APS Holds First Electronic Election

This year, the APS will conduct its first-ever, membership-wide electronic election. Electronic voting was made possible this year by a change in the Washington, DC statutes where the APS is incorporated.

"Members with valid e-mail addresses will receive election notices and a unique personal identification number via e-mail from the APS election service provider for login purposes," said Ken Cole, APS Administrator for Governing Committees. "Members without e-mail addresses, or invalid e-mail addresses will be sent a traditional paper ballot in the mail. Paper ballots will also be sent upon request."

Voting will take place on a website hosted by Survey and Ballot Systems, an independent, external organization who is conducting the APS election. "Everyone is encouraged to vote online, but safeguards are in place to insure each member votes only once," says Cole.

In the event a member attempts to vote electronically as well as by paper ballot, the electronic vote will take precedence. Cole hopes that the convenience of online voting increases participation, since it can be done at any time and there is no expense to return a paper ballot in the mail.

The election website will be open and paper ballots accepted from June 1 until September 1. Questions can be directed to: Ken Cole, Administrator for Governing Committees, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, Maryland, 20740, Phone: (301) 209-3288, e-mail: cole@aps.org.