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

[Owen DeLong]

I think that the best thing would be for the bylaws to call out a separate document, incorporated by reference
which defines the STV process and that the bylaws should simply specify that voting shall be conducted
by a Single Transferrable Vote process as documented at <X> location.

That allows appropriate documentation control over the process without the weight of a full bylaw amendment.

Owen


> On Jan 6, 2022, at 10:44 , Chris Woodfield <chris at semihuman.com> wrote:
> 
> 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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