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Comparing elections proposals
posted here 2-23-02 |
Compiled by Berthold Reimers and re-posted by Tom Gregg [ suggested corrections below chart ] |
| Notes -- KPFA Election Project | Notes -- KPFK Election Project (Draft 5/8/00) | Notes -- WBAI Election Project |
| by Robert Johnson (Draft 5/8/2000) | by Naomi Sager (Draft 5/8/2000) | by Berthold Reimers (Draft 5/8/2000) |
| BOARD FUNCTION | A. Board Function | BOARD FUNCTION |
| 1. replace current LAB | A1. Replace current appointed LAB; | A1. Elect and/or replace current appointed LAB; |
| 2. elect 2 reps to PNB as per Pacifica Foundation by laws (1/31/84) vs. bylaw change (2/99) | - empowered to elect reps to Pacifica Board | 2. elect 2 reps to PNB as per Pacifica Foundation by laws (1/31/84) vs. bylaw change (2/99) |
| Elect 22 Mbrs - 14 Listeners & 8 Staff | Elect 21 Mbrs - 17 Listeners & 4 Staff | Elect the same # of new members as there are LAB members who want to be granfathered. If all LAB mbrs want to run for seats, elect 25 LAB mbrs. |
| - appoint Election Coordinator (EC) | A2. Appoint an Election Coordinator not affiliated w/ LAB or PNB | Election Coordinator is appointed by the Elections Committee the first/second year. The following year(s), LAB elect EC |
| A3.-A.4 Specific duties | ||
| • Not affiliated w. existing LAB or PNB, or is station employee | • Not affiliated w. existing LAB or PNB, or is station employee | • Not affiliated w. existing LAB or PNB, or is station employee |
| • EC may appoint election committee (incl. LAB/PNB liaison) for assistance | • EC may appoint election committee (incl. LAB/PNB liaison) for assistance | • EC may appoint election committee (incl. LAB/PNB liaison) for assistance the folowing years |
| VOTER QUALIFICATIONS | B. Voter Qualifications | VOTER QUALIFICATIONS |
| B.1 Qualified voters must be a station staff member (paid or non-paid) or a member of the electorate as defined by the following categories. Staff will vote for staff seats. Listener/sponsors will vote for listener/sponsor seats. | ||
| Listener/ Sponsors | Listener/ Sponsors | Listener/ Sponsors |
| 1. natural person (not organization) | B.1.2 Listener/sponsor voters must be a natural person, as opposed to an organization and must be one of the following categories: | |
| - station subscriber | B.1.2.1 Persons who subscribe or make a contribution in the preceding 12 months. (Subscriber Member) | - Subscribe or contribute in past 12 months |
| • w. minimum $25 | Minimum of $25 | |
| • w/i 1-13 months before close of nominations | Contribute to station within 4 months before close of nomination | |
| B.1.2.2 Persons who volunteer 3 hours or more in the preceding 12 months. (Volunteer Member) | - Volunteer 3 hrs or more within past 12 months to WBAI or Concerned Friends - Loose proof | |
| B.1.2.3 Low income, disabled persons, and other listeners who are listeners but are unable to contribute. | - Unable to contribute - Brief essai w/ reason - low income | |
| B.1.2.5 Persons who contribute to an escrow account or an alternative fund for the support or improvement of KPFK or Pacifica. | Contribute to alternate fund within 4 months before close of nomination | |
| B.1.2.6 Member of a KPFK listener group active in the movement to free Pacifica. | - Active in Free Pacifica movement | |
| B.1.2.7 Former subscribers within the past 10 years. This provision to apply only to the first two elections. | - Former subscriber within past 3 years - 1st 2 elections | |
| B.1.2.8 Persons who have volunteered 3 hours or more in a single year within the past 10 years. This provision to apply only to the first two elections. | - Volunteer 3 or more hours during 1 year during past 10 years | |
| B.1.2.9 Persons representing the larger community that is both KPFK and Pacifica's audience and who are currently under-represented. | ||
| B.1.2.9.1 The larger community is composed of representative groups of persons of color and other groups to be named in consultation with the current LAB and KPFK listener groups. The persons in these groups will be voters in the listener/community election. Each of the organizations chosen is responsible for presenting a list of qualified members to the Elections Coordinator for purposes of validating ballots. | ||
