> As the VOTING PERIOD will be starting shortly (1-26-98), I am posting
> this message as an explanation of various types of ballots, and to
> clarify any questions the voters may have concerning voting procedures.
 
> Any ballot received that cannot be verified will be tagged as
> questionnable and will not be used in the tallying process.  I will be
> verifying EACH ballot received to ensure that the ballot is valid.
 
> --Martin--
 
> ***** Begin Sample Ballots *****
 
> VOTING PERIOD IS  January 26, 1998 to February 15, 1998.
 
> DO NOT use this as your ballot.
 
> In this election, there are 8 candidates running for the position of
> Zone 1 Echomail Coordinator (Z1EC).  As such, a procedure called
> preferential balloting is being used to prevent the need for run-off
> elections should no candidate receive a majority vote.  Preferential
> balloting simply means you rank the candidates in order of your
> preference.  If there is a candidate you do not want to vote for,
> simply do not list that candidate on your ballot.  However, understand
> that if all of those candidates that you did list are eliminated in
> any round of tallying, so would your ballot be eliminated. (see
> examples).
 
> The basic information that is REQUIRED in order for your ballot to be
> counted is as follows:
 
> ***** REQUIRED INFORMATION *****
 
> 1)  Your name as it appears in the Fidonet nodelist and your
> node number as it appears in the Fidonet nodelist.
 
> NOTE:  This information will be posted for verification
> purposes after the close of the voting period in
> a list of those who voted listed numerically by
> node number.  This list will NOT contain the vote
> or keyword used.
 
> 2)  A password/keyword that is to be used to verify your vote.
 
> NOTE:  The password/keyword will be posted along with
> your vote for verification after the close of
> the voting period in a list containing all of
> the passwords/keywords and vote associated with
> that password/keyword listed alphabetically
> by password/keyword.  This list will not contain
> voter name or nodenumber.
 
> Try to keep the password under 15 characters.
> 8 characters is preferred.  Passwords used that
> are considered "vulgar" are not acceptable passwords.
> What is considered "vulgar" is at my discretion.
> In the event that you choose to send an unacceptable
> password, the password will be changed and I will
> send you the new password either my routed netmail
> or e-mail.
 
> 3)  Your Vote - A list of one or more valid candidates names.
> NOTE:  The first valid candidate name listed on the
> ballot is first choice, followed by the next valid
> candidate for second choice and so forth.  Any
> extraneous ordering information will be ignored.
> EXAMPLE: Any numbers listed or other information
> other than the name of a candidate.  Please list
> candidates names on seperate lines.
 
> *****  END OF REQUIRED INFORMATION  *****
 
> You may send your vote via any of the following methods:
> NOTE:  Please use  VOTE  for the subject line.  It will make it
> easier on me.  The subject line is NOT a requirement for
> a valid ballot, simply a courtesy to the vote counter.
 
> DIRECT NETMAIL to Martin Belcke 1:232/10 or 1:232/16
> DIRECT NETMAIL to Election Coordinator 1:232/10 or 1:232/16
> ROUTED NETMAIL to Martin Belcke 1:232/10 or 1:232/16
> ROUTED NETMAIL to Election Coordinator 1:232/10 or 1:232/16
> E-MAIL to mbelcke@ws02.irvbbs.com
> NOTE:  The other e-mail addresses listed in Fidonews 1449
> are not working correctly, so if you send your vote
> by e-mail, you will need to send it to the above address.
 
> SAMPLE BALLOTS:
> The following are several types of ballots.  The examples are NOT the
> only types of valid ballots.  Any ballot that contains the REQUIRED
> information, as per the election rules, is considered a valid ballot.
> If the election coordinator is unable to understand your ballot, you
> will receive a netmail (or e-mail) message asking for clarification.
 
> For these examples, we are going to use the following names as
> candidates:  George Washington, Henry Adams, James Kirk, Joan of Arc,
> Mary Shepherd, Joe Public, Pat Paulsen, Barry Goldwater
 
> SAMPLE BALLOT #1 - - This voter is listing only 1 candidate. The name
> and node number information is contained in the header of the netmail
> message.
> ======================================================================
> From    :   Joe Voter (1:222/333)
> To      :   Martin Belcke (1:232/10)
> Subject :   VOTE
> =========================BODY OF MESSAGE==============================
> PASSWORD -  XXXPPPTTTBBB
 
