http://blog.sfgate.com/stienstra/2013/01/04/new-lottery-for-half-dome-climb-permits/#9207-4
Yosemite National Park Announces the New Half Dome Trail Stewardship Plan
http://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/mariposa-daily-news-2013/142-january/7289-yosemite-national-park-announces-the-new-half-dome-trail-stewardship-plan-
Half Dome Permits for Day Hikers
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdpermits.htm
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We've made some changes to the permit system this year in response to the public input and our own concerns. This year, permits will be distributed by lottery via Recreation.gov. We held a single preseason lottery with an application period in March and will hold daily lotteries during the hiking season.
On each application, people can apply for up to six permits (six people) and for up to seven dates. Applications will only be successful if the number of permits requested is available on at least one of the requested dates. If enough permits are available for more than one of the requested dates, permits will be automatically awarded to the highest priority date, as entered by the applicant. Applicants may apply as the trip leader only once per lottery. Multiple applications with the same trip leader will be removed from the lottery.
The applicant must specify the name of the trip leader and may specify the name of an alternate. Each person may apply as a trip leader only once per lottery. People applying multiple times as trip leader will have all their lottery applications canceled. Permits will only be valid if the trip leader and/or alternate specified on the permit is part of the group using the permits. The group with trip leader or alternate must be present together at the base of the subdome, where rangers will check for permits. The names of the trip leader and alternate may not be changed once the application is submitted, and the permits are not transferable.