POLICY TYPE: Governance Process
POLICY TITLE: G.14 Member Voter Validation Observation
ADOPTED: March 13, 2008
revisions: 10/20/09

Any PFC Member in good standing has the right to request to observe voter validation for any vote conducted by PFC including Board elections, bylaw changes, and referenda.

G.14.1

As validation for most elections occurs on a revolving basis, many opportunities to observe a portion of the validation process will be available; observers will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.

G.14.2

PFC Board of Directors reserves the right to limit the number of persons actually observing at any one time, which might include rotating observers or using a lottery system.

G.14.3

The Board may act to ensure equal numbers of observers identified from groups concerned with referenda.

G.14.4

PFC commits to attempting to provide a handicapped-accessible location for ballot validation if requested by an observer.

G.14.5

PFC members voting in an election have the right to a secret ballot, and protection of personal information. Therefore, voter validation observers must follow these guidelines:

1. No attempt to view voter identifying information will be allowed
2. Excessive noise and questions of validators must be kept to a minimum
3. At no time may an observer touch or handle any ballot or member list
4. Information is confidential; observers are only allowed with this understanding and shall not use or pass along any information incidentally gleaned from the observation process, including who is and is not a member of PFC or their status
5. Observers will be asked to leave if violations of the above are found

G.14.6

PFC commits to providing tallies of valid ballots and unaccepted ballots upon request to the Board, after the vote tallies have been accepted formally.