Originally posted April 3, 2009

Retirement Board Election Under Way

On April 3, 2009, ballots, candidate information and voting instructions were mailed to all STRS Ohio members eligible to vote in the 2009 Retirement Board election.

Those individuals eligible to vote for the candidates for one contributing member seat on the board include all STRS Ohio contributing members, individuals who have contributions on deposit at STRS Ohio, and disability benefit recipients.

Those individuals eligible to vote for the candidates for two retired member seats on the board include service benefit recipients and reemployed retirees.

STRS Ohio is using VR Election Services to conduct the election. Members will have three ways to vote — by mail, through a toll-free phone number or via a special Internet site. Each eligible voter is assigned a distinct PIN (personal identification number) that prevents duplicate voting. Members are encouraged to vote by phone or Internet, as this results in a cost savings to STRS Ohio. For every completed mail ballot returned to STRS Ohio, the pension system has to pay for the return postage. Phone and Internet votes avoid this extra postage expense for the pension system.

Any STRS Ohio members who believe they are eligible to vote, and do not receive a ballot package by April 10, should call VR Election Services’ customer service line toll-free at 1-800-218-4026. The customer service center is open 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., EDT. The deadline for voting is 4:30 p.m., EDT, on May 4. Results of the election will be posted on the STRS Ohio Web site and announced in STRS Ohio newsletters following certification of the election results by the board of tellers on May 9, 2009.