Democracy Inaction, or why I exercised my right not to vote

[Nolligan]

When I bought my property in Neufreistadt last month I made sure that my name was on the electoral register in time for the elections. I had been expecting a lively debate with candidates eager to get the vote of a new resident. Additionally, I wanted to learn about the issues that residents consider to be important and to find out what the candidates had achieved in office, or would set out to achieve if they were elected.

I had been led to believe that democracy in CDS reflected that in the real world. As a former activist in a UK political party I have some experience of local democracy. I had delivered letters personally to all new voters in my area. During the period of the actual election we took part in action days, contacted known supporters and tried hard to win the votes of others. We listened to the electorate and noted their concerns and tried to explain how we would work for them to get things done for their benefit.

In CDS the reality this time round was quite different. I managed to find three posters scattered across the CDS sims. This does not constitute an informed debate. I read in the moderator guidelines that one of the purposes of this forum is to 'promote informed voting'. Since I was not adequately informed by the candidates or their supporters about what they actually stood for I exercised my democratic right not to vote.

I sincerely hope things improve.

[Trebor Warcliffe]

Nolligan,

Thank you very much for this post. I am the Chancellor of the CDS for this term and by default of running unopposed for this upcoming term. This election we actually had (6) candidates standing for (5) seats on the Representative Assembly and I was very happy about this. I, like you, was looking forward to some good campaigning and hopefully at least one or two debates.The last election I had an opponent and both of us took the initiative to have campaign posters on each sim and the both of us also scheduled Meet the Candidate events.

The other problem we as a community have in regards to elections and campaigning is who is responsible for what. Here is the quote on the responsibilities of the Scientific Council. "The Scientific Council (SC) is a self-selected meritocracy. Its governmental role is to interpret and enforce the constitution. Its service roll (ed. note: sic) is to resolve citizen disputes and moderate user forums and events." So I ask you Nolligan, what event is more important in a democracy than the campaigning and elections of its Executive and Representative Branches?

Now I do know that the SC has handled the mechanics of the elections. Meaning they're responsible for verifying the citizen list provided to them by the Treasurer, responsible for the placement and coordination of the voting mechanisms and confirming the votes at the end of the election process. Following is the only information I can find on campaigning in the CDS.

Section 4 – Campaigning
Campaigning for election in CDS can be done in-world only by means of unscripted items or simple notecard givers that are placed in traditional, predetermined central CDS locations, or by discourse between two avatars directly. No spamming of any kind is allowed, including the dropping of items on avatars without permission, sending messages by Second Life group IM (other than one’s own faction group), or by shouting messages to large groups. Only two emails are allowed in a given election by any faction or representative of a faction.

I've suggested the previous two elections, not including this one, that the campaigning should also be handled by the SC. We should have one debate for all Chancellor candidates and a minimum of one debate for the Representative Assembly candidates. The SC should also coordinate with each candidate for a Meet the Candidate event for each candidate. It is my opinion that out of the 3 branches of government, the Scientific Council is the only branch that is a neutral party to the election and campaigning of RA members and the Chancellor. Some of our citizens believe it should be the Chancellor's responsibility to which I respond, "how is the Chancellor a neutral and unbiased person if they are overseeing the campaigning and election that they are also participating in?

It seems like I'm going to be ruffling some feathers before I'm even sworn in for this upcoming term. I do have plans on introducing legislation that will officially task the SC with both the campaigning and election process of the CDS. Nolligan, again thank you very much for your input. I look forward to serving you as Chancellor this upcoming term and welcome your insight and your contributions to the CDS.

