This year FHBPA leadership felt it was time to offer a new, up-to-date approach to the old voting process. Our objective was a simple one, to give you everything you would need to make your voice heard, and make it as easy as possible to do so.
As fellow horsemen, we understand you need to make every minute count. For the first-time ever voting was available both online and with traditional paper ballots.
That meant someone could literally cast their vote right from their cellphone or mobile device – anywhere, anytime.
Then, to make the process as inclusive as possible, all information was presented in both English and Spanish.
Spearheading this formidable effort was Director Daryl Clark, a Florida-based owner and breeder.
Daryl worked diligently with SimplyVoting of Montreal Canada to streamline, manage and certify the process from end-to-end.
Tallying Up the Firsts
Here are the firsts in the FHBPA voting process in 2017:
- 5,100 ballots were mailed to owners and trainers printed both in English and Spanish.
- Members were given the choice of mailing their completed ballots in postage paid envelopes provided as in the past but also had the option of voting online.
- Election information was also forwarded by email to the more than 1,000 members for whom we have email addresses.
Simplicity and Transparency
To take it one step further, notices of the election were posted on our website, daily on the overnights, at the bookkeeper’s office, on Facebook, on Twitter and in text blasts and weekly email blasts.
Our Nominating Meeting was posted in the same manner, and as well was posted on an electric sign at the stable security gate. It was also advertised on the Paulick Report which also posted a story about our Nominating Meeting in advance.
The same Press Release announcing the Nominating Meeting also appeared on the Blood Horse, Horse Racing Nation and the National HBPA website
Finally, the Nominating Meeting was open and free to all members with a buffet dinner at the Sport of Kings Theatre which has been the site of recent Eclipse Awards dinners.
Working Together to Find a Formula that Works for Everyone
We look forward to innovating and improving the process every year. As always, anytime anyone has a question or concern regarding the process our door is always open.
Feel free to contact us by phone or by email if you are not local to South Florida.
We want to thank those of you who participated in 2017, and we look forward to having as many horsemen as possible participate in the coming years ahead.