Election Process

Below is detailed information about the election process, you may also find this information at the following link as well as information about voter registration: http://www.academicsplus.org/files/Trustee_Election_Process.pdf

Election Process
(1) Membership and Voter Registration
Section 1.10 Member is defined in the Bylaws of Pulaski Charter
chool, Inc. (PCS).
Section 1.11 Voter Registration Forms shall be included with student
enrollment and renewal packages, shall be distributed by U.S. mail to the
Members at the beginning of each school year, and shall be made available
to any Member upon request. Completed Voter Registration Forms shall be
maintained by the PCS Executive Director or his/her designee for three (3)
years after the election.
Section 1.12 Eligible Voter is defined as a Member who has completed
a Voter Registration Form during the current PCS fiscal year and at least
thirty (30) calendar days prior to the annual meeting of the Members. Only
Eligible Voters may cast ballots in the election of PCS Trustees.
(2) Election Committee
Section 2.10 An Election Committee shall be appointed to oversee the
Board of Trustees election each year and to ensure that this Election
Process is properly followed.
Section 2.11 The Election Committee shall consist of five (5) members.
The following four (4) members shall be appointed by the PCS Board of
Trustees during its regular February meeting:
(1) a Chairperson;
(2) a PCS Trustee whose term is not expiring;
(3) a PCS teacher; and
(4) a parent/guardian/custodian of a PCS student.
The Board of Trustees shall offer the position of Election Committee
Chairperson to the PTO Chairperson if in attendance. If the P.T.O.
Chairperson is not in attendance or refuses the appointment, the Board of
Trustees shall appoint another Member who is not an employee or a
Trustee to be the Election Committee Chairperson. The fifth member shall
be appointed by the Maumelle Mayor.
Section 2.12 The Election Committee shall be released from their
duties after the new Board has been seated and all Contesting Election
Petitions have been resolved.
(3) Election Process
Section 3.10 The PCS Election Committee shall adopt an election
schedule prior to the regular March meeting of the Board of Trustees, at
which the Election Committee Chairperson shall present the election
schedule for review and approval by the Board of Trustees. The approved
election schedule shall be posted on the school bulletin board and website
within the following week.
Section 3.11 The election schedule shall include a public forum during
which Members may meet the candidates at least ten (10) but not more
than fifteen (15) days prior to the annual meeting. The voting process shall
begin at this forum.
Section 3.12 The PCS Executive Director or his/her designee shall
provide a list of the Members and a list of Eligible Voters to the Election
Committee no less than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to opening of the
voting process.
Section 3.13 Notices
(a) The PCS Executive Director shall be responsible to ensure that
all notices required pursuant to this Election Process are properly posted.
(b) Notice of the annual meeting of the Members shall be by Daily
Catalyst newsletter, postal mailing, student flyer, and published on the
school’s official web site at least forty-five (45) days prior to the opening of
the voting process.
(c) Electronic notices shall be repeated weekly throughout the
election process.
(d) An additional postal mailing notification shall be sent out at
least ten (10) but no more than fifteen (15) days prior to the opening of the
voting process.
(e) Additional notices may be required at the discretion of the
Election Committee.
(f) Notices shall include, at a minimum,:
1. All procedural deadlines
2. Candidacy requirements or listing of the declared candidates
3. Schedule of proposed election week activities and voting
opportunities (event name, date, time, location)
4. Web address for school election details page
Section 3.14 Candidate biographies shall be published on the school
website and be made available for public viewing at the school at least
fifteen (15) days prior to the opening of the election process, and shall be
made available during the public forum.
Section 3.15 The public forum shall be scheduled to coincide with a
school event such as a concert, dinner, awards ceremony, etc. Each
candidate shall be provided an equal amount of time to address the
Members at the forum.
Section 3.16 The promotion of candidates by the candidate or other
Members is allowed provided that:
1) School instruction is not interrupted and the dropping off and
picking up of students is not hindered;
2) Promotional materials are placed on school grounds only in
approved locations as determined by the PCS Executive Director ensuring
equal access for all candidates;
3) Public campaigning on school property is only allowed prior to the
opening of the voting process at the public forum;
4) No school funds are used for the promotion of individual
candidates.
