Voter Awareness Council establishes code of conduct for candidates

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Early voting has started and there is something different going on at the polling locations in The Woodlands and CISD areas this election cycle.

In response to activities at the polling locations in recent election cycles, the newly formed Voter Awareness Council (VAC) is supporting the voters’ right to cast ballots peacefully and to be free from intimidation by asking local candidates to voluntarily agree to some limitations.

Eight of the ten candidates for The Woodlands Township Board and three of the five remaining candidates for the CISD Board have voluntarily agreed to the VAC Polling Locations Code of Conduct for Responsible Candidates. We acknowledge and thank these responsible candidates: Mike Bass, Melanie Bush, Gordy Bunch, Kim Lejeune, David Cassidy, Ray Sanders, Ryan Elkins (except signs), Sharon Lavery, Jeff Long, Ron Mullins and Ed Robb.

These responsible candidates have voluntarily limited the number of signs at the polling location to five 18” x 24” signs and the number of campaign workers and supporters (in addition to themselves and their spouses) to two. They also assured that campaign workers and supporters will maintain at least an arms length distance from potential voters and that they not block or hinder a potential voter in exiting his/her vehicle and proceeding to the polls. The complete VAC Polling Location Code of Conduct for Responsible Candidates is posted at www.vactx.org. The candidates also agree to assure that any information provided to a voter regarding his/her candidacy or an opponent’s candidacy, whether written or verbal, be accurate, complete and not misleading.

Frustration with the atmosphere at the polling locations and believing that it had a chilling effect on voter turnout is one reason VAC was formed. In fact, during the March 2014 Primary only 17 percent of registered voters cast ballots. And in some local elections turnout is even less than 10 percent.

The VAC overall mission is to: inform and educate citizens on local elections; improve the overall voting experience; and increase voter turnout. For further information visit the link provided.