Trustee Elections

[Greg Jackson]

Currently the LJCPA Bylaws specify that LJCPA "holds its annual election [of Trustees] at the La Jolla Recreation Center from 3 p.m. To 7 p.m. on the day of the March regular meeting." (Renumbered Bylaws V.5). During the pandemic this requirement was temporarily waived, with the City's approval, in favor of written ballots submitted by US Mail and counted at a physical meeting of the Elections Committee.

Most organizations like LJCPA have long moved their elections to commercial online mechanisms designed to streamline voting while preserving ballot secrecy. Typically these work by giving the provider a list of eligible voters' email addresses, which the provider uses to send each voter an email with a link or code number to be used for voting. Once the voter uses the link or code, her or his vote is recorded, and the link or code is disabled to prevent fraud. Once the voting period closes, the provider gives the organization a list of who has voted, and a separate tally of the votes (including write-ins, if any). Voters can vote in person by paper ballot if they choose, but not if their link or code has already been used.

I suggest that LJCPA hold its elections in this way, with a voting period starting on the Monday before the regular meeting and ending at 7pm on the day of the March meeting. Those who wish to vote in person can do so just before the March meeting gets underway.

Greg Jackson La Jolla Community Planning Association ● https://lajollacpa.org +1-773-936-9235 ● https://gjackson.us