Trebor

[Shep]

Hi Nolligan ...I found your post interesting and it made me ponder lol ... well, while obviously I can only speak for myself I am happy to share with you my thoughts.. for me democracy on CDS is a non combatative affair... of course differences of opinion will always raise their heads, but they are usually about the detail not the purpose, at the moment I serve on the RA with 4 other people that I hope I can call friend, that I have respect for and who all have a common goal along with me .. and that is to help make CDS a great place to live .. I was'nt a part of CDS when there were factions .. it would need a far more active populace for a return to that, and if you don't have parties tussling for votes you don't get the great debates ... I have to say I prefer to work together with people than fight against them .. there are so few who volunteer to help .. its a core of the same faces time after time .. you'll get to know them .. especially if as seems likely you feel the need to get involved and help.. let me also say, I'm happy to talk to anyone but I don't have you on my friends list.. some people like to keep themselves to themselves .. so I try not to be pushy, you could have asked me any questions, or indeed any of the others on RA ... you don't say which party you were an activist for, perhaps it's as well as it would only colour my opinion lol .. I'm UK too ... If it became a rule to hold meetings pre election or even if I thought anyone would turn up ( ask Beathan about that ) I would happily do one ... as it is if I don't get re-elected I will just help in other ways.. sorry if it seems wishy washy for you .. but we're ALMOST a coalition Shep ..

[Shep]

Oh sorry I should have explained something else ... since you did'nt vote you won't know .. you don't give your vote to one person .. a list of candidates is there for you to drag and drop in the order you want them .. in this instance that would leave one person left as there were 6 candidates for 5 seats..

[Tanoujin Milestone]

Hi Nolligan,

welcome to the CDS! I am looking forward to meet you inworld. Feel free to visit my place at Alpine Meadows CS2 whenever you are in the mood to sit at the campfire, play a game of Go or temporarily rez about 250 prims.

I agree with you, the campaigning for the election of the 17th Representative Assembly was quite minimalistic. Imo it would be nice to have a "Meet the Candidates" event again next time. (Looks like you are already volunteering to organize one, Shep )

In fact, I would have come to the same decision like you: how can I vote without knowing what the candidates stand for? Fortunately this will partially sort itself out for you over time if you go to the bother to attend a number of RA meetings or read the transcripts on this forums and follow some of the lively debates in here, in line with taking part in CDS events like the upcoming inauguration ball (which might be fun in the first instance).

Do not hesitate to contact people holding or applying to political offices. CDS is a small community in need of volunteers. If you are up to it, you might get the complementary perspective of being accountable for a convictive election platform earlier than you think.

Kind regards from an ordinary citizen, Tan.

[Moonrise Azalee]

Six people for five seats. I imagine that this contributed to the lack of 'debate', though I must say I was surprised at the way the elections took place. I was expecting a notice from someone asking us to all get together to present ourselves or some such thing. This was my first time running, so I had no idea what to expect and the guidelines and information posted are worded in a way that really just leads to more confusion - it sounds VERY professional and almost daunting, yet here I was trying to place campaign posters without proper permissions to do so. I was only able to place campaign posters on my own parcels.
Twas only a few days ago that I was able to actually place my campaign (notegiver) posters in public places.

And yes, Nolligan in the voting process you choose 5 people out of those 6 and place them in the order of preference. Definitely an easier task if you have an idea of who some of these people are!
I apologize for not being more communicative, though I tried my best. I did place a mail bag on each of my parcels in Colonia Nova to allow for notecards to be given to me, and I did spend many hours each evening wandering the Sims to see if I could meet with someone. I only found Shep, and Rosie who both assisted me with placing my campaign posters I wasn't aware that I myself could call a meeting or a Meet the Candidate, so I was awaiting on something put forward by the group. My apoologies.

[Patroklus Murakami]

Nolligan

I sympathise with your point of view. I almost didn't vote for anybody either having pointed out in another thread that nobody seemed to have done anything to publicise their candidacy. The powers that be also seemed to be asleep on the job with no public debate between candidates planned. I did later see that a few notecard givers appeared near some of the voting booths.

I agree that this is a poor state of affairs in a democracy. I can't recall a more low-key election taking place. We need to think about how we avoid this situation occurring again so that, in six months time, we all know who the candidates are and can make an informed choice.

[Gwyneth Llewelyn]

Nolligan and Pat — I second you both. If there was any debate or discussion, I missed it. I didn't see anything being posted about any way of getting in touch with the candidates formally. Of course I could IM them and discuss their ideas and plans... but usually it works the other way way around: it's the candidates that make an effort of getting in touch with their potential voters, not the voters who patiently wait in expectation of being informed.

