[ARIN-consult] Consultation on Implementing Single Transferrable Voting for ARIN Elections

[Adam Thompson]

Anything is better than first-past-the-post, as a general rule.  I don't mind STV as described *informally* in the Consultation document.

However, the amendments are so short on details that I would be opposed to this, as presented right now.

The Articles change enables other approaches, nothing more.  Then the Bylaws change simply... enables other approaches.
I'm not seeing any changes that even allude to STV.  As written, I could be voting for an amendment that enables ARIN to make someone Benevolent Dictator for Life!

As those Wendy's commercials made so famous a few decades ago, "Where's the meat?"

-Adam

Adam Thompson
Consultant, Infrastructure Services
MERLIN
100 - 135 Innovation Drive
Winnipeg, MB, R3T 6A8
(204) 977-6824 or 1-800-430-6404 (MB only)
athompson at merlin.mb.ca
www.merlin.mb.ca

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ARIN-announce <arin-announce-bounces at arin.net> On Behalf Of
> ARIN
> Sent: Thursday, January 6, 2022 10:39 AM
> To: arin-announce at arin.net
> Subject: [arin-announce] Consultation on Implementing Single Transferrable
> Voting for ARIN Elections
> 
> The Board of Trustees maintains authority over the scope, mission, and
> along with the President and Chief Executive Officer establishes ARIN’s
> strategic direction and fiscal oversight. The Board also has oversight
> authority of the nomination, appointment, and election of individuals to
> Board committees and similar roles.
> 
> Over the past two years, as part of its fiduciary duties, the ARIN Board of
> Trustees (“Board”) has undertaken a review of ARIN’s governance
> structures, including the voting system for ARIN elections. As part of this
> effort, an independent, outside consultant was engaged to review ARIN’s
> governance structures and provide recommendations.
> 
> One recommendation that has arisen from this governance review is to
> replace the current first-past-the-post (FPTP) voting system with single
> transferrable voting (STV), also known as ranked-choice voting. STV would
> provide the ability for the community to realize the following primary
> benefits:
> 
> • Greater voting choice. Voters rank candidates in order of preference;
> • A more proportional result. Successful candidates more broadly represent
> voter sentiment versus a single issue. There is better representation of
> member minority views;
> • No wasted votes. Fewer votes are cast for losing candidates or needlessly
> cast for run-away winners;
> • Designed for multiple winners; and
> • Reduced opportunities for tactical voting.
> 
> STV has some disadvantages:
> 
> • It is possible for a single candidate to win without crossing the winning
> threshold;
> • The process is more complicated to understand and implement than FPTP;
> and
> • In some cases, ballots that don't rank all candidates may be discarded.
> 
> We feel the benefits above outweigh the disadvantages. STV is currently
> being used by RIPE.
> 
> Board Proposal:
> 
> ARIN will use an online, fully electronic STV system for ARIN elections.
> 
> The nomination process existing at the time of implementation will be used.
> Modifications to the nomination process to implement STV are expected to
> be minimal.
> 
> ARIN seeks community feedback on this proposed use of the STV system for
> ARIN elections and the required amendments to ARIN's Articles of
> Incorporation and Bylaws. This consultation will remain open for 30 days:
> https://www.arin.net/participate/community/acsp/consultations/2022/202
> 2-1/
> 
> • Changes to Articles of Incorporation:
> https://www.arin.net/participate/community/acsp/consultations/2022/202
> 2_1__STV_ExhibitA.pdf
> 
> • Redline changes to ARIN Bylaws:
> https://www.arin.net/participate/community/acsp/consultations/2022/202
> 2_1__STV_ExhibitB.pdf
> 
> Please provide comments to arin-consult at arin.net. You can subscribe to
> this mailing list at: http://lists.arin.net/mailman/listinfo/arin-consult.
> 
> Discussion on arin-consult at arin.net will close on 7 February 2022.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> John Curran
> President and CEO
> American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> ARIN-Announce
> You are receiving this message because you are subscribed to
> the ARIN Announce Mailing List (ARIN-announce at arin.net).
> Unsubscribe or manage your mailing list subscription at:
> https://lists.arin.net/mailman/listinfo/arin-announce
> Please contact info at arin.net if you experience any issues.