2012 HMEPS Trustee Election Update - September 5, 2012

In the Trustee election conducted under the independent administration of VR Election Services and certified by the Board at the August 23, 2012 Board meeting, Lenard Polk was elected as the employee trustee in Position 3, and Lonnie Vara was elected as the retiree trustee in Position 7.

Under the rules governing trustee elections for HMEPS, a candidate must receive a majority (over 50%) of the total votes cast in that race to be elected to the position.  Because no candidate received a majority of votes for Position 4, a runoff election was declared between Asha Patnaik, who received 40.82% of the votes cast for Position 4, and the next closest candidate, Terrence D. Ardis, who received 25.61% of the total votes cast for that position.

Runoff election ballots for Position 4 were mailed to eligible voters the week of September 3. The voting deadline is September 21 at 5 p.m. (Central).  Mailed ballots must be received by September 21. 

Frequently Asked Questions (Click on the question to go to the answer)

How can I learn more about the candidates?

Who is the Election Administrator?

Who is eligible to vote in the runoff election?

How do I vote?

What are the three methods of voting available to voters?

What should I do if I lose or don’t receive my ballot package?

What is the voting website address for the runoff election?

When does voting end?

Can I vote during working hours?

With three methods of voting—mail-in ballot, telephone and Internet—what if I accidentally try to vote more than once?

How can I learn more about the candidates?
The candidates’ campaign statements are included inside the ballot envelopes that voters will receive the week of September 3, 2012.  If you choose to vote by the Internet, once you log in to vote you may also view the candidates’ campaign statements by clicking on the candidate’s name.  The online voting site is www.vres.us/hmeps.html. You must have your ballot with your Personal Identification Number (PIN) to log-in to vote.

Voting Information

Who is the Election Administrator?
The Election Administrator for the HMEPS 2012 Trustee Runoff Election is VR Election Services, a Carrollton, Texas based company with extensive experience in administering elections for public pension funds at both the state and local level.

VR Election Services provides toll free live customer service to participants 8:30 am- 5:00  pm Monday – Friday during the voting period, which will begin the week of September 3, 2012 and end September 21, 2012 at 5:00 pm, CT.  If calling after hours or on weekends, you may leave a message that will be answered on the next business day.  The number for VR Election Services will be printed on all ballots along with their email address for participants who may require assistance with the voting process.

Who is eligible to vote in the runoff election?
All active, full-time City employees who are members of HMEPS and on the City payroll as of June 29, 2012 are eligible to vote for one of the candidates for Trustee Position 4.

How do I vote?
Eligible voters are scheduled to receive their ballot packages the week of September 3, 2012, via USPS First Class mail at their address of record with HMEPS.   In your package you will receive a mail ballot with a prepaid return envelope and instructions to vote by mail, telephone or Internet, along with the candidates’ statements. 

You may vote by only one of the three methods available as the voting system will allow only one vote per member.  You must have your ballot to vote as it contains the instructions and the PIN number required to vote by telephone or Internet – it also contains the return envelope if you choose to vote by mail.

What are the three methods of voting available to voters?
You will be able to select one of the three methods of voting listed below.   The process controls established by VR Election Services ensure that you will not be able to vote more than once.

1. Voting By Mail - When you receive your ballot package, you may remove all the materials, review the instructions and vote by simply making a mark in the response box next to the candidate of your choice.  You may utilize the prepaid Business Reply envelope that will be returned to VR Election Services office for registering your vote.

2. Voting By Telephone - If you choose to vote by telephone, call the toll free number listed on the paper ballot you received and follow the voice prompt instructions. The voice instructions will ask for the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number and your PIN that is printed on the ballot. Once you are verified in the system, the system will ask you to select the candidate of your choice. It will confirm your selection and ask you to “Press 1 to confirm or Press 2 to recast”. Once you have confirmed, the system will register your vote.  If you hang up before voting for or confirming a candidate, the vote will not register and you may call in again to cast your vote.

3. Voting Using the Internet - If you choose to vote using the Internet, proceed to the HMEPS voting website, enter the last 4 digits of your social security number and your PIN that is printed on the ballot.  Click on the “submit” icon to validate your ballot, then check the box on the candidate of your choice for the Board, and click the “confirm” icon to register your vote.  At the conclusion of the session you will receive a confirmation that you may print.

 

What should I do if I lose or don’t receive my ballot package?
If you lose or have not received your ballot package by Monday, September 17, 2012, you may call VR Election Services at 1-800-218-4026 and request a new ballot package to be sent.  You will be asked for your name, address and social security number for verification.  Customer service information for VR Election Services is also available on the voting website at www.vres.us/hmeps.html.

What is the voting website address for the runoff election?

www.vres.us/hmeps.html

When does voting end?
Voting in the runoff election ends Friday, September 21, 2012, at 5:00 pm CT.  Mail-in ballots must be received by VR Election Services by this time.  If you choose to mail your ballot, you should allow time for postal delivery to the VR Election Services location in Carrollton, Texas.

Can I vote during working hours?
HMEPS does not have information regarding the City of Houston’s rules or practices, if any, with respect to voting during working hours.  Because you can vote anytime during the election period by telephone or the Internet, or can mark your printed ballot selection and mail it from home, there should be ample opportunity to vote. 

With three methods of voting—mail-in ballot, telephone and Internet—what if I accidentally try to vote more than once?
The process controls established by VR Election Services ensure that only one vote per eligible voter is counted.  Each eligible voter uses the last 4 digits of his or her Social Security Number and receives a unique PIN that is assigned only to that voter and is printed on the election ballot mailed to the voter.  All three methods of voting—mail-in ballot, telephone and Internet—use the same database of eligible voters.  The first ballot entered is the one that registers.  Once voting takes place, the PIN is deactivated in the database to prevent duplicate voting, and the voter PIN cannot be used again.

2012 HMEPS Trustee Election Update - August 23, 2012

The following are results of the 2012 Trustee Election:

To view the 2012 Trustee Election report, click here.

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