Posted:
June 30, 2008
The following information was provided by the Department of Labor regarding the American Maritime Officers 2008 limited rerun election:
TrueBallot report:
The following report was provided by John L. Seibel, president of TrueBallot Inc., the independent firm retained by the union to administer this election. Click here to view the report.
TrueBallot, Inc. was appointed Impartial Balloting Agency to supervise the conduct of the Ballot with respect to the Election of Officers. The ballot was tabulated on June 24, 2008.
The Ballot and materials were approved as to form. A total of 2873 Ballots, were sent to eligible voters. 178 additional voters were added during the voting period.
A total of 441 duplicate ballots were sent to 417 voters. The USDOL maintained ballots that were returned as undeliverable. The balloting period was from March 24, 2008 to 10:00 a.m. on June 24, 2008. The United States Post Office in Dania Beach, FL, acted as Depositor for receipt of all ballots. TrueBallot, Inc. was authorized to act as Coordinator during the balloting period to print duplicate ballots as requested by the USDOL who also mailed them to any member on authorized request for a duplicate ballot, and to keep a record of all duplicate ballots mailed.
The USDOL and observers retrieved the returned ballots from the post office (and) returned them to the count site on June 24, 2008.
Of the Ballots mailed to the eligible Membership entitled to vote a total of 1321 Ballots were returned and, registered against the list of eligible voters, after any duplicates or ineligible ballots were removed. The ballots were removed from their secret ballot envelopes and 1321 ballots were counted.
After the ballots were registered, TrueBallot, Inc., opened the envelopes, optically imaged the ballots and processed them to obtain the data therefrom. Rules were applied to the data so as to remove void data from the tally. Questionable ballots were audited and corrected as needed.
The results of the Balloting are herewith certified and are attached hereto.
It is our opinion as Impartial Balloting Agency that the results of the Balloting are true and accurate, the Ballots were properly counted, and rigid safeguards were maintained to protect the secrecy of the Ballot. At the conclusion of the counting, all Ballots and material were placed in appropriate containers, and delivered to the Organization. A CD-ROM with all of the ballot data and ballot images was delivered along with the ballot materials.
AMO 2008 limited rerun election reports
The following information was provided by the Department of Labor regarding the American Maritime Officers 2008 limited rerun election:
1,492 ballots returnedPrior to the tally of the ballots June 24, it was announced that 1,502 envelopes had been retrieved. Department of Labor Election Supervisor Robert Hayes provided the following explanation: "This does not exactly account for the 1502 envelopes that we announced as being picked up at the post office because upon closer examination we determined that some of them were not ballot packets. These included bills from the Post Office for you and some miscellaneous junk mail. There were also two people who submitted ballot packets, but when we opened the secret ballot envelopes, there was nothing inside. I know that sounds weird, but odd things like that happen in every election."
1,321 valid ballots counted
169 ballots voided due to second-quarter dues not being paid
2 ballots voided – members submitted both original and duplicate ballot
TrueBallot report:
The following report was provided by John L. Seibel, president of TrueBallot Inc., the independent firm retained by the union to administer this election. Click here to view the report.
TrueBallot, Inc. was appointed Impartial Balloting Agency to supervise the conduct of the Ballot with respect to the Election of Officers. The ballot was tabulated on June 24, 2008.
The Ballot and materials were approved as to form. A total of 2873 Ballots, were sent to eligible voters. 178 additional voters were added during the voting period.
A total of 441 duplicate ballots were sent to 417 voters. The USDOL maintained ballots that were returned as undeliverable. The balloting period was from March 24, 2008 to 10:00 a.m. on June 24, 2008. The United States Post Office in Dania Beach, FL, acted as Depositor for receipt of all ballots. TrueBallot, Inc. was authorized to act as Coordinator during the balloting period to print duplicate ballots as requested by the USDOL who also mailed them to any member on authorized request for a duplicate ballot, and to keep a record of all duplicate ballots mailed.
The USDOL and observers retrieved the returned ballots from the post office (and) returned them to the count site on June 24, 2008.
Of the Ballots mailed to the eligible Membership entitled to vote a total of 1321 Ballots were returned and, registered against the list of eligible voters, after any duplicates or ineligible ballots were removed. The ballots were removed from their secret ballot envelopes and 1321 ballots were counted.
After the ballots were registered, TrueBallot, Inc., opened the envelopes, optically imaged the ballots and processed them to obtain the data therefrom. Rules were applied to the data so as to remove void data from the tally. Questionable ballots were audited and corrected as needed.
The results of the Balloting are herewith certified and are attached hereto.
It is our opinion as Impartial Balloting Agency that the results of the Balloting are true and accurate, the Ballots were properly counted, and rigid safeguards were maintained to protect the secrecy of the Ballot. At the conclusion of the counting, all Ballots and material were placed in appropriate containers, and delivered to the Organization. A CD-ROM with all of the ballot data and ballot images was delivered along with the ballot materials.