| Repeal of Section B.1.2.9: B.1.2.9.2 Section B.1.2.9 is considered temporary, pending balanced programming that promotes wider community involvement with the station and that reflects the demographics of the station, and shall remain in effect until a simple majority of the board places the question on the ballot of a regular election and the membership votes by a 2/3 majority that B.1.2.9 is no longer necessary. | ||
| 3. 20 or younger give proof of age (student ID) | ||
| Staff | Staff | Staff |
| 2. current programmers | Staff qualifications: | Staff qualifications: |
| - minimum 1 month tenure | B.1.1 Staff voters are composed of all current programmers, paid staff and unpaid staff at the station with at least 1 months' tenure. (Staff) | - programmer or staff with at least 1 month tenure |
| - paid & unpaid staff | - 1 slot for pd, 1 slot for unpaid & 2 slots open to all | - 1 slot for pd, 1 slot for unpaid & 2 slots open to all |
| B.1.2.4 Former staff of a Pacifica station who reside in the KPFK signal area. | ? | |
| LAB CANDIDATE NOMINATION | C. Nomination of Candidates | C. Nomination of Candidates |
| 1. qualified voter | C.1 A candidate must be a qualified voter as defined by the three above-described categories (Subscriber Member, Volunteer Member, or Staff). | Qualified Voter |
| 2.present petition endorsed by 10 qualified voters to EC by close of Nomination Period | C.2 To be nominated, a candidate must be a qualified voter and must present a nomination petition endorsed by 10 other qualified voters to the Election Coordinator by the close of the Nomination period. Only Staff may nominate Staff candidates, only listener/community members may nominate listener/community candidates. | Present petition endorsed by 10 qualified voters to EC by close of Nomination Period |
| - only staff may nominate staff candidates | - only staff may nominate staff candidates | |
| - only subscribers & volunteers may nominate listener/community candidates | - only subscribers & volunteers may nominate listener/community candidates | |
| 3. list/Comm. candidates' petitions show if male, female, of color, not of color | C.3 Listener/community candidates shall indicate on their petition if they are male or female and of color or not, and below 30th percentile in household income, for the purposes of the election diversity goals outlined in Section E. | list/Comm. candidates' petitions show if male, female, of color, not of color |
| 4. Nomination Period | C.4 The nomination period shall last 45 days, during which time the Election Coordinator shall arrange regional signature-gathering events in the Valley, East L.A., Central L. A., West Side, and Orange County, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and other areas in the KPFK listening area and over the Internet for on-line listeners. The Election Coordinator shall strive to ensure a full slate of diverse candidates. | 4. Nomination Period |
| - equals 45 days | 45 days | - equals 45 days |
| - EC arranges signature-gathering events through out listening area and over Internet | Election Coordinator arrange regional signature gathering events and | Election Coordinator arrange regional signature gathering events. |
| - EC try to ensure diverse candidates | strive to achieve diversity | - EC try to ensure diverse candidates |
| 5.Station General Manager | C.5 The Station General Manager will continue to be an ex-officio (non-voting) member of the Board, and shall not run for an elected Board seat. | 5.Station General Manager |
| - remains a non-voting LAB member | will continue to be non-voting member of Board and shall not run for an elected Board seat | - remains a non-voting LAB member |
| - ineligible for elected LAB seat | - ineligible for elected LAB seat | - ineligible for elected LAB seat |
| 6. in 1st election, existing LAB members may be grandfathered for 1-year term, and election will fill remaining seats of new LAB | C6. For first election current LAB members who so desire shall be grandfathered for 1 year terms | Equally proportional to LAB mbrs who want to be grandfathered |
| C7. All past LAB members may run as candidates after securing petition support | C7. All past LAB members may run as candidates after securing petition support | |
| ELECTION PERIOD | D. Campaigning and Balloting during Election Period | ELECTION PERIOD |
| 1. official campaign & voting period | D1-D14 contain details of what to do to publicize, encourage, facilitate | |
| - begin 1 week after close of nominations (to allow validation & ballot preparation time) | - begin 1 week after close of nominations (to allow validation & ballot preparation time) | - begin 1 week after close of nominations (to allow validation & ballot preparation time) |
