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Via Virtual Meeting room
REPORT NUMBER 93 OF THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
June 2, 2022
To the Executive Committee,
University of Toronto.
Your Committee reports that it held a virtual meeting on Thursday, June 2, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. with the following members present:
Present:
Vikram Chadalawada, David Bowden, Joanne McNamara, Kenneth Williams
Regrets:
Mark Lautens
Secretariat:
Timothy Harlick, Secretary, Anwar Kazimi, Deputy Secretary of the Governing Council and Chief Returning Officer, Cindy Ferencz-Hammond, Assistant Secretary of the Governing Council and Deputy Returning Officer, UTM, Emma Thacker, Assistant Secretary of the Governing Council and Deputy Returning Officer, UTSC
- Welcome/Introductions
The Secretary called the meeting to order and informed the Committee that the Chair had had an unavoidable conflict and was unable to attend. The Secretary than provided an overview of the process for electing an acting Chair for the meeting.
On motion duly made, seconded, and carried
IT WAS RESOLVED
THAT Ms Joanne McNamara act as the Presiding Officer, pro-tempore, to Chair the meeting held on June 2, 2022, in the absence of the Chair, Professor Mark Lautens.
- Report for the 2022 Elections for the Governing Council, the Academic Board, University of Toronto Mississauga and University of Toronto Scarborough Campus Councils and their Standing Committees
The Chair stated that there had been considerable work undertaken related to election matters for the multiple constituencies for the Governing Council and Academic Board elections, as well, for the UTM and UTSC Campus Council and their Standing Committees. She added that, despite the complexity and multi-faceted nature of conducting the 2021 elections completely online, the process was successfully completed.
The Chief Returning Officer, Mr. Anwar Kazimi thanked Cindy Ferencz-Hammond (Assistant Secretary of the Governing Council and Deputy Returning Officer, UTM), Emma Thacker (Assistant Secretary of the Governing Council and Deputy Returning Officer, UTSC) and Patrick McNeil (Assistant Secretary of the Governing Council and Deputy Returning Officer, St. George Campus) for their roles in running a successful election.
Mr. Kazimi provided an overview of the election results and noted that this had been the second election undertaken during COVID-19. While several seats had been filled by acclamation, particularly at UTM and UTSC, candidates had engaged in a high level of campaigning which caused a higher than usual volume of voter turnout as polls opened. This increased volume had caused strain to the election software; however no technical issues were reported. The procurement of a new election software system was ongoing.
There were no questions from members.
- Report of the Previous Meeting - Report Number 92, November 25, 2021
The report of the previous meeting was approved.
- Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting
There was no business arising from the report of the previous meeting.
- Date of Next Meeting: October 13, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
The Chair confirmed that the next meeting would be held on October 13, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.
- Other Business
Mr. Vikram Chadalawada thanked members of the Secretariat for the hard work required to ensure a successful election.
The meeting adjourned at 5:18 p.m.
June 3, 2022