Auntie ABATE / “Cuz” Report

Dear Cuz,

I’m a pretty new member and am just learning about the ABATE election process. If I don’t mail in my ballot for the Executive Officers and the Board of Director at Large positions by the deadline in September, can I still vote or not, and how do I do it if I can?

My inks not dry yet.

Dear Inks,

So glad you asked that question. Any current member of ABATE of Wisconsin is eligible to vote at election time. If you miss the deadline for the mail-in ballot in September, all you have to do is come to the annual meeting in October and you can vote in person. The voting tabulators will have a current membership list and will be able to verify that you are a member in good standing. Once that is verified, you can vote, even if you signed up as a new member at the annual meeting itself. And for those of you that do mail in your ballot……be sure you legibly print your name on your ballot form. If the election officials can’t read your name, they can’t count your vote. It’s as simple as that. They can’t count your vote because they won’t be able to verify that you’re a current member. If you vote at the annual meeting in October, you’ll be able to hear the election results first-hand as they are announced at the beginning of the board meeting. During that board meeting, the new board is seated. It’s a pretty exciting process, actually. So, don’t feel out of placed if you’re new or have newly joined the “ABATE family”. Someone will be sure to show you the ropes.

“Cuz”