2004 USATT Election Ballots to be Reissued

Dear USATT Members:

Over the past decade, USATT has made many improvements in its election procedures.  One of these measures was to provide you with a double envelope return system.  The outer envelope was cross-checked with the membership roster. Once it was validated, the outer envelope was opened and the inner envelope that contained the ballot was put into a ballot box for counting. 

Earlier this year, the USOC distributed to National Governing Bodies additional guidelines for ensuring the legitimacy of elections.  USATT requested that the USOC continue to process all election materials, as they had been doing for many years.  This year there was a changeover in USOC staff overseeing our elections. This year also marked my first election as USATT's Nominating/Elections Committee Chairman. Unfortunately, past practices were not adhered to, nor were new safeguards initiated.  Specifically, there was no mechanism in place to prevent the counterfeiting of envelopes/ballots. I am responsible for the assumption, however reasonable, that the USOC would follow its own past practices and/or new recommendations.  I regret and apologize for that lapse.

Several of the Board members noticed the potential of fraud when they received the election materials.  They included me in their discussions of the problem and possible solutions.  The Board ultimately passed by an overwhelming margin (12-1) a motion (see motion two) to reissue ballots. Clearly, the Board sees the membership's confidence in election results as a matter of paramount importance.

I will be working closely with USATT's Executive Director to accomplish this task as quickly and inexpensively as possible.  Obviously, the Nominating/Elections Committee will have to set a special time frame for re-distribution and return of ballots.  In order to minimize the cost, we will not re-send the candidates' Campaign Statements, since they were included in the first mailing.  Instead, a letter of explanation will be included. We will also include the USATT website link for the candidates' Campaign Statements, so that you can review them if you wish.

USATT is working with an accounting firm to follow the necessary steps needed to ensure the integrity of our election.  Our goals are: (1) get it done quickly; (2) make sure no member is disenfranchised; and (3) make absolutely certain that rock solid security is in place.

As the process for the reissuing of the ballots takes shape, pertinent information will posted on the USATT website.  

Respectfully forging ahead,

Ross Brown

Chairman, Nominating/Elections Committee