PHONE IN BALLOTS?
For the 2020 Lower Kootenay Band Election and for various other referendums, Lower Kootenay Band provided the ability to vote by telephone. 
This process has been well received by the membership and it is a process which LKB is considering for the upcoming election in November 2022. Below are proposed Telephone Voting Rules that could be utilized in the 2022 election. 
While Chief and Council have shown support for phone in voting, we are requesting feedback from the membership in respect to the process. While the Lower Kootenay Band Custom Election Code (2012) does not provide for telephone voting, phone in voting does greatly facilitate voter participation. The mail in process has led to many votes not being received nor counted due to the highly inflexible nature of the rules. 
Please provide you feedback to eunson.marion@gmail.com before October 14, 2022. 

TELEPHONE VOTING RULES
1. Definitions: 
Electoral Officer: An independent person appointed by the Lower Kootenay Band Council to administer the election. For the 2022 Election, the Electoral Officer is Marion Eunson.  
Phone Clerk: A person appointed by the Electoral Officer to answer incoming calls from members who wish to vote 
Telephone Voting Officers: Lower Kootenay Band members appointed by the Electoral Officer to confirm the identity of those voting by phone. 
*** the Electoral Officer will accept expressions of interest from those who are interested in assuming the role of Telephone Voting Officer up until October 21, 2022
*** the Electoral Officer will attempt to choose Telephone Voting Officers who are respected and trusted members of the Lower Kootenay Band from different families and political stripes. 
2. Procedures for Telephone Voting: 
1. An individual qualified to vote in the 2022 Lower Kootenay Band election, may telephone vote by calling the LKB Administrative Office at (250) 428 4428 between the hours of 12:00pm – 6pm on the day of the of the Advanced Poll on November 17, 2022 or on Election Day on November 24, 2022. 
2. Upon the individual calling in to vote, the following requirements/processes must be met/followed: 
	(a)  the Phone Clerk must confirm that the individual is registered on the 	LKB Electors List
	(b) Upon confirming the individual’s registration on the LKB Electors List, 	the Phone Clerk must transfer the individual to speak with a minimum of 	two Telephone Voting Officers who will each confirm the individual’s status 	number and assure themselves of the identity of the individual. 
	(c) Upon the confirmation of the individual’s identity, the Telephone Voting 	Officers will transfer the 	individual to the Election Officer who will ensure 	complete confidentiality of the conversation and the secrecy of the ballot. 
		(i) The Electoral Officer must read aloud to the individual the list of 			candidates.
		(ii) The individual must provide the Electoral Officer with directions 			to make a maximum of three marks on the ballot opposite the names 			of the candidates the individual wishes to vote. 
		(iii) The Electoral Officer must mark the ballot in accordance with the 		wishes of the individual voter. 
		(iv) The Electoral Officer must confirm the ballot has been marked in 			accordance with the wishes of the voter by reading aloud to the voter 			the name of the candidates that have been marked on the ballot. 
		(v) The Electoral Officer, in the presence of the Telephone Voting 			Officers, must deposit the ballot (sealed in a security envelope) in a 			ballot 	box for the 2022 Lower Kootenay Band Election.