| - will last 30 days | - will last 30 days | - will last 30 days |
| 2. any organization supporting or associated w. station or Pacifica may endorse candidates | 2. any organization supporting or associated w. station or Pacifica may endorse candidates | 2. any organization supporting or associated w. station or Pacifica may endorse candidates |
| 3. station, Pacifica, and LAB (existing and future) may not endorse candidates | 3. station, Pacifica, and LAB (existing and future) may not endorse candidates | 3. station, Pacifica, and LAB (existing and future) may not endorse candidates |
| 4. during Election Period, station shall host at least once an on-air Q/A forum for each candidate | 4. during Election Period, station shall host at least once an on-air Q/A forum for each candidate | 4. during Election Period, station shall host at least once an on-air Q/A forum for each candidate |
| - questions will be asked by non-station moderator appointed by EC | - questions will be asked by non-station moderator appointed by EC | - questions will be asked by non-station moderator appointed by EC |
| - each candidate or their chosen rep will participate in at least one on-air Q/A forum | - each candidate or their chosen rep will participate in at least one on-air Q/A forum | - each candidate or their chosen rep will participate in at least one on-air Q/A forum |
| 5. community groups may host additional public forums with ALL candidates invited | 5. community groups may host additional public forums with ALL candidates invited | 5. community groups may host additional public forums with ALL candidates invited |
| - participation not mandatory | - participation not mandatory | - participation not mandatory |
| 6. all other on-air election discussion is limited to encouragement to vote for candidate of your choice | 6. all other on-air election discussion is limited to encouragement to vote for candidate of your choice | 6. all other on-air election discussion is limited to encouragement to vote for candidate of your choice |
| - any on-air programmer candidate immediately disqualified if discuss their candidacy on-air | - any on-air programmer candidate immediately disqualified if discuss their candidacy on-air | - any on-air programmer candidate immediately disqualified if discuss their candidacy on-air |
| - any candidate immediately disqualified if discuss candidacy on-air outside of official forum | - any candidate immediately disqualified if discuss candidacy on-air outside of official forum | - any candidate immediately disqualified if discuss candidacy on-air outside of official forum |
| - EC will disqualify candidates through appeal to non-candidate members of current LAB when meeting as a body | - EC will disqualify candidates through appeal to non-candidate members of current LAB when meeting as a body | - EC will disqualify candidates through appeal to non-candidate members of current LAB when meeting as a body |
| 7. candidate shall briefly answer questionnaire prepared by EC | 7. candidate shall briefly answer questionnaire prepared by EC & write brief statement of qualifications | 7. candidate shall briefly answer questionnaire prepared by EC & write brief statement of qualifications |
| - Lab Election Project will suggest questions, qualifications, and vision | - Lab Election Project will suggest questions, qualifications, and vision | - Lab Election Project will suggest questions, qualifications, and vision |
| Candidate must pledge to respect campaign rules & disclose their supporters | ||
| • this material will be used in on-air forums, posted on official Web site established by Election Committee, and mailed w. ballots | • this material will be used in on-air forums, posted on official Web site established by Election Committee, and mailed w. ballots | • this material will be used in on-air forums, posted on official Web site established by Election Committee, and mailed w. ballots |
| 8. EC will solicit from candidates & publicly report their pledges: | 8. EC will solicit from candidates & publicly report their pledges: | 8. EC will solicit from candidates & publicly report their pledges: |
| - to campaign only through above-described forums, questionnaires and Web site | - to campaign only through above-described forums, questionnaires and Web site | - to campaign only through above-described forums, questionnaires and Web site |
