Rule 5. Recruitment of Applicants

a. Commissioners shall actively seek out and encourage applications from qualified individuals who will reflect the diversity of the community they will serve. It is incumbent upon Commissioners to seek out well-qualified persons who may not otherwise apply. b. A Commissioner shall under no circumstances commit in advance to vote for any applicant. c. Each Commission shall widely publicize vacancies by issuing press releases, posting notices online, and/or emailing vacancy notices to interested parties and groups. When feasible, such notices shall be given thirty (30) days or more before the deadline for applications. The notice of vacancy shall state that a Commission may, at its discretion, use the applications filed for the vacancy that is the subject of the announcement to nominate candidates for any additional vacancy or vacancies known to the Commission before the screening for the announced vacancy is held. d. When an insufficient number of constitutionally qualified applications have been received by the application deadline, the Chair of the Commission may extend the application period before the screening meeting. The Chair of the Commission may also extend the application period after the screening meeting but only when insufficient politically diverse applications have been received. The Chair shall notify qualified applicants of any application period extension.