New officials vote?

[Camron Rust]

In Portland, new officials generally do not vote.

We have a 4 class sequence for new officials that is typically completed over 4 years. The newest officials in "Class 1" and "Class 2" (probationary) do not vote. Those in "Class 3" and "Class 4" (associate) do as well as all "Regular" members. When it comes to tourney voting, only "Regular" members vote.

The idea is that truly new officials wouldn't really know much about anything.

Officials joining the association with some amount of experience can skip one ore more of the classes and, if sufficiently experienced, be put directly into Class 4 (with immediate voting rights). THose are given the ability to apply for "Regular" membership quickly so that they can also qualify for varsity games...we don't want to keep good officials working a JV schedule.

Returning officials, after a short absence, can resume where they left off. Longer absences are treated like transfers and must go back into the classes, at least for a brief time.