Voting process explained for PCHOA board election
Pat Ingalls
Homeowners may hand ‘em in or mail ‘em in — whichever method of paper balloting they prefer — for voting in the PebbleCreek Homeowners Association 2016 election.
Candidates are vying for a two-year, resident-volunteer vacancy on the PCHOA Board of Directors which begins January 1, 2017.
In-person voting takes place on PCHOA election day Wednesday, November 9 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. MST in Eagle’s Nest Ballroom. In general, the rules dictate:
One vote per lot.
PCHOA identification card required at the polling place.
Vote for only one candidate.
More specifically, according to Article VI Section 5 of PCHOA’s CC&Rs, an “eligible voter” is defined as “one homeowner of record per unit/lot.” That means only one vote per lot – not separate votes for husband and wife, when lot is owned jointly. And no fractional votes, for example, if husband and wife disagree on who deserves their vote.
Persons or entities owning more than one lot may vote once for each lot owned.
Renters or lessees are ineligible to vote.
Any homeowner who has closed after October 31 and presents himself/herself to vote will be offered a ballot to be held aside as provisional, until the Elections Committee can verify by phone with the Architectural and Landscape Committee or with Robson Communities Inc. that the person is a bona fide homeowner of record.
Any lot for which a second voter presents himself/herself to vote will be denied the opportunity to vote.
Absentee voting takes place throughout October.
Any eligible homeowner may request an absentee-ballot packet — either in person at Eagle’s Nest front desk (open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to noon) or by email from Arlis Legler, a member of the PCHOA Election Committee, at [email protected].
The committee will honor packet requests October 1 through October 31. Fulfillment will begin October 3, after all candidates have declared. The mail-in packet will be mailed to the address that the homeowner provides.
Each packet consists of a ballot, a reminder notice about the deadline for submitting absentee ballots and a return envelope preprinted with the official return address. Each return envelope has a space for filling in the homeowner’s unit/lot numbers and signature. Those items must be completed or the vote will not be counted. The homeowner must provide return postage.
Homeowners may also choose to drop off their sealed, mail-in ballot at the Eagle’s Nest Guest Services desk (Eagle’s Nest only – not Tuscany Falls) during usual RGS business hours.
The deadline for receipt of ballots at Eagle’s Nest front desk is November 9 at 5:00 p.m. MST – with no exceptions.
“Remember that whether you use return postage to mail in your packet, or choose to vote right at the Eagle’s Nest front desk when handed a packet, you must sign the envelope and indicate your unit and lot numbers,” said Election Committee Chair Gordon Seaman. “That is state law.”
Who wins? Election Committee members who count the votes will use a plurality to determine the winner when three or more candidates are running. Plurality describes the circumstance when a candidate polls more votes than any other, but does not receive a majority. That can occur when three or more possible choices exist.
The HOA’s enewsletter, PebbleNews, will announce the official winning candidate in an eblast no later than 24 hours after polls close.
Direct questions for additional information to: Gordon Seaman, chair of the PCHOA Election Committee, at [email protected].
Key dates for PCHOA Board election
Pat Ingalls
Below are key dates defining the 2016 PebbleCreek Homeowners Association election to fill a two-year resident-volunteer vacancy on the PCHOA Board of Directors:
Friday, September 30 Last day for candidates to declare their candidacy
Monday, October 3 PebbleNews enewsletter announces approved candidates
Saturday, October 1 Requests for absentee ballots begins
Monday, October 24 Meet-the-Candidates Night, 7:00 p.m., Tuscany Falls Ballroom
Monday, October 31 Last day to request absentee ballots
Wednesday, November 9 Deadline to return absentee ballots, 5:00 p.m. MST, Eagle’s Nest front desk
Wednesday, November 9 In-person election day, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Eagle’s Nest Ballroom
Thursday, November 10 PebbleNews enewsletter announces official winner
Wednesday, December 21 Directors approve new board member at board meeting
Sunday, January 1 New director begins two-year term
Election committee prepares for HOA election
Pat Ingalls
While political rhetoric and activities churn throughout local, state and federal levels during this dramatic election season, PebbleCreek homeowners need to select a new leader, as well, to fill a two-year, resident-volunteer vacancy on the PCHOA Board of Directors.
The HOA’s Election Committee, consisting of five volunteer residents, is responsible for conducting elections on behalf of the PCHOA. The committee is responsible for notifying homeowners of election procedures, polling location and absentee balloting, counting ballots, tallying votes, declaring a winner and presenting the winning candidate to the board.
Each year, the board appoints the Election Committee chairman, who serves a term of two years. Upon approval by the board, the chairman may serve for subsequent terms.
The members of the 2016 election committee are the following:
* Gordon Seaman, chairman
* John Gimon
* Rosemary Holmes
* Arlis Legler
* Laura Measles
“Our Election Committee has worked hard to prepare for an open, fair election to fill a vacancy on our HOA board,” said Sherry Gonzales, a PCHOA director and the Election Committee’s board liaison. “We hope our homeowners will come out and exercise their right to vote for the candidate that they consider best qualified to strengthen further our HOA’s ability to address our community’s challenges and opportunities.”
Direct questions for additional information to: Gordon Seaman, chair of the PCHOA Election Committee, at [email protected].