| - to disclose any organization known to be supporting own campaign | - to disclose any organization known to be supporting own campaign | - to disclose any organization known to be supporting own campaign |
| - candidates who don't make either pledge will not be penalized | - candidates who don't make either pledge will not be penalized | - candidates who don't make either pledge will not be penalized |
| Ballots | ||
| 1. paper ballots | ||
| - if feasible, Internet voting in future | ||
| 2. write-in candidates will be counted | ||
| 3. none-of-the-above not an option | ||
| Distribution | ||
| 1. EC will appoint impartial & reputable group, whose primary purpose is unrelated to station, to run balloting | ||
| 2. EC will compile list of qualified voters from station records | ||
| - if records not available or feasible, EC will advise qualified voters through out Nomination & Election Period that they must register by phone, mail, email, online, fax or in person to receive a ballot by mail | ||
| 1. Registration will close before Election Period | ||
| 2. ballots may be printed from designated Web site to be marked & returned as proper ballots | ||
| 3. voters will mail or hand deliver ballots to EC by close of Election Period | ||
| 4. ballots will be secret, but not accepted unless accompanied by voter ID | ||
| - ballots mailed in envelope w. return address & voter's name | ||
| - ballots hand-delivered will be reported w. name & address in presence of an election official | ||
| 5. 2/3 of LAB must approve any election | ||
| 6. 10% turnout of total qualified voters validates election | ||
| - if 10% not achieved w/i Election Period, EC will continue to accept ballots for another 30 days | ||
| o added election period shall play out even if ballot quota is met | ||
| • added election period will be publicized on-air until quota met | ||
| • after added election period, LAB shall vote to validate elections regardless of voter turnout < 2/3 LAB majority needed to validate | ||
| ELECTION METHOD | ELECTION METHOD | ELECTION METHOD |
| 1. voters nominate & vote for candidate only w/i their constituency [?] | ||
| - voters rank candidates by preference | ||
| o votes counted by Choice Vote (Single Transferable Vote) method of proportional representation | ||
| 2. LAB may add 3 non-voting members for 2-year terms to supplement skills (legal, financial, media, etc.) of elected members | ||
| - if possible, these members should come from unelected candidates | ||
| 3. staff to ensure gender, minority, union/non-union diversity in their reps | ||
| - staff left to their own method for this | ||
| 4. listener/community seats will balance 6-8 or 7-7 in gender, and 6-8 or 7-7 in of color and not of color, Due to staggering, each year's election will elect half (3 or 4) of each diversity cohort. | ||
| - EC will use Choice Voting method to meet diversity criteria. Choice Voting, briefly, is choosing candidates who meet diversity criteria over higher-ranking candidates who don't fulfill the diversity balance | ||
| LAB COMPOSITION | E. Board Composition and Election Method and Criteria | Board Composition and Election Method and Criteria |
| 1. 22 members comprising 8 staffers, 14 listener/community reps | E1. Board to have 21 members total and consist of 17 listener/community representatives, 1 paid staff representative, 1 non-paid staff representative, and 2 paid or non-paid (at large) reps; Note: Elsewhere suggests Board of 22 members, consisting of 8 | |
| 2. 2-year terms | - 3 year terms of office, staggered in annual elections of 7 members each year | |
| 3. annual election of 11 members (4 staff, 7 list/Comm.) | - Listener/community reps elected in groups of 6, 6, 5 in a 3-year rotation | |
| - first election only 4 staff, 7 list/Comm. will have 2-year terms in order to stagger the process | - Staff reps: 1 at large the first year; 1 non-paid the second year; the 1 at large and 1 paid the third year | |
| - Voters nominate and vote within their category; within each category, voters will rank candidates by preference, counted according to a method of proportional representation | ||
| - Once seated, Board may appoint up to 3 non-voting members | ||
| - grandfathered LAB members get 1-year term | ||
| - first election 1-year reps will be highest in voted rank following 2-year reps & will balance diversity of grandfathered LAB members | - Board Composition re diversity: | |
| For 21 Board members there shall be: | ||
