SAINT JOSEPH PARISH COUNCIL
ELECTION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
1. At the first meeting of the Council each year, an Election Timetable for the next Council election will be established.
a. Dates for a parish education program on the role and responsibilities of the Parish Council
b. Dates for submission of Nomination Forms
c. Dates for conducting the process of selection of the Nominees for the
Election Ballot.
d. Dates for publication of the Election Ballot and Nominee photos and bios.
e. Dates for conducting the election.
2. The Council will provide Nomination Forms to Parishioners and announce the beginning of the submission of the forms to the Council. These forms will provide for the following:
a. The name of the person nominated
b. Telephone number of the Nominee
c. The address of the Nominee
d. The reason for the nomination
e. The name of the person making the nomination, if not the nominee.
f. An adequate summary of the qualifications, responsibilities and expectations of Parish Council Members.
3. Members of the Council are expected to participate in the nominating process by encouraging Active Parishioners to consider service on the Council.
4. All Nomination Forms will be submitted to the Election Committee of the Council appointed by the President for processing.
5. Upon receipt of a fully completed Nomination Form, the Committee will initiate the Selection Process for that Nominee.
6. The Selection Process:
· Each Nominee will be contacted by a member of the Committee to advise the Nominee a questionnaire is being mailed for the Election Committee’s use.
· Upon receipt of the Nominee’s completed questionnaire, a member of the Election Committee will contact the Nominee to schedule a date and time for an interview with the Committee.
· In preparation for the interview, the Committee will verify with the Parish Office the Nominee is registered as a Parishioner and meets the expected contribution criteria. The contribution criteria shall be at least the sum of $365.00 in the past 12 months. The amount of contributions must be verified in the Parish records.
· The interview will be a process of discernment to (1) ascertain the reasons a Nominee wishes to serve on the Council, (2) review the contribution of time, talent, and treasure to the Parish, (3) review the responsibilities and expectations of Council membership, and (4) obtain the Nominee’s commitment and acceptance of them. Other factors may be discussed with the Nominee at the Committee’s discretion.
· The Committee may seek advice and additional information from the Parish clergy and staff, as well as, Parishioners. Expressions of support from Parishioners for a Nominee are welcome.
· No later than the date specified in the Election Timetable, the Committee shall either submit to the Council a list of five (5) names of Nominees recommend for placement on the Election Ballot or request an extension of the date for submission.
7. The Election Process
· The names of the Nominees approved by the Council shall be published together with a photograph and the biographical sketches written by the Nominees based upon the information provided in the Questionnaires. Publication will be made in the Parish Newsletter and on a bulletin board placed in the Narthex.
· The names of Nominees shall be listed on Election Ballot in the order as determined by random selection.
· The Election Ballot shall also include the following: “Only Active Parishioners are eligible to vote this Ballot. Election Ballots containing less than four or more than four vote will not be counted.”
· The Election Ballots shall be counted by the Members of the Parish Council.
8. Distribution of Election Ballots
· Election Ballots will distributed to the Active Parishioners from a list provided by the Parish Office.
· The Active Parishioner list will contain the names of Parishioners who are registered in the parish Office and who have demonstrated financial contributions to the Parish for a period of at least 2 months.
· Parishioners should be advised at least a month prior to the distribution of the Election Ballots of the requirements to be eligible to vote.
· The Election Ballots will be distributed to eligible Parishioners at each Saturday and Sunday Mass for period of two consecutive weeks on the dates provided in the Election Timetable.
Adopted by the Council on 6-14-09.