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

[Chris Woodfield]

Adam beat me to it - I’m fully in support of the adoption of STV/RCV, but it really should be spelled out in the bylaws, at least in principle.

The question then becomes - how detailed must the bylaws be in describing the system?

-C

> On Jan 6, 2022, at 10:37 AM, Adam Thompson <athompson at merlin.mb.ca> wrote:
> 
> 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)
>> 
>> 
>> 
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