Proposal to streamline nominations

[Simetrical]

Well, I don't feel like talking endlessly, so I'll make this short and to the point: instead of nominations for elected positions, why don't we have write-in ballots? The way this would work is, when we want to have an election, the staff member putting up the vote thread would put in the most obvious options. Then, you go to the thread to vote. If you see your favored candidate there, you can vote for them; otherwise, you ask (via post or PM) for the candidate to be added. The candidate is asked, the staff decides if they'll veto, and if all goes well, the candidate gets added to the poll and you can vote for him.

Basically, this means that the entire nominations process is scrapped, cutting days off the already too-lengthy election procedure. There will be no more cases of missing the nominations and getting left out, and everyone gets to vote for their choice. Opinions?

[imb39]

I would have thought a three step process sholud be adopted:

1) People apply for post. - No discussion
2) Shortlist is presented and Curia can discuss (is this always appropriate?).
3) Voting takes place. - No discussion

At the moment all of this takes place in one thread. It makes it very hard to follow at times and, more importantly, is not condusive to ensuring a fair result as votes are not exactly easy to follow at times.

[Obi Wan Asterix]

Well, I don't feel like talking endlessly, so I'll make this short and to the point: instead of nominations for elected positions, why don't we have write-in ballots? The way this would work is, when we want to have an election, the staff member putting up the vote thread would put in the most obvious options. Then, you go to the thread to vote. If you see your favored candidate there, you can vote for them; otherwise, you ask (via post or PM) for the candidate to be added. The candidate is asked, the staff decides if they'll veto, and if all goes well, the candidate gets added to the poll and you can vote for him.

Basically, this means that the entire nominations process is scrapped, cutting days off the already too-lengthy election procedure. There will be no more cases of missing the nominations and getting left out, and everyone gets to vote for their choice. Opinions?

I really like Simetrical's proposal. I think it would serve well to clean up procedures that have gotten unpleasantly chaotic of late.... this procedure makes sense, and combines a recently rendered confusing, and almost undemocratic system.

[Trajan]

I really like Simetrical's proposal. I think it would serve well to clean up procedures that have gotten unpleasantly chaotic of late.... this procedure makes sense, and combines a recently rendered confusing, and almost undemocratic system.

Agreed. The proposal does sound good and it should be considered.

[Tom Paine]

Problem; people added after the start of the vote will be unable to collect the votes of those who have gone before even if they would have voted for them.

[Ardeur]

Problem; people added after the start of the vote will be unable to collect the votes of those who have gone before even if they would have voted for them.

I concur with this, and add my own sentiment of "She sells seashells by the seashore!"

[Simetrical]

I would have thought a three step process sholud be adopted:

What would be the advantage? It would take longer.

Problem; people added after the start of the vote will be unable to collect the votes of those who have gone before even if they would have voted for them.

No, because if the person wanted to vote for them, they would have asked for them to be added themselves. Clear instructions would be posted, saying to decide on your favored candidate and then either vote or ask for the addition, not to choose a candidate from the list as usual.

[Sĝren]

This will probably become outdated anyway, if Quaestors are chosen from the Cohortes Praetoria.

[Tom Paine]

However people a)don't always read the instructions, and b) sometimes simply vote for the person second-best up there anyway.

[Belisarius]

I say discuss this after the reforms.

[Tacticalwithdrawal]

agreed, we've got too much going on reform-wise to do other things a well. Lets get the reforms in, a stable base in place and then move forward from that. All this constantly shooting at moving targets is getting frustrating/idiotic.

(although I do think it's a good idea )

[imb39]

What would be the advantage? It would take longer.

Originally Posted by Squeakus Maximus
Problem; people added after the start of the vote will be unable to collect the votes of those who have gone before even if they would have voted for them.

No, because if the person wanted to vote for them, they would have asked for them to be added themselves. Clear instructions would be posted, saying to decide on your favored candidate and then either vote or ask for the addition, not to choose a candidate from the list as usual.

The advantages are:

1) Everyone would know who are on the candidate list
2) A proper discussion can then take place (if needed)
2) Votes can be dispensed and then tallied in a transparent manner instead of all over the thread which is also mixed in with discussion.

Yes it is slower but it avoids the muddles that have been going on with withdrawals/number of votes cast. I suppose this trades speed for coherency. It's only an idea, and I don't often get them...

[Major König]

I would have thought a three step process sholud be adopted:

1) People apply for post. - No discussion
2) Shortlist is presented and Curia can discuss (is this always appropriate?).
3) Voting takes place. - No discussion

At the moment all of this takes place in one thread. It makes it very hard to follow at times and, more importantly, is not condusive to ensuring a fair result as votes are not exactly easy to follow at times.

I agree with this. Shorter, simpler, and easier for everyone. But the lists should be kept short enough, since 15 people can't be elected right? Perhaps higher staff, perhaps some few chosen, should nominate, and the curia can vote.

[Simetrical]

This will probably become outdated anyway, if Quaestors are chosen from the Cohortes Praetoria.

Well, yes, that's true. We'll have to see if it's significant.

However people a)don't always read the instructions, and b) sometimes simply vote for the person second-best up there anyway.

Either way, it's their problem they don't get to vote for their first choice.

I say discuss this after the reforms.

Pah, what's with this "nothing can be discussed until after the reforms" thing? Consider these discussions preparatory to the Decemvirate discussions.

Yes it is slower but it avoids the muddles that have been going on with withdrawals/number of votes cast. I suppose this trades speed for coherency.

I think you misunderstand my intent. Everything will still be handled by the voting software. If someone doesn't like the listed options, any Prefect can just add extra ones to the poll itself. Here's a demonstration. If someone likes some unlisted type of fish, post that in your response to this, and I'll just add the option to the poll with zero votes. Then you can vote for it.

[HorseArcher]

This will probably become outdated anyway, if Quaestors are chosen from the Cohortes Praetoria.

how do you know that? hmm? it's not set yet TBN. go back and read that thread about that "thingy" of mine in the staff forum.

I say discuss this after the reforms.

agreed.

[Belisarius]

Pah, what's with this "nothing can be discussed until after the reforms" thing? Consider these discussions preparatory to the Decemvirate discussions.

Its more because JM is trying to organise meetings with the Curia reps, and discuss and unite people who clearly have different opinions by Friday. JM doesnt have the energy to discuss more and neither do the rest of the counsel I suspect... (We dont have batteries like you Sim)

One small point:

I would like the idea of people who are nominated writing a "Letter of application" :wink:

[imb39]

I think you misunderstand my intent. Everything will still be handled by the voting software. If someone doesn't like the listed options, any Prefect can just add extra ones to the poll itself. Here's a demonstration. If someone likes some unlisted type of fish, post that in your response to this, and I'll just add the option to the poll with zero votes. Then you can vote for it.

But if the candidates change midway then the vote is, in effect, invalidated - especially if a candidate is added after people have voted. The first step should be to establish the candidate list. This can then be discussed and then voted on. Once the list has been established then the process is much easier to follow.

[Simetrical]

But if the candidates change midway then the vote is, in effect, invalidated - especially if a candidate is added after people have voted.

No, because any one of the people who voted before candidate X was added could have asked for X to be added themselves. The fact that they didn't presumably shows that they didn't support X over the preexisting candidates.

[imb39]

Or maybe they thought X wasn't interested... or maybe X wasn't available for other reasons.

[HorseArcher]

Sim, you are an appointed pro-curator here, I recommend this proposal to be discussed in the conference room. It's your call.
I still only se my lonely "test" thread there with nothing much going on. or are you guys discussing the conference issues somewhere else?