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OPINION: Ballot Counting at PLPOA |
Judy Esterly | 7/3/09
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The ballot counting of the PLPOA election doesn’t meet the smell test known to any principled electoral process. PLPOA in its infinite wisdom has chosen one employee to count the ballots. We are told that the employee stamps the date when the ballot is received, counts the vote and enters it on the computer.
“We’ve always done it that way,” was the lame excuse given to one candidate by the administration. That candidate as well as another property owner suggested that counters and observers be put in place. Those suggestions were ignored.
 I don’t know what’s been done in the past few years, but I can attest that in the past, we had multiple counters. One year, the League of Women’s Voters was hired to count the ballots in a highly contested election. There were several observers even during that count. I know, I was one of them. In the past, the ballots were not counted until the day of the election, which this year is July 25. Frankly, I’ve never heard of ballots being counted before the election. I gather this has been the process utilized by PLPOA in recent years.
Too bad more of us didn’t know; we would have objected earlier.
We don’t know the counter but assume she is honest. However, that’s not the point. PLPOA has adopted ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER. In that book on election procedures, the single counter or in their term, “teller” is never mentioned except in the plural. The single counter doesn’t meet the standards of PLPOA’s adopted rules. Also, who and where is the election committee that set up this absurd process? We’ve had that committee in the past.
The counter owes her job to the administration and PLPOA board, so can she really be unbiased? Do any ballots get pitched out? Who’s to know how many and why?
What is the administration and board afraid of? Why doesn’t it want an open, unbiased election process? I’ve already heard people refer to this election as another Iranian style election.
By using several property owners to count, plus observers representing the candidates, the election can be certified as above board and at no cost to the association. ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER suggests people from opposing viewpoints serve as counters.
Yet, this logic escapes the PLPOA administration. Why? Is it too complicated for them to understand? Or is there a reason to keep the count under the control of the Board and administration?
If you are incensed by this blatant misuse of power by PLPOA, please object to this Iranian-style process. You can call PLPOA, 731-5635, e-mail, write a letter, or come to the July 25 meeting and voice your outrage.
We deserve a fair election; one that is above reproach.
The foul odor emanating from the west end of the county does not come from atmospheric pollution, but rather from the PLPOA election process. |
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