[members-discuss] Discussion summary on GM voting

Dear colleagues,

I would like to provide a summary of the discussion that took place here on
voting at the General Meetings. The Executive Board will meet in
September and discuss the issues that were raised on this mailing list.

Please read the summary and if you have further comments to make, please
do so on this mailing list or you can contact the Executive Board
directly at<exec-board at ripe.net>.

Kind Regards,

Nigel Titley
RIPE NCC Executive Board Chairman


Summary of Discussion on GM Voting

The initial mail to members-discuss requested that paper voting and
proxy voting be removed as GM voting options. Nigel noted that other
members had also requested that the time period for voting should be
extended.

Below is a breakdown of the discussion, outlining the points raised and
the number of members in favour or against each proposal.

Removing proxy votes
For: 2
- This is easily replaced by electronic voting.

Against: 1
- If I don’t have the time/knowledge to vote, a colleague can cast vote,
allowing higher and more qualified participation.

There was a request for the approximate number of votes cast by proxy. This has
ranged from 11 to 19 since the introduction of electronic voting.


Removing paper votes
For: 6
- We are a technical community so this would be a natural move.
- It is safer, faster, more eco-friendly and more convenient to vote
electronically.
- The GM Voting Report provides receipts and is verifiable.

Against: 4
- There are issues relating to privacy and verifiable trust.
- I understand how paper voting works but not electronic voting.
- Paper voting is fun.
- Voting receipts are a problem as they may facilitate "buying" of votes.

There was a suggestion that people should automatically be registered
for electronic voting and have to actively change that if they want to
vote by paper ballot.


Extending the time period for voting
For: 6
- I need more time to cast my vote.
- Suggestions of 24 hours up to four days. Most common suggestion was
for 24 hours.

There were three comments that the announcement of results should be
made before the end of the RIPE Meeting.
Nigel noted that making the announcement on Friday should be possible.

Against: 0


Maintain practice of opening the voting window after discussion at the GM
For: 6
- Discussions and presentations can change people’s minds.
- Most people’s minds are made up anyway and the material is available
online.
- A vote without discussion is not very democratic.

Against: 3
- The materials are available beforehand.
- People have usually made up their mind beforehand anyway.


Other Issues
- Have a plaintext voting email instead of HTML only.
- Remove voting by acclamation from Articles of Association.