M.D. As I write this column, the arguments over what votes count and how votes are counted in Florida have tarnished both political parties. This issue of Psychiatric News contains information about our excellent slate of candidates for election in 2001. Members are already receiving e-mail messages from candidates and in support of candidates.
Candidates often have access to different groups of e-mail addresses that can vary widely in size.
On the surface this may seem to give one candidate an advantage over another. Our recently completed membership survey may provide some of the answers to this question for future election reform or at least as guides to our candidates. The survey was mailed to all the valid addresses we had for voting members, 30,791. We received 5,021 responses, a return rate of 16.3 percent. Our consultants indicated that a 10 percent return was necessary for a statistically valid result.