ALPA is changing the voting process to make it more secure. The security was criticized during the Blue Ribbon Commission's Web Poll on the Age 60 issue, and this should resolve those issues. The timing is coincidental, and has nothing to do with our FDA LOA. There was not enough time to get the LOA to the Membership, give everyone time to ask questions and get educated, and close a vote before the Balloting System went "down" to implement the changes, so we had to wait until the changes were complete before we could open the vote.
What I recommend is to follow the procedures in the last paragraph of the letter from ALPA.
If you don't remember your VIN and/or PIN after you have activated your voting account, and you can't locate any record of them, please log on to crewroom.alpa.org and click on My ALPA, and then click on the Elections link. You may also contact the Membership Services Department at 888-FLY-ALPA, press 3 and follow the voice prompts to obtain a replacement activation code to reestablish your voting credentials.
I looked at the web page myself, and I'm including a hyperlink to it (
http://crewroom.alpa.org/Default.aspx?tabid=2596) to expedite your navigation to it. (Of course, you'll need your ALPA ID and password to get to it.) Or, if you prefer, you can try the "888" number listed. When you get to that page, you will select the box next to "Lost or Never Received" (that appears to be the default, so you won't have to click anything), and then click on the hyperlink directly beneath it ("
Click here to request a new authorization code.").
When you click that link, you'll immediately be given a 16-digit Reactivation Code (I just did it just to see what would happen.) Follow the instructions on the same page to activate your account.
From that page:
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STEPS TO REACTIVATE YOUR VOTER CREDENTIALS
After you have been issued a replacement activation code by your Election Administrator, you must carry out the following steps to regain access to your BallotPoint voting account. You will not be able to vote in any of your union’s elections until you do so.
These steps must be performed soon after you are issued the replacement activation code. Replacement activation codes are valid for a very limited time. If not used within that period, you will need to request another replacement code from your Administrator.
1) Call either (866)511-3366 or (866)972-8043, toll-free, to reactivate your voting account. NOTE: These numbers are different than the ones used to activate an account using the Activation Code received through the US Mail.
2) If you cannot reach either of the toll-free numbers listed above (the toll-frees are accessible from the United States, Canada, and a few other other areas only), then try the direct (tolled) numbers, (971)327-5444 and (503)972-8042. NOTE: These numbers are different than the ones used to activate an account using the Activation Code received through the US Mail.
3) When prompted, enter the replacement activation code provided to you by your Election Administrator.
4) Your assigned Voter Identification Number (VIN) will be spoken to you. Write this VIN down. It’s a random number, and trying to just remember it from one BallotPoint election to the next will be difficult.
5) When prompted, use the phone keypad to enter a 4- to 8-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) of your own choosing. Write this PIN down.
6) Save the VIN and PIN in a safe and accessible place. This may be in your wallet, or anywhere else that you can easily get to whenever you need to vote in one of your union’s elections. Alternatively, save your VIN and PIN electronically (cell phone, PDA, computer), if that’s more convenient for you, and you are comfortable about the security of the location.
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I called the "866" number for the Ballot Point Account Activation Service and listened to a rather lengthy explanation of the activation process, and then entered the 16-digit Reactivation code -- and it told me it was invalid. After several more attempts with the same result, I went back to the web page and clicked the hyperlink to get a new Reactivation code, and this time it worked. The "computer voice" speaks your Voter Identification Number (VIN) (in my case, 7 digits), and then you get to enter your own Personal Identification Number (PIN) of 4 to 8 digits, followed by the pound sign (#). That was it -- I've got all I need to vote, and I haven't gotten anything in the mail yet. Hang on to the VIN and the PIN, and you can ditch the Reactivation Code.