide the Association with a cost effective and easy to use mechanism that allows members to
vote from any computer. This means that a teacher can vote in
the privacy of their home without any peer pressure. The cost
for the voting service is only $500.00
per voting event.
Sandell &
Associates will work closely with your association to
ensure that the member information provided by the Association is accurate and sufficient to support the online
voting process.
A Brief Primer on the Internet
Every
computer that is on the internet has a unique identifier known
as an IP (Internet Protocol) address. This address is used to
identify the computer requesting or providing information so
that any information requested or information status can be
returned to that computer.
In essence, a computer is
analogous to the voting envelope which the voting member would
sign if they are voting by mail.
NOTE:
In actuality, this would mirror the process imposed upon
people voting an absentee ballot by mail in a state or general
election.
The Online Voting Process
While
sitting at any computer, the voting member must first get a
ballot. This is done by going to the Association website
and clicking on the hot link to ‘Cast A Ballot’ for an issue or
an individual as announced to the membership using a Broadcast
E-mail system which can also be provided (at an additional
nominal cost) as part of this service if
one is not available through the Association.
Once the member clicks on the
link, they are taken to a secure website where they are required
to enter their last name and a personal identification number.
They then click the ‘Login’ button and are taken to the actual
ballot assuming that they have NOT previously voted and
that the information that they entered has matched the
information on file at the Association.
On the ballot page, the member
will see a ballot explanation and the list of available ballot
choices. The member then clicks on the button on the ballot to
cast their vote.
The member is then taken to an intervening
page that displays their ballot choice and the member is given the option
to change their vote before it is entered into the voting
system. Once the member confirms their ballot selection, their
vote is cast. A page is then displayed informing them that their
vote has been registered. The member is also encouraged to
print out that page which contains a hard copy of their vote.
When a vote is successful, the
computer IP address that was used and the date of the vote is
associated with the last name and personal identifying number
for that member.
Recording The Vote Information
The Online Ballot has now been
essentially “mailed” to the association member. The vote is
recorded in two separate files. The first file is, in essence,
the back of the envelope previously discussed and the file is
shown below:
|
First Name |
Last Name |
ID Number |
Date |
IP Address |
|
Jane |
Doe |
******** |
1/1/2009 |
38.165.12.2 |
The file records the date that
the vote was cast and the IP address of the computer that
provided the information. The Last Name and personal identifying
number certifies the voter and the IP address provides a unique
audit trail to insure that the information was not fabricated.
In order to maintain vote
secrecy, the vote that was cast by a member is placed in a
separate file, similar to separating the ballot from the
envelope or depositing a ballot in a ballot box. It does not have any personal information associated
with it, as shown below:
Each vote is recorded in this
manner. Because the voting member and his/her vote is
separated, ballot secrecy is maintained.
The number of votes cast are reconciled with the number of
people voting.
A tally page is provided within
an hour of the close of voting. the results are provided for the
official use of the association and the voting results
can then published to members by the association.
All voting results are backed up daily.
