[ARIN-consult] Community Consultation on Election-related Bylaws Changes

[ARIN]

On 13 April 2015, the ARIN Board of Trustees proposed changes to the
ARIN Bylaws. Per Article X. Section 6.b. of the Bylaws, these changes
require community notification and consultation before they can be
adopted.  ARIN is opening this community consultation to obtain feedback
on the following Bylaws changes.

1.    Article VIII. Section 4.a. Voting.

Current bylaws language:

Voting. Each General Member of record and in good standing on such date
that is sixty (60) days before a ballot or election shall be eligible to
vote (through its designated member representative voting contact) in
such ballot or election…

Proposed bylaws language change:

Voting. Each General Member of record and in good standing on such date
that is forty-five (45) days before a ballot or election shall be
eligible to vote (through its voting contact) in such ballot or election…

Rationale:
      a. Replacing the term “designated member representative” with
“voting contact” throughout the     Bylaws and in election-related
documentation more clearly describes the function of this type of contact.
      b. ARIN suggests shortening the time between elections and the
voter eligibility cutoff deadline     in order to provide member
organizations more time to update their voting contact information.


2.    Article VIII. Section 4. b. Election Period.

Current bylaws language:

Election Period. The Election Period shall begin during the final Public
Policy and Members Meeting of the year for general elections and as
established by the President for other votes. The membership shall
receive electronic notice at least 30 days in advance of the election
and will have ten (10) calendar days after the Election Period opens to
electronically cast their votes, provided that any such electronic
transmission shall either set forth or be submitted with information
from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was
authorized by the member. Votes received by ARIN after the close of the
Election Period shall not be counted.

Change To:

Election Period. The Election Period shall begin during the final Public
Policy and Members Meeting of the year for general elections and as
established by the President for other votes. The membership shall
receive electronic notice at least 30 days in advance of the election
and will have at least seven (7) calendar days after the Election Period
opens to electronically cast their votes, provided that any such
electronic transmission shall either set forth or be submitted with
information from which it can be determined that the electronic
transmission was authorized by the member. Votes received by ARIN after
the close of the Election Period shall not be counted.

Rationale:

Under the current meeting and election schedule the elections open on a
Thursday and close on a Sunday. The change to at least 7 business days
would mean election still open on Thursday, but could close the
following Friday. Each year we receive the majority of votes the final
Friday and very few the following Saturday and Sunday. Staff feels that
being able to say voting closes today when making the last calls may
have a positive impact on getting last minute voters to cast a ballot.


Please provide comments to arin-consult at arin.net.

This notification and consultation period will close at 5 PM EDT, 20 May
2015. Please contact us at info at arin.net if you have any questions.


Regards,


Nate Davis
Chief Operating Officer
American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)