Aye, I'm aware that there are a few posters and notecard givers out there... but there hasn't even been some discussion on the forums (even though I prefer in-world debates). So, although it pains me to admit it, I didn't vote, either — it's not that I don't trust any of the members to be elected to the RA (I certainly do!) or to become Chancellor, but I would have expected a little bit more than just a few notecards and nice posters...

[Trebor Warcliffe]

All of these comments just confirm the fact that we need to assign the CDS Election and Campaign process to the SC along with a set of procedures i.e., setting up and monitoring Meet the Candidate events as well as debates and handling the mechanics of the election process which they already are tasked with. It makes it difficult to brag about SL's oldest self-governed community when one of the most important features of a democracy, the people's ability to elect the people they want to represent themselves, isn't handled as well as it should be.

Trebor

[Shep]

I have to question why, in the case of Pat and Trebor, was nothing said during the election process about setting up meetings ... RA did'nt all do it last year when I joined .. I therefore was unaware of any tradition, if it does indeed exist ... but to wait till after the election to then point the finger is bad form .. don't join in with those saying shoulda coulda when just a couple of words at the time would have sorted it!!! NOT impressed ..

[Trebor Warcliffe]

I can't speak for Pat but I was running unopposed and the time I would have spent on campaigning I spent on other CDS affairs. Also it isn't the Chancellors responsibility to arrange campaigning events. Also not a single candidate approached me about holding a Meet the Candidate event or a debate event. Even though it's not the Chancellors job I do remember seeing a group notice from Calli that if anyone needed help with anything they were to contact me (it may have been from Delia and not Calli, I honestly don't remember). In my opinion the only candidates who get a free pass so to speak because they've never stood for office before and are relativly new to the CDS are Razzy (Moonrise) and Dee Shepherd. Razzy did reach out to me about giving her permissions to place campaign signs on CDS public lands which I promptly took care of but even that request came the week of the actual elections and not the week of campaigning. Pip, Shep, Beathan, and Anna have all stood for office before, in fact 3 of the 4 stood for election last term when we had a citizen, no longer with us, ranting and raving about the need for Meet the Candidate events and debates. I honestly don't remember who held what, I do know that I and my opponent held seperate Meet the Candidate events on our own and of our own efforts. Not trying to start a fight or piss anyone off but I have to ask first why all the candidates, especially our veterns did no campaigning on their own and secondly if you weren't sure of what exactly campaigning involved why no one reached out to myself, Calli, or any other governmental official for that matter.

Trebor

Also Calli announced via Group Notice and in the Forums the day that campaigning began that it was the official start of the campaign week. Tradition has nothing to do with campaigning. The web portal specifically spells out what is and isn't allowed in campaigning. Does an individual running for office not know what is involved with campaigning? Sorry but I can't accept it was my fault, Pat's fault, and until legislation is proposed and passed tasking the SC with this responsibility the SC's fault that not one candidate did any type of campaigning on their own.

[Shep]

I did'nt mean that you should direct the elections .. I meant that you could have dropped a simple hint as a friend .. same for Pat .. no its not your places to direct us but there was'nt any kind of set formula last election .. and I stood for RA then having been at CDS just a month .. I was persuaded to stand because of the lack of candidates .. same position as Razzy and Dee .. last election the important thing to do was get the note giver out .. I certainly did that .. If there is a tradition of certain things during elections then they should be shared with the newer people or they get lost in the mists of time ....

[Bagheera]

One thing is, especially with Second Life (let alone first life), things that aren't on one's radar get easily overlooked. I'm the kind of person who needs to leave myself reminders or even essentials get remembered too late.

I remember in past elections, there were candidate signs/notecard givers out in the central plaza in Colonia Nova - these items are whisked away afterwards - but why not have something permanent that is turned "on" and possibly available during elections and then left in place but turned "off" (if nothing else, to remind people that CDS is a democracy with regular elections). Perhaps an election calendar where anyone can post a Meet the Candidate event or other (the reason I say anyone is then the permissions become much simpler, logistically, and the odds of a group member/citizen abusing it are slight and also not that damaging, so keep it simple and accessible). That way there could be at least one permanent installation and one public official or volunteer could be given the simple 2 minute task of turning it ON when campaigning officially starts and turning it OFF after the election.