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1. The Chair writes an Agenda prior to the Session and publishes it (=makes it accessible for all elected members). Thus, the Chair decides which topics will be discussed (and maybe need to be decided on) in the forthcoming session.
2. If lazy consensus is not reached on an issue during a session, any elected member (or proxy) can ask to have a vote on this issue. → If no one asks for a vote, issue has failed. Otherwise→ 2.a) or 2.b).
2.a) If more than 50% of elected members (or proxies, always understood) are present in Zoom session, voting will start in Zoom. → 3.)
or 2.b) If < 50% of elected members are present, any elected member can ask for a Slack vote.
2.b)i) If no one asks, the decision is not made. In order for a decision to be made, the Chair (or Co-Chair) needs to put the issue on one of the next agendas again. → 1.
2.b)ii) If someone calls for a Slack vote → 5.
3. Voting starts in Zoom: elected members who are present will vote “yes”, “no” or abstain. The number of abstentions are subtracted from the number of elected members who are present. The resulting figure is called the number of “voting members”.
3.a) If the resulting number of voting members is < 50% of elected members → go to 2.b)
3.b) → 4.
4. If > 50% of elected members have cast a vote (it must be either “yes” or “no”), the simple majority decides. The decision is now binding and the vote on this issue can not be repeated. FINISHED.
5. A Slack vote has been called. The Chair (or Co-Chair, always understood) determines a period of time during which all elected members who are not present in the Zoom session have to cast a vote in Slack (or abstain). A thumb rule is: One week, usually the period of time until the next (regular) meeting. The period of time might be extended (for example during holiday periods). It should only be shortened if there are compelling reasons (i.e. a release deadline). Shortening should be an excpetion. The Chair announces the Slack vote in the Slack channel and prompts the members who have not been present in the session to vote on Slack. → 6.
6. If the period of time for a Slack vote has expired (usually during the next meeting), the Chair counts the number of votes which have been cast in Slack (only “yes” and “no” votes count) and adds them to the number of votes which have been cast already during the last meeting (session). Only “yes” and “no” count. Members who have not voted yet but are present now are given the chance to vote now in presence.
6.a) If < 50% of elected members have voted → 1.
6.b) → 4.
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Scenarios | Outcome Comparison | |||||
Present | Votes For | Votes Against | Abstentions | Option #1 Outcome | Option #2 Outcome | Option #3 Outcome |
11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | Pass | Pass | Pass |
11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | Fail | Fail | Fail |
11 | 5 | 4 | 1 | No Decision. >= 6 votes for or against required | Pass | Fail |
11 | 4 | 5 | 1 | No Decision. >= 6 votes for or against required | Fail | Fail |
11 | 7 | * | * | Pass | Pass | Pass |
11 | 8 | * | * | Pass | Pass | Pass |
11 | 9 | * | * | Pass | Pass | Pass |
6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | No Decision. >= 6 votes for or against required | Pass | Fail |
6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | Pass | Pass | Pass |
6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | Fail | Fail | Fail |
6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | No Decision. >= 6 votes for or against required | No Decision. A Slack vote might be called. | Fail |
6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | No Decision. >= 6 votes for or against required | No Decision. A Slack vote might be called. | Fail |
6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | No Decision. >= 6 votes for or against required | Pass | Fail |
11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | No Decision. >= 6 votes for or against required | Pass | Fail |
11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | No Decision. >= 6 votes for or against required | No decision, not enough people voted even in Slack. | Fail |
Considerations
Things we should be mindful of when weighing the options.
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