> George Washington
 
> Joe Voter
 
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- END SAMPLE #1 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 
> SAMPLE BALLOT #2 - - This voter is listing 3 candidates, listed in
> order of preference.  The order the names are entered will be used
> as the order of preference.  Any numbers that appear next to the
> names will be ignored. The name and node number information is
> contained in the header of the netmail message.
> ======================================================================
> From    :   Joe Voter (1:222/333)
> To      :   Election Coordinator (1:232/10)
> Subject :   VOTE
> ===========================BODY OF MESSAGE============================
> PASSWORD -   BYTRENMPOIM
 
> George Washington
> Henry Adams
> James Kirk
 
> Joe Voter
 
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- END SAMPLE #2 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 
> SAMPLE BALLOT #3 - - This voter is listing 8 candidates, listed in order
> of preference.  The order the names are entered will be used as the
> order of preference.  Any numbers that appear next to the names will
> be ignored.  The name and node number information is contained in the
> header of the netmail message.
> ======================================================================
> From    :   Joe Voter (1:222/333)
> To      :   Election Coordinator (1:232/10)
> Subject :   VOTE
> ===========================BODY OF MESSAGE============================
> PASSWORD -   BYTRENMPOIM
 
> George Washington   6
> Henry Adams         5
> Jimmy Durante       4
> Joe Public          3
> Barry Goldwater     2
> Pat Paulsen         1
> James Kirk          8
> Mary Shepherd       7
 
> Joe Voter
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- END SAMPLE #3 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 
> SAMPLE BALLOT #4 - - This voter sent their vote through the internet.
 
> ======================================================================
> From    : joe@voter.com
> To      : mbelcke@ws02.irvbbs.com
> Subject : VOTE
> =========================BODY OF MESSAGE==============================
> NAME          :   Joe Voter
> NODE NUMBER   :   1:222/333
> PASSWORD      :   XXXCCCMMMBB
 
> The rest of this ballot could look like any of the other ballots shown
> above.
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- END SAMPLE #4 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 
> SAMPLE BALLOT # 5 - - This voter listed the candidates names on the same
> line.  The order listed is the order of preference.  Any numbers
> listed
> will be ignored.
 
> ======================================================================
> From    : Joe Voter (1:222/333)
> To      : Election Coordinator (1:232/10)
> Subject : VOTE
> ===========================BODY OF MESSAGE=============================
> PASSWORD:  XCVBYN
 
> George Washington, Henry Adams, Joan of Arc, Barry Goldwater,
> Pat Paulsen, James Kirk, Mary Shepherd
 
> Joe Voter
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- END SAMPLE # 5
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 
> EXPLANATIONS:
 
> In SAMPLE BALLOT #3, the numbers that appear next to the names are
> ignored
> and the names as listed are used as the order of preference.
 
> In SAMPLE BALLOT #5, the names are used in order listed.  It will be a
> LOT
> easier on the tallying if each candidate is listed on a seperate line.
 
> In preferential balloting, the first valid name that is listed is the
> "preferred" name in counting the ballot.  After the votes are tallied,
> if no candidate receives the necessary number of votes to win, the
> candidate that receives the LEAST number of votes is eliminated and
> the votes are then recounted using the first valid name listed.  If
> a candidate has been eliminated, then that name is no longer a valid
> name.  In SAMPLE #1, if George Washington had been eliminated,
> then so would that ballot be eliminated, thus reducing the number of
> ballots by 1.  The number of votes needed to win would also be adjusted.
 
> In SAMPLE #3, there is an invalid name listed (Jimmy Durante).  This
> name would be considered to be an invalid vote and would not be used.
> If George Washington and Henry Adams were eliminated in any round of
> tallying, then the next valid candidate (Joe Public) would be used
> as the preferred name for SAMPLE #3.  In SAMPLE #2, if George Washington,
> Henry Adams AND James Kirk are all eliminated in any round of tallying,
> then so would the ballot be eliminated, thus reducing the number of
> ballots by 1.  The number of votes needed to win would also be adjusted.
 
> In SAMPLE #4, the voter chose to send the ballot via the internet in an
> e-mail message addressed to mbelcke@ws02.irvbbs.com.  Since the header
> information does not contain the NAME and NODE NUMBER of the voter as
> it appears in the Fidonet nodelist, that information --must-- be listed
> in the BODY of the e-mail message.
 
> --Martin Belcke--
> Election Coordinator
 
> --- DB A3000sl/001347
> SEEN-BY: 102/861 205/1701
> 
PATH: 102/861
--- DB A3000sl/001347
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