I. Introduction

The Bengali Cultural Society (BCS) is set to hold its inaugural election on December 14, 2024, to select an Executive Committee for the year 2025. The BCS membership has expressed keen interest in participating in this democratic process to ensure the selection of a competent and ethical leadership team. To uphold transparency and fairness, the Nomination Committee, in a November 26, 2024 email, has confirmed that voting will be conducted exclusively in-person by eligible members.

II. Background

Article VIII, Section 1 of the BCS Constitution explicitly grants every member of the association the right to vote. This provision does not stipulate the requirement to physically attend a General Body Meeting (GBM) at a specific location to exercise one's voting privilege.

III. Issue Statement

Members have requested the establishment of a process to ensure a free and fair election, including confidential ballots, to empower members to vote without fear and provide every participant a fair opportunity to shape the next Executive Committee. Considering the potential for inclement weather in the Cleveland area during the winter and the possibility of members being out of town due to prior commitments, there have been requests to incorporate absentee ballots and online voting, in addition to in-person voting, to accommodate all members in exercising their voting rights. Several esteemed BCS members have communicated these requests via email and phone calls, but the Nomination Committee has yet to respond.

IV. Call to Action

This petition formally requests the Nomination Committee to consider the following proposals:

1. Absentee Voting: Allow BCS members to cast their votes in elections or for nominations without physically attending a polling location or event.
2. Online Voting: Implement an online voting system to enable BCS members to participate in elections and nominations from any location, regardless of distance, work commitments, or health concerns.

While in-person voting has been previously mentioned in the November 26, 2024 email, we believe that offering additional voting options would enhance accessibility and inclusivity for all BCS members.

V. Support and Participation

We, your fellow BCS members, urge you to support increased voter participation by advocating for multiple voting methods in future elections. We believe that every eligible member's voice should be heard and that no one's vote should be suppressed by the nomination committee.

We implore all BCS members to join hands and sign this petition. By working together, we can effect positive change and build a brighter future for our organization.