Announcement: NASeA Election Commissioners 2017

[Bimal Nepal]

Announcement: NASeA Election Commissioners 2017 

Code of conduct:

http://naseaonline.org/?page_id=4049

Notice about Voting and Vote counting Procedures for NASeA Election 2017:

http://naseaonline.org/?page_id=4051

Certificate, Appointment Notice and Oath for newly elected officers and board:

http://naseaonline.org/?page_id=4053 

Respected Candidates and Voters,

Please find below the announcement released by NASeA Election Commission 2017 and be advised to follow the instruction and together let us all be the part of democratic process electing NASeA Officers  2017-2019 and help Election Commission conduct free and fair election. 

For your kind information, upon Candidates and Voters request, on behalf of joint convention 2017 we have requested you all to be the part of "Meet and Greet program for NASeA Candidates" which will be held on Saturday, September 2nd, 2017 at 6-7 PM This event will commence after the opening ceremony. Encourage you all to be the part of the opening ceremony as well. 

Important of all let us encourage our family,friends, and Voters to register for the joint convention and together help us plan the event better and make it sucess.  http://jointconvention.org/registration/    

Once again, Best of Luck to you all. 

With Respect, 

Bimal Nepal  

President, NASeA 

    

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE  2017 ELECTIONS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF 

NEPALESE ASSOCIATION IN SOUTHEAST AMERICA  (NASeA)

 

This Code of Conduct shall be applicable from the day of its publication to until the results are announced on September 3, 2017.

 

It shall be MANDATORY for all candidates and voters to comply with the Code of Conduct. Anything not mentioned below, but should the Election Committee, at its own discretion, feel it necessary to enact new such codes to discharge its duly, may modify the Code of Conduct.

 

1.       Candidates or voters shall conduct themselves in accordance with the ideals and practices outlined in the bylaws of NASeA. At no times, candidates or voters shall claim to speak for the Election Committee.

2.       Candidates or voters shall not be involved in personal attacks toward other candidates, voters, or their close families.

3.       Candidates or voters shall not intimidate, pressure, force, exert undue influence, or monetarily compensate voters or potential voters, and other candidates or potential candidates, to win their votes.

4.       Candidates or voters shall not accept commissions, gifts, payments, loans, and promises of future benefits or other items of value from anyone who has or may seek some benefit from NASeA in return, other than normal gifts that are in keeping with friendship and/or family relationship.

5.       Quiet Period: Candidates or voters shall not conduct any election campaigns, solicitation of votes on the day of election within and outside the venue of the election starting at 5 am - until the results are announced.   

6.       The Executive Board or any individual member of the Executive Board shall not interfere or exert any undue influence on the Election Committee.

7.   A candidate or voter shall have the right to file a complaint with evidence against another candidate or voter to the Election Committee if he/she believes that the other candidate or voter is in violation of the Code of Conduct. The complaint and evidence(s) may be emailed to the Election Committee at its email address EC2017...@gmail.com. On the day of the election, complaints must be made in person along with evidence to one of the election commissioners who will. The Election Committee shall investigate the complaint and declare its final verdict based on majority, which shall be binding to all concerned individuals.

8.   On the day of the, Election Committee shall not take any action simply based on complaints about any candidate or voter based in information published in social media, magazines, newspapers or websites. Only written complaints filed with evidence presented to one (or all) of the Election Commissioners present on site will be considered. Election commission will follow its internal protocol for resolution of such matter as promptly as possible and will render its verdict which will be final and binding.

9.   If the Election Committee determines that a candidate or voter is in violation of the Code of Conduct, it may, according to the severity of violation as determined by the Election Committee, issue a warning to the candidate or voter, ask the candidate or voter to issue a public apology, or debar the candidate or voter from contesting or voting in the election.

10. In the event of equal votes for a position, candidates with equal votes will be called and election chair will use coin toss or other unbiased and fair method to determine winner.

11. Election will occur from 08:00 AM EST - 3 PM EST on September 3rd. Anyone in line by 3 PM EST will be allowed to cast their ballot.

12. Individuals must ensure correct voting the first time. They cannot claim error or cross the names and votes for second candidate or request for second ballot. Such crossed ballots will be deemed invalid.

