CDS Election Process

[FernLeissa]

I have to agree with Trebor that there seems to be a problem with SC leadership when it comes to running our bi-annual elections. Unlike Trebor, I do not see this solely as a problem under Soro but rather feel I have seen evidence of it prior to several other elections.

Rose may have posted the wrong dates in this case, but I remember feeling grateful that she had taken the initiative to get election information up on the forum because we do seem to repeatedly launch an election with what seems like an unpredictable and unreliable election process. All of us are responsible for knowing our own laws as well as the timetable behind elections, but truthfully all of us have a rl that often gets in the way of our focusing on or having the time to review the portal or read all postings on the forum. It would be helpful if we had timely and reliable postings from the SC, giving dates and election basics, well prior to the start of each term’s election.

I also suggest that we need to think about posting “news” to the forum or to the CDS Group so that those who cannot log on regularly are kept appraised of the most important issues, events and decisions facing us as a community. Many important topics are getting buried within threads whose titles have nothing to do with later evolutions of the conversation. The mechanics and usefulness of this needs further discussion. For now, it is just an idea.

Speaking of which, is everyone aware that both Guillaume and Bromo have withdrawn from the election for ra?

We have lot of election process specifics to work out over the next week, but while we are thinking our way through our mess, can I suggest that we keep several things in mind:

-We do have incorrect election eligibility deadlines posted on the forum. Candidates have submitted their candidacy based on those deadlines

-Many of us have complained about the lack of citizens willing to run for election.

-We have questioned the “democracy” of having the number of candidates being fewer or equal to the number of open seats

-We have complained about the “same people” running again and again for ra seats (I think I have heard them referred to disparagingly as the “old guard”

-Many complain about complicated bureaucratic processes and the inflexibility of the CDS government to bend towards solving the practical aspects of a problem

- We have said that our laws (New Guild included here) are too complicated and too elaborate given the current number and level of participation

I hope you will consider or re-consider the one-time request for a wiaver of residency requirements in this light.

Fern

[Rosie Gray]

I think that since we have had the RA vote on waiving the issues to allow the 4 new people to remain as candidates, and given Fern's excellent summation above, that we should proceed with the election that way. We can all learn from this, old and new citizens alike, and move into the next session with a greater level of participation.

[Arria Perreault]

I share all what Fern has said. The coming election is the 16th one. It should be an easy process... I'd like to add that we had an election guide in the past. I think that such a document would be useful for citizen and for further candidates. It should be given to every new citizen and published in the portal. An other document could cover other legal matter, especially all what concerns citizenship, land owning and convenants. We really need to make CDS easy to understand for newcomers.

[Bromo Ivory]

How about a sign listing dates clearly in the various inworld forums/plazas? I prefer an inworld announcement/sign/notification in addition to anything else.

This election cycle caught me offguard since it was so quiet!

[Trebor Warcliffe]

Bromo,

I believe this situation has made us all aware that we need to have a more concrete and easy to understand set of campaign and election procedures. Once the 16th term begins we will be working on a proposal about the elections and who should be tasked with campaign responsibilities. A situation like this will not occur again in the CDS.

Trebor