The VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors approved an electronic voting system through Simply Voting, a web-based online voting system, for the upcoming annual meeting April 6, 2024.
After hearing requests and feedback from numerous alumni, the VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors approved an electronic voting system for the upcoming annual meeting April 6, 2024.
Alumni have raised issues with the limitations placed on alumni participation in elections, specifically the requirement to be physically present to vote. In response to this feedback, Anthony Moore ’78, Alumni Association Board of Directors president, directed a review of nomination and voting procedures. Today’s technology allows the Alumni Association to further engage the entire VMI alumni body, allowing alumni to vote on the slate vetted and developed by the Alumni Association Nominating Committee.
The Alumni Association hopes this will encourage greater participation by eliminating the barrier of attending the meeting in person. “The board is committed to open and transparent operations and communications with our alumni,” said Moore. “Electronic voting is another opportunity for alumni to participate in the Agencies’ activities.”
Q: Why am I voting?
A: Each year, Alumni Association members vote on the slate of Board of Directors nominees. The slate covers individuals nominated for the positions of regional director or director at large. In previous years, alumni had to be physically present in Lexington at the meeting to cast a vote. This change to electronic voting will allow all alumni to cast a vote if they choose since the requirement to be present is no longer required.
Q: What should I do if I do not receive an email when the voting window opens?
A: If you do not receive an email from Simply Voting on or around March 25, we ask that you:
Q: Will I receive verification that my vote was submitted correctly?
A: Once a member’s electronic ballot has been cast, a printable receipt is provided to assure them that their votes have been recorded as intended. Furthermore, when the results are published, anyone can download a file containing votes and receipt codes. This serves as a Voter-Verified Audit Trail—an independent verification system for voting systems designed to allow voters to verify that their vote was cast correctly, to detect possible election fraud or malfunction, and to provide a means to audit the stored electronic results.
Q: Can I vote electronically if I am physically present at the meeting of the members?
A: Yes. Alumni present at the meeting will go to the registration desk to receive their credentials and reset their Simply Voting password by a VMI Alumni Association staff member. After receiving the credentials and new password from staff, alumni will then proceed to a kiosk and vote.
All password resets and kiosk voting activity will be recorded in Simply Voting’s logs.
Q: What is Simply Voting, and what is its background concerning electronic elections?
A: Simply Voting is a web-based online voting system that helps manage elections for organizations. Over 5,000 organizations from 74 countries representing industries such as associations, local governments, education, political parties, corporate and industry groups, unions, and cooperatives rely on Simply Voting for their election needs due to its secure protocols, ease of use, and flexible solutions.
Refer to the Simply Voting site for more information on the company’s security and reliability, as well as their certifications.
For more information regarding electronic voting, please visit Electronic Voting Frequently Asked Questions – VMI Alumni Agencies.
