Frequently Asked Questions about the Elections

We thank those of you who took the time to submit your compliments, comments, and concerns. Please know that your feedback was used to make improvements to this year's election.

How do I access the electronic voting site?

The link to the electronic ballot will be e–mailed to you with your logon information. Once voting opens, you can also click on the voting link on the SOA Elections page.

What do I need to vote electronically?

You will need your member ID number and election password. Both numbers will be e–mailed to you from the election vendor. It may take up to three days for all blast e–mails to be sent. The password is created by the election vendor as the unique way to identify you.

Can I use last year's election password numbers?

No. While your member ID number does not change, you are assigned a unique election password with each election.

What if I don't receive my member and election identification numbers?

You can click on 'Send Me My ID' link, fill in your Email Address and click the 'Send Me My ID' button or you can contact User Support.

I never received the e–mail with my election password. How does this happen?

There are a couple of reasons this might happen.

1. The e–mail address the SOA has for you in our database is invalid or obsolete. Remedy: Verify your e–mail address on the SOA online directory, update it, and then contact user support to get your password.
2. The e–mail did not get through. Several firewall and spam filtering systems prevent e–mails from unverified addresses, including blast e–mails, from getting through.
   Remedy: We suggest you contact your Information Technology Department and request that they set up exceptions to allow anything from Soa.org and Directvote.net domains to go through. This is best done in advance of the voting.
3. You are not an eligible voter.

What if I don't have an e–mail address or access to the Internet? Does that mean I can't vote?

Any voting member without an e–mail address in the SOA database, along with those who specifically request it, will receive a paper ballot. The SOA has not eliminated paper ballots.

What if I don't want to vote electronically?

Contact elections@soa.org or call 952.974.2339 and let them know you want a paper ballot. Be sure to allow enough time so you can return the ballot prior to the ballot closing date. If you can contact us prior to the vote opening date, that's ideal.

I don't feel that online voting is secure. How confidential is my electronic vote?

Your votes are completely confidential and anonymous. The SOA uses a third party vendor, Survey and Ballot Systems, Inc. (SBS), to conduct all the electronic and paper balloting. SBS is a pioneer in emerging election technologies with a sole focus on election and survey services. No one at the SOA ever sees who votes or how an individual votes.

The SOA does receive demographic data that tells us how many votes were cast by area of practice, section, and country (U.S., Canada, or international), but the numbers we receive are an aggregate.

SBS is a leading provider of election services to associations and one of the most trusted names in the industry. You should feel completely confident that your vote is secret and secure.

How does the electronic voting site prevent me from voting more than once?

Once a web ballot has been submitted, the member ID number is disabled immediately, preventing anyone from login in and voting again. If a member receives a member ID number for voting online and then requests a paper ballot be mailed to them, their member ID number is disabled.

How do I know you've received my ballot?

After hitting the Submit Vote button, you will receive an e–mail message confirming that your ballot has been received. This message is sent to the e–mail address listed in the SOA database. So, if you vote from a different location (for example, your work e–mail is listed in the SOA database, but you vote from home) the confirmation would go to your work mailbox.

How can I vote for the proposed Bylaws?

A notice of proxy meeting and the proposed Bylaws are included in the paper and electronic ballot. You can place your vote on the proxy card. If you have any questions regarding the bylaws, you can send an e–mail to soabylaws@soa.org

How many people are on the Board, and what is their term of office?

Currently the Board of Directors has 30 seats. There are four presidential offices: President–Elect, President, Immediate Past President, and Penultimate President. There are seven Vice–Presidents. Each serves a two–year term, and one of the Vice–Presidents is appointed to serve as Secretary/Treasurer. There are 19 Elected Board Members who serve a three–year term.

The biographical materials on the ballot are nice. Is there a way to view all of the candidate information in one document?

Yes, you can view the biographical materials on all the candidates in one document, making it easy to scroll through the list. The SOA Election Information site has a link to the candidate biographies where you can view and/or print all of the candidate information. The electronic ballot also has a link to view and/or print all of the candidate information. This is available both on the initial screen (before you enter the ballot) and after you login.

It would be nice to see current position and company and practice area on the ballot. Why not put more information about the candidate next to his/her name?

The quandary is making the voting page of the ballot easy to read and negotiate while having sufficient information available on each candidate. Any information we include next to the candidates' names makes the ballot itself longer and more difficult to navigate. Since the biographical material is readily accessible, we recommend printing out the candidate information packet and reviewing it while you are voting so you have complete information on each candidate. You can also review candidate information on–line prior to accessing the ballot by going to the SOA Election Information site or by clicking on the candidate information link on the home page of the voting site.

I was working through the ballot but got distracted by a phone call and got bumped out of the ballot. What happened?

This is called a "time out" feature. If there has been no activity on the electronic ballot for 30 minutes (no clicking of the application buttons), you will time out and get sent back to the login page. This is a security feature, and no votes will be saved. It reduces the possibility of you walking away from your desk with your ballot open and someone else being able to access your open ballot. However, you can save a partially completed ballot by clicking on the logout button.

I'd like to look through the biographical sketches of candidates prior to the time the voting is open. Can you distribute the materials in advance of the election?

Biographical material on the Board and section council candidates is available on the SOA Election site prior to the time the balloting opens.

Why can't I get to all of the officer, board member, and section voting sites?

Only Fellows of the Society of Actuaries may vote for President–Elect, Vice–President, and Elected Board Member. Section Council elections differ from the Board of Directors elections. Fellows and Associates who are members of a section can vote for the council members of that section. CAS and CIA members of the Joint Risk Management section can vote in that council election. Affiliate and gratis members of any section are generally non–voting members for purposes of council elections. If you feel you should be allowed to vote but were not granted access, please contact the SOA Customer Service at 888.697.3900 which is open Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Central Time.

Who do I contact if I have technical problems?

For technical issues, contact User Support at 952.974.2339.

Where can I send comments?

Send comments to elections@soa.org.

I have a question that wasn't answered here. Who can I contact?

Send your questions to elections@soa.org.