| at least 6 women | ||
| at least 6 men | ||
| at least 6 from minorities | ||
| at least 6 Anglos | ||
| at least 6 with annual household income in lowest 30th percentile (by Bureau of Labor Statistics of previous year) | ||
| In E4 of Part 4, where Board of 22 members of which 14 are Listener/ | ||
| Community is suggested, the Proposal states: | ||
| The goal of the election is to have near-equal representation of gender and race/ethnicity among the 14 Listener/Community representatives. | ||
| This means the Board should seat no more than 8 men or 8 women, and no more than 8 racial/ethnic minorities (or people of color) or 8 non-minority. Accordingly, the resulting Board balance should be 6-8 or 7-7 on each of these 3 diversity cha | ||
| - Several more detailed points are stated. | ||
| F. Staggering and Diversity for First Election | ||
| F1. Grandfather LAB members for 1 year | ||
| F2. Minority cohort requirements apply, with grandfathered LAB members counted | ||
| F3.-F4 What to do if Board is not up to full 17 Listener/Community reps | ||
| VACANCIES | G. Vacancies | |
| 1. EC will fill premature vacancies with next-ranked candidate of prior election that fulfill diversity balance | If a Board member leaves the Board mid-term, fill the vacancy with the next ranked candidate of the previous election, in correspondence with the Board's diversity criteria. | |
| - appointee will complete remainder of term only | ||
| RECALL | H. Recall | |
| 2. whole LAB can be recalled | H1. The total Board can be recalled through an initiative process. | |
| - any qualified voter must collect 15% of votes cast in last election | H2. Any qualified voter collects signatures of 15% of total vote in previous election to force a recall vote. | |
| - recall ballots distributed as in normal election | H3. Ballots distributed in established manner; | |
| - ballots returned must be 50% of ballots in last election | election is valid if ballots returned number 50% of those cast in previous election. | |
| - 30-day maximum recall period | Election period of 30 days not to be extended. | |
| - recall requires over 50% of recall votes | ||
| - if recall succeeds, new election for whole LAB must occur w/i 90 days | H4. Decided by simple majority; if recall succeeds, new election within 90 days; | |
| - recalled LAB members are eligible to run in re-election | Recalled Board members can be candidates. | |
| AMENDMENTS | I. Amendments | |
| 1. 2/3 LAB can change these rules | Changes to election rules can be adopted by 2/3 vote of Board, | |
| - exception: changes in Voter Qualifications must be approved by a full vote (referendum) of the community | except if these changes would affect the voting rights of (defined) groups, in which case a referendum is needed. |
Some suggested corrections to the above:
From: Bernie Eisenberg
Date: Sun Feb 24, 2002 4:16 am
Subject: Re: [NewPacifica] html version of exel
elec comparison chart
Thanks for posting the comparison chart
where I could see it. It's a very
illuminating piece of work but it has
some errors.
The final KLG "Proposal to Elect A
Democratized KPFK Station Board" was
dated May 15, 2001 and it was submitted
to the KPFK LAB on the same date.
The "Elections" page of www.wbai.net
contains the correct KLG proposal
(Proposal) but the note taker who
worked on the comparison chart seems to
have worked from an earlier KLG draft
(Draft), so let me make some
corrections.
1. The Draft shows section C6, but there is no section C6
in the Proposal, so there is no "grandfathering"
of LAB members except in the special case of law suit plaintiffs
(who are also LAB members) as defined in section F
of the Proposal.
2. The Draft shows section C7, but the Proposal has no section
C7, so there is no restriction on past LAB members.
3. Proposal section D is incorrectly summarized and there is an extra
section in the Draft sections D1 through D8.
4. Proposal sections D8 through D14 ("Ballots" and
"Ballot Distribution") do not appear anywhere in the chart.
5. From E4 through section F, the Draft and the Proposal diverge and
it is extremely difficult to make line by line corrections to
the comparison chart.
6. The Draft contains amendments but the Proposal contained
no amendments.
The chart should be revisited if it is to be useful because there were
substantial (and important) changes made in both structure and content of
the KLG Proposal from the Draft that was used.
-bernie
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