13. If more than allocated number of persons are marked then for that position entire ballot will be invalid, but it will not affect the other positions. Example: If some one votes for both Presidents but correctly votes for other positions only the votes for President will be invalid and others will be counted. Example 2: If someone checks marks for 16 or more person in the board ballot then entire ballot will be invalid. However if instead of 15 , someone decides to select only 8 then all eight will be counted.

14.   If any provision in the Code of Conduct is in violation of NASeA bylaws, or federal, local or state laws, such provision shall not prevail.

15. During and after vote counting, individuals with sensitive information or results are barred from passing information to the public. 

16. If any election commissioner's need to step away from the election venue, they will shall designate another individual to represent them with full authority.

17.   The Election Committee requests all candidates and voters to cooperate with it for completing the election in a transparent, democratic, free, and fair manner. 

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 NOTICE ABOUT VOTING AND VOTE COUNTING PROCEDURES FOR NASeA ELECTION 2017 

The following voting and counting procedures were decided by a joint meeting of the Election Committee August 25, 2017.

 Election Venue: Room (TBD), Crowne Plaza, Charlotte Executive Park, Charlotte, NC

 Election Date: All voting and counting will be conducted on Sunday, September 3, 2017.

Election results or status will be announced during the evening cultural program.

 Voting Period: Sunday 08:00AM to 3:00PM. Voting will stop promptly at 3:00PM except for those individuals who are already waiting in the line.

 Voter Processing and ID check: 3 (or more) tables will be setup in the hall. Voters will be divided into 3 (or more) groups in alphabetical order of the last name. Each table will be staffed by 3 persons.  ID must be checked and voter must sign the paper before being given a signed ballot paper.

 Acceptable IDs: A voter must present picture ID or combination of one of the following IDs and sign the list before he/she can be issued a ballot paper:

(i) State Issued Drivers license; or

(ii) Passport

(iii) College or university issued photo ID 

(iv) other relevant documents like most recent (last 3 months May, June or July 2017 utility bills, credit card bills, phone bills) that can help establish your address as listed during your sign up process.

 Voting Booth: A minimum of 8 tables and 8 chairs for voters will be setup in the room: 4 (or more) at the 4 corners, and 4 (or more) at midway between walls. The ballot box will be setup on a table in the center of the room. One  volunteer will always remain in this room as an observer or to assist anyone needing help.

 Ballot: Two Colored ballots will be used. One ballot will be used for Officers and other Ballot will be used for the Board. Voters should cast the ballot in correct containers which will be clearly marked.

 Counting: Depending on the total votes cast and number of volunteers available Election Commission will determine how many counting groups will be utilized. Each group will count votes independently. For each group, 3 persons will count the votes. 

 Results: Counting totals from each will be reported directly to Election Chair ONLY who will tally the votes. Election Chair counting will be further verified one (or both) members of the additional commission. Election results will only be announced later that night in the program.

 Swearing In: Election Chair will conduct the official oath and swearing in of elected officers and election commissioners will issue award and certificates and official appointment letter.

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NOTICE OF ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT, AND OATH OF OFFICE FOR OFFICERS AND BOARD FOR NEPALESE ASSOCIATION IN SOUTHEAST AMERICA (NASEA) 2017-2019 OFFICE TERM

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

______________________________ County, ______________________________

ELECTION OF MEMBER AT REGULAR  ELECTION

TO:  __________________________________________________

You are hereby notified that at the NASeA election held on _September 3rd______________, 20_17____, you were elected to the position of ______________________________ for NASeA, (for a term of  __2___ years). You are required by law to take and subscribe to the oath below, and file it with the General Secretary of the organization. This oath must be taken and filed within 10 days after receiving notice of the election and before commencing the duties of your position.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

OATH OF OFFICE

I, ………………….., do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State where I reside, and the Bylaws of the Nepalese Association in Southeast America, and that I will faithfully perform the duties of the position to the best of my knowledge, skill, and ability.”

Subscribed and sworn to before me on ______________________________, 20_____.

________________________________________________________

Saubhagya Lal Shrestha, Election Commission Chair

Sincerely,

NASeA Election Committee

Shaubhagya L. Shrestha, Chair

Raja Ghale, Member

Kiran (Ron) Sitoula, Member