Encourage members to get to know the election candidates and vote.

Voting is a responsibility of each ONS member. Each vote does count, and, in some elections, the difference of several votes has determined who leads our organization.

In 2006, 8.9% of eligible voting members voted in the ONS national election. The Nominating Committee wanted to determine factors affecting low voting turnout as well as impediments in the voting process that prevented members from exercising their right. The committee decided to survey ONS members who did not vote in the 2006 election, with the survey being sent via ONS's election vendor to ensure confidentiality.

A total of 26,471 nonvoting members received the survey via e-mail; of those, 1,753 responded (6.6%). The primary response that members indicated for not voting was "Did not know the candidates" (see inset). To overcome this, the Nominating Committee solicited the help of chapters because 50% of the responders reported that they voted in their chapter elections. When we met with chapter leaders at the ONS Mentorship/Leadership Weekend in July, we reviewed the survey results and solicited their input. Based on that feedback, the following measures have been instituted so you can better know the candidates.

* Each candidate will have the opportunity to answer three specific questions during a timed, audio-recorded interview. The audio-recording will be posted as a podcast on the ONS Web site. Visitors to the Web site will be able to listen to the podcast on their computers or download the audio to a portable MP3 player.

* Letters from candidates will be posted on the Chapters Virtual Community, with hard copies also being sent to chapter leaders for them to read or share at chapter meetings.

* Chapter leaders will be asked to reserve one chapter meeting to focus on voting, review candidates, offer the opportunity to vote at the meeting via laptop (if possible), and generate enthusiasm over the process.

In addition, 70% of the responding members indicated that they did not know the qualifications of the positions for which they were voting. The position descriptions are available in the Election area of the ONS Web site (www.ons.org/mem bership/election), or members can request a copy of the Candidate Guide to review. Either can be reviewed at your convenience prior to casting your vote.

The Nominating Committee continually seeks feedback on the entire election process, including recruiting and slating candidates and voting. Please contact me with any ideas or feedback at glenn019@mc .duke.edu. Your vote really does makes a difference!

By Catherine Glennon, RN, MHS, BC, CNA, OCN[R] Chair, ONS Nominating Committee

"Why did you choose not to vote in the most recent ONS election?"
(N = 1,699)

Other (10.2%)                             174
Unaware election occurred (10.3%)         175
Missed the deadline (28.2%)               479
Did not know the candidates (51.3%)       872

Note: Table made from pie chart.