Here’s a friendly reminder, If YOU want to serve your fellow State Scientists, and are considering running for one of the positions on the CAPS Board of Directors (BOD), your nominating petition with at least ten CAPS Members’ signatures and information is due on Monday, July 31, 2023!
All elected CAPS BOD members are unpaid volunteers who serve two-year terms. Necessary business expenses are reimbursed, while some officers have the option to claim a modest monthly stipend. The CAPS BOD typically meets quarterly on Saturdays. CAPS Committees meet more frequently, often by conference call. Most CAPS service time requires Board members use vacation or annual leave, although when meeting with state management on official business, state time is provided. The volunteer nature of the CAPS Board of Directors helps keeps dues low.
Election Process is Underway! The deadline for filing a nominating petition for election to the 2023-2025 CAPS Board of Directors is Monday, July 31, 2023, by 5 p.m. (PDT). Completed petitions should be emailed to elections@capsscientists.org. Incomplete petitions, or petitions received after the deadline will disqualify potential candidates from running. Go here to download a copy of the nominating petition and the 2023 Election Information and Campaign Rules Handbook, which includes the Election Schedule, and rules and procedures for the 2023 CAPS Board of Directors Election.
Positions subject to election include four Executive Officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer), five regional District Directors, two At-Large Directors, and one Supervisor Director. Qualifying candidates must have been a CAPS member for at least one year continuously and must have permanent state civil service status. Valid nominating petitions must contain the signatures of at least 10 dues-paying CAPS members, along with additional information for signature validation, including each member’s printed name, class title, department name, and last four digits of their Social Security Number. Supervisory members may only run for the supervisor’s seat on the Board. Balloting will be conducted by secret ballot. There is no filing fee.
Independent Election Administrator. This year, the Elections Committee has chosen an independent third-party company, ElectionBuddy, to administer the balloting and tabulate the results of the 2023 CAPS Board of Directors Election. Ballots will be fully electronic.
Election process. Only dues-paying rank-and-file and supervisory members are eligible to vote for members of the CAPS BOD. Members will receive a link to their individual ballot at their personal/private email address on October 2, 2023. Members will also be sent a postcard to their home address currently on file with CAPS with an individualized QR code that can be scanned to access their personal ballot. These postcards will be mailed on October 2, 2023. ElectionBuddy’s software only allows each person to vote once, so members can choose to use their emailed copy or to scan their postcard with a QR code. Balloting will close on October 17, 2023, at 5 p.m. (PDT), and results will be released as soon as practicable once the election ends.
Update your Information. To vote in the 2023 CAPS Board of Directors Election, you will need to ensure that CAPS has your personal/private email address on file, and a valid postal address. If your personal/private email address has changed, or was never given to CAPS, please email CAPS with the information to: elections@capsscientists.org. To change your postal address to ensure you receive a ballot postcard with a QR code to your individual ballot, please fill out this online form https://capsscientists.org/members/update/.