The Westlands Water District 2020 General Election is scheduled for November 3, 2020. The District encourages all landowners to vote.
The General Election is for the office of Director and five seats must be filled. The election will be conducted as an all-mail ballot election; there will be no polling places. Identification/Return Envelopes (with ballots, and, if needed, supporting documentation) may be returned by regular mail or dropped off at the District’s Fresno office prior to the election and up to 8:00 p.m. on November 3, 2020. Any vote by mail ballot cast shall be timely cast if it is received by the District Secretary via United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than 3 days after election day if the ballot is postmarked on or before election day, or it is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company, on or before election day.
The District has been reviewing and has revised the election procedures in hopes of reducing the number of uncounted ballots. For prior elections, a single AUTHORIZATION TO VOTE/APPOINTMENT OF PROXY form was included in the Voter Pamphlet. For the November 3, 2020, election, the District has prepared separate forms, an AUTHORIZATION TO VOTE form and an APPOINTMENT OF PROXY form. These forms will again be included in the Voter Pamphlet sent to landowners with their ballots. However, as part of the effort to reduce the number of uncounted ballots, the District is providing the AUTHORIZATION TO VOTE and APPOINTMENT OF PROXY forms with this notice.
The District encourages each landowner to carefully review the following information.
District Election Information
As noted above, on November 3, 2020, the District will conduct an all-mail election to fill five positions on the Board of Directors. Ballots, along with the Voter Pamphlets, Candidate Information, and Identification/Return Envelopes, are scheduled to be mailed on or about Monday, October 5, 2020 to the Landowners.
To have your vote counted, you must use the official ballot and return it by mail or hand deliver it to the District’s Fresno office, using the Identification/Return Envelope provided. Importantly, the person casting the vote, including if by authorized representative or proxy, is required to sign the Identification/Return Envelope in order for the ballot to be counted. If the Landowner is not a natural person (i.e., an entity such as a partnership, corporation, trust, association, etc.) and/or if the Landowner or the Landowner’s authorized representative seeks to appoint a proxy, then additional supporting documentation is required.
AUTHORIZATION TO VOTE FORM / ALTERNATIVE DOCUMENTATION
Many landowners are required to file the AUTHORIZATION TO VOTE FORM or OTHER DOCUMENTATION DESIGNATING THE AUTHORIZED INDIVIDUAL TO VOTE. If the landowner is not a natural person (such as partnership, corporation, association, trust) or title to the land is held as community property, as a joint tenancy or tenants in common, or is held by an estate, guardianship, or conservatorship, then a completed AUTHORIZATION TO VOTE FORM (a copy of which has been provided with this notice) or other documentation must be returned. Please follow the instructions provided.
If you are already identified as an individual trustee, you do not need to fill out any additional paperwork.
APPOINTMENT OF PROXY FORM
If you intend to vote by proxy, you must complete and return the APPOINTMENT OF PROXY FORM (a copy of which has been provided with this notice). Please follow the instructions provided.
Landowner/Voter Assistance
The District is providing these forms in advance of the mailing of the ballots to provide additional time for the Landowner to complete the form(s) if necessary or desired.
Please: Remember that, if you intend to return an AUTHORIZATION TO VOTE FORM and/or APPOINTMENT OF PROXY FORM, the form must be completed, signed, and returned to the District prior to the election or with the ballot in the Identification/Return Envelope.
Use care when returning ballots. A fully legible signature is required to match the ballot and only the person who is listed on the first line of the ballot, or the duly authorized representative or proxy thereof, may sign and execute the Identification/Return Envelope. If an authorization to vote or a proxy has been granted by the Landowner, then the person authorized to vote for the landowner or the appointed proxy must sign the Identification/Return Envelope.
The District election is fast approaching. A Voter’s Pamphlet, including voting instructions, an Authorization to Vote form, an Appointment of Proxy form, and candidate information, will arrive with your ballot. If you have not received your ballot by October 12, 2020, please contact the District Secretary at the phone number or email provided below.
The Secretary of the District is Available to Help!
Please call the District Secretary if you have any questions about voting, how to properly obtain authorization to vote, or how to properly appoint a proxy. The District Secretary can be reached by calling her at (559) 241-6203 or by calling the main office at (559) 224-1523, or toll-free line at (800) 266-6574. For those that would prefer email communication, please email the District Secretary at bormonde@wwd.ca.gov.
AUTHORIZATION TO VOTE / APPOINTMENT OF PROXY
INSTRUCTIONS
- Please provide all required information.
- Where the landowner name is required, type or print the name EXACTLY as it appears on the Official Ballot and the Identification/Return Envelope.
NOTE: The name of the landowner on the Official Ballot and Identification/Return Envelope is printed as it appears on the List of Voters. - AUTHORIZATION TO VOTE: If the landowner is not a natural person (for example, if the landowner is a corporation, partnership, or trust), please either: (a) ensure that each line on the “Authorization To Vote” form is completed before the form is placed with the Official Ballot inside the Identification/Return Envelope, or (b) ensure that alternative documentation (for example, a corporate resolution or trust document) authorizing a natural person to vote for the landowner is placed with the Official Ballot inside the Identification/Return Envelope.
APPOINTMENT OF PROXY: If the landowner seeks to appoint a proxy, please ensure that each line on the “Appointment of Proxy” form is completed before the form is placed with the Official Ballot inside the Identification/Return Envelope.
NOTE: Unless previously provided to the Election Official for this election, an “Authorization to Vote” form/alternative document and/or “Appointment of Proxy” form must be completed and placed with the Official Ballot inside the Identification/Return Envelope. - Please call the District Secretary if you have any questions about voting, how to properly obtain authorization to vote, or how to properly appoint a proxy. The District Secretary can be reached by calling her at (559) 241-6203 or by calling the main office at (559) 224-1523, or toll-free line at (800) 266-6574. For those that would prefer email communication, please email the District Secretary at bormonde@wwd.ca.gov.
FAILURE TO PROPERLY COMPLETE AND RETURN AN AUTHORIZATION TO VOTE FORM/ALTERNATIVE DOCUMENTATION OR APPOINTMENT OF PROXY FORM MAY RESULT IN THE OFFICIAL BALLOT BEING REJECTED AND THE VOTES NOT BEING COUNTED FOR THE SUBJECT ELECTION.