[quote="Patroklus Murakami":ncsgte7t] I think it's important that we have a definitive, up-to-date list of who is entitled to vote in this election.[/quote:ncsgte7t]
Pat, I totally agree. The problem is that, like so many rules, there's a little procedural hole in this one. We have a very clear rule now regarding the cutoff date after which if you become a new citizen you are not eligible to vote until the next election.
But we are not so clear about persons who are in process of leaving the CDS. For those who tell us that due to whatever circumstances they find it necessary to leave, the process is easy. But they are by and large the rarity. Most people just don't re-appear to pay their monthly fee. At what point do you say... "You're out... your land is re-possessed... and you are no longer a citizen"?
I recall that a rule on the book (perhaps one that I proposed even) states that if no monthly fee is paid by the 21st day of the month after the month for which the fee is due, your land is forfeit. That's clear, but rather harsh. Some people are procrastinators, some people are huge forgettors, and don't read my reminder email. Some people are away. I have always erred on the side of taking extra time with this, hoping that the individual involved really does wish to stay in the community, and is rather just a bit scatter-brained about money.
My lax-ness is probably fine when it comes to the ownership of the land. But it creates problems in the situation we face now. There are three people not now on the list who, by strict intepretation, should have their land re-possessed and declared ineligible for voting. One of those, in fact, because this situation has occurred over and over again, has indeed had their land re-possessed. Two others are surely late, having not yet paid the November fee. While they are in some confusion regarding the "group ownership" procedures mandated by the RA, they have also repeatedly missed the fee deadline. I guess you could you interpret this as Sudane hopefully offering one more chance to citizens possibly still interested in being involved.
So, you can see that probably this situation could use a rule. At this point I consider it a judgment call as to whether late-payers are eligible to vote or not... attempted to judge whether indeed the individual intends to remain with the CDS. While that is probably the humane and compassionate thing to do, it may not be very good in the long run as we increase in numbers.
There is also the very distinct possibility that I have overlooked someone. For this reason it's very important that people report omissions. The reported one may indeed be a valid omission, or may be a purposeful omission, as I've described. Perhaps you could IM me with the names of folks you don't see on the list.
So... Pat, I totally agree. We must have a definitive list. I guess that I have resolved to make sure the list is definitive some days before the election, so that FR has time to complete the coding. This is probably an excellent topic for a proposal to the new RA, so that next time this area will not be so "grey".
Sudane.....
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