Section 3.17 Printing of the ballots shall be the responsibility of the
PCS Executive Director. Ballots shall be distributed to the Election
Committee no less than five (5) days prior the opening of the voting
process. The ballots will be on pre-printed forms. Election Committee
Members shall secure the ballots.
Section 3.18 Ballot box. The ballot box will be a dual lock box with one
key allowing access to the ballots and the second key to prevent any ballots
from being entered when not in use. The first key will be maintained by a
Maumelle city official who is not an Election Committee member and the
second key maintained by the members of the Election Committee. The
PCS Executive Director shall not posess any of the ballot box keys. The
ballot box will be supervised by a minimum of two Election Committee
Members during the open voting hours. When voting is not open, the ballot
box will be secured by the PCS Executive Director.
Section 3.19 Polling. The Election Committee shall be responsible for
verifying the eligibility of the voters and ensuring that the roster is properly
signed. When an Eligible Voter arrives to vote, he/she shall be required to
show a government issued photo ID and sign a roster of voters. At this time,
one (1) ballot shall be distributed to the Eligible Voter. The Eligible Voter
shall complete the ballot and place it in the ballot box prior to leaving the
polling area.
Section 3.20 The PCS Executive Director shall encourage the faculty
to schedule evening events during the open voting process to allow more
opportunities to vote. The ballot box shall be escorted to evening events by
a minimum of two Election Committee Members to make voting more
accessible. Anytime the ballot box is escorted from school property the
Election Committee Members shall be responsible for verifying
membership and distributing ballots.
Section 3.21 The PCS Executive Director, in cooperation with the
Election Committee, shall publish a schedule of the voting times during the
week.
Section 3.22 Voting shall officially close at the annual meeting if a
minimum of forty percent (4o%) of Eligible Voters have voted. In the event
that voting does not close at the annual meeting, the Election Committee
shall continue the open voting process until at least forty (40%) of Eligible
Voters have voted. The annual meeting shall be continued and reconvened
each Monday until at least forty (40%) of Eligible Voters have voted, at
which time voting shall officially close.
Section 3.23 Once voting has officially closed, the votes shall be
counted by no fewer than three (3) Election Committee Members. The
results shall be revealed before the close of the annual meeting. The results
shall be posted on the school website within twenty-four (24) hours.
(4) Candidates
Section 4.10 Any Member who is not an employee of PCS may be a
Candidate.
Section 4.11 Candidates, including incumbents, must declare their
candidacy in writing and submit biographies and platform statements to
the Election Committee no less than twenty (20) days prior to the opening
of the voting process in order to be included on the ballot.
Section 4.12 Candidate biographies and platform statements, which
may not exceed one side of an 8.5 x 11 single sheet of paper, shall be
published on the school website and posted in the Daily Catalyst no less
than fifteen (15) days prior to the opening of the voting process. A single
photograph of the candidate may be included but no extra space will be
permitted.
(5) Contesting Election Results
Section 5.10 Members may contest Election results by submitting a
Contesting Election Petition to the Election Committee Chairperson and
the Board of Trustees Chairperson within three (3) business days following
the announcement of election results.
Section 5.11 In order to be considered, the Contesting Election Petition
must:
(a) Be signed by a minimum of 10% of the Eligible Voters; and
(b) State specific reasons for objecting to the posted results.
Section 5.12 If a valid Contesting Election Petition is filed, the Election
Committee shall:
(a) schedule, announce, and hold a community meeting to discuss
the issues within ten (10) business days;
(b) investigate the issues stated in the Contesting Election Petition;
and
(c) adopt and present findings and recommendations to the PCS
Board of Trustees, which may include:
1. a finding of no validity;
2. a finding of validity insignificant to the outcome of the
election, thereby requiring no action; or
3. a finding of validity significant to the outcome of the
election, thereby requiring the results to be set aside and a
new election to be held.
Section 5.13 In the event that the results are set aside, the Election
Committee shall adopt and present an expedited election schedule to the
Board of Trustees for approval. The Board of Trustees seated prior to the
election shall be reseated until a new election is completed.