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• quorum - the minimum number of TC members required to be present at a given meeting as to transact business

• simple majority - a majority of votes cast, abstentions are not counted. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majority

• absolute majority - a majority of votes present, abstentions are counted with the same effect as a no vote. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majority

• supermajority - a requirement for a proposal to gain a specified level of support which is greater than the threshold of one-half used for a simple majority. E.g. 2/3s, 3/4s, etc.

• abstention - declining to vote for or against a proposal or motion

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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.

• 1.5 The first attempt to make a decision is to reach a lazy consensus. It means that if no one objects to the proposal, the proposal passes. FINISHED

• 1.7 If someone objects, lazy consensus has not been reached. → 1.8 or 2.

• 1.8 If no one calls for a vote (and lazy consensus is has not been reached on an issue during a session, any ), the issue has failed. FINISHED

• 2. Any elected member (or proxy) can ask to have a vote on this issue. call for a vote at any time. This makes lazy consensus fail. If someone has called for a vote → 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 all members to vote in a Slack Thread. Members who have already voted during the Zoom session are prompted to revote in 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 and adds them to the number of votes which have been cast already during the last meeting (session). Only (only “yes” and “no” votes 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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• A vote on a motion may be called by any member or guest

• A quorum should be present for a vote to be called (it is implicitly required if threshold is 1/2 of members or greater)

• A vote may happen in either Zoom or Slack

  • Rules TBD, could be based upon quorum, broadly same as option 2

• Votes must be yes/no

• A member may abstain from voting

• A member may delegate their vote (preferably to another member)

• Motion carries when yes votes exceed threshold

  • Default must be set, may be overridden for individual motions

  • Examples of threshold:

    • Greater than 1/2 of members

    • Greater than 2/3 of members

  • For comparison purposes, there are 11 members and 1/2 of members threshold is used

• Motion carrying (pass) is only decision that is important (fail / no decision are equivalent, and only mean the motion does not carry)

  • This could mean that a malicious actor could repeatedly ask for a vote on the same motion

Option #4 - Simple majority (Florian)

Principles:

• Decisions can only be made with a simple majority of all members.

• Members can nominate proxies at any time for any time period. They replace the member during this time period concerning these rules.

• 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.

Simple majority is when more than (number of members - abstains)/2 votes are made for either yes or no.

Options for votings:

1. Lazy consensus: During meetings in zoom, a lazy consensus can be conducted. If any present member wants a vote, lazy consensus is stopped and a vote will be called.
   During lazy consensus all members, that do not express a “no” or a “abstain”, will be counted as “yes”. The time to express this has to be long enough.
   Due to the Simple majority principle, a lazy consensus can not lead to decision if not more than 50% of the members are present.
   

2. Zoom vote: During meetings a Zoom vote can be conducted. Every member can vote for yes, no or abstain.
   A decision is made when the simple majority principle is fulfilled. So with 11 members, when 2 abstain and 5 vote for yes and the rest is still thinking about, the vote is passed.
   Same: Due to the Simple majority principle, a zoom vote can not lead to decision if not more than 50% of the members are present.
   

3. Slack vote: Slack votes can be conducted. Every member can vote for yes, no or abstain.
   Same: A decision is made when the simple majority principle is fulfilled. So the slack vote can lead to a decision within minutes or within days or weeks.
   A slack vote can have a end date. The end date should give all members the possibility to vote. If the end date is passed, all remaining votes are counted as abstains.

Comparison

Considerations

Things we should be mindful of when weighing the options.

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