PDP Chair Election Procedure

LAC-2019-7-v4 LAC-2019-7-v5 Vs
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Authors

Name: Jordi Palet Martinez
Email: jordi.palet@theipv6company.com
Organization: The IPv6 Company

Name: Jordi Palet Martinez
Email: jordi.palet@theipv6company.com
Organization: The IPv6 Company

Summary

This proposal introduces changes to the PDP Chair election procedure.

This proposal introduces changes to the PDP Chair election procedure.

Rationale (Describe the problem you intend to solve)

On several occasions, we have seen cases of malicious interference in LACNIC's election processes, and the normal functioning of the Policy List has been interrupted. This is not acceptable, even less so when they involve processes outside the PDP.
Combined with a detailed review of the current procedures, these actions and have uncovered errors which can lead to the discrimination of certain candidates in favor of others and do not prevent potential fraud.
This proposal seeks to correct this situation, incorporating the process as a more explicit part of the PDP.

On several occasions, we have seen cases of malicious interference in LACNIC's election processes, and the normal functioning of the Policy List has been interrupted. This is not acceptable, even less so when they involve processes outside the PDP.

Combined with a detailed review of the current procedures, these actions and have uncovered errors which can lead to the discrimination of certain candidates in favor of others and do not prevent potential fraud.

This proposal seeks to correct this situation, incorporating the process as a more explicit part of the PDP.

Current text

3.2.2. About the PDP Chairs
o PDP Chairs may not be LACNIC staff.
o These positions will be honorary.
o PDP Chairs must be members of LACNIC or supported by a member of LACNIC.
o PDP Chairs will each serve a 2-year term, with one position up for renewal each year. Unlimited reelection is allowed.

3.2.3. About the election of the Chairs:
o Calls for nominations will be announced through the Public Policy List.
o Anyone subscribed to the Public Policy List may participate.
o The election will be conducted immediately before the Public Policy Forum.
o Voting will be conducted electronically, applying mechanisms to ensure that each subscriber to the list can cast only one vote.
o The winner of the electronic voting process must be ratified at the Public Policy Forum. The acting chairs will ask those in attendance whether they have any objections to the electronic voting process. If any objections are raised, the chairs will evaluate whether such objections are significant. If no objections are raised, or if the chairs consider that any such objections are not significant, they will proceed to ratify the winning candidate. Any chair who ran in the election must abstain from participating as chair during the ratification process.
o Elected chairs will begin their term immediately after the closing of the Public Policy Forum during which they were ratified.
o If a winner is not ratified, the LACNIC Board will appoint a chair to fill the vacant position until the following Public Policy Forum. The next time an election and ratification process can be held, the person elected will only fill the position for the remainder of the original term.

3.2.2. About the PDP Chairs
o PDP Chairs may not be LACNIC staff.
o These positions will be honorary.
o PDP Chairs must be members of LACNIC or supported by a member of LACNIC.
o PDP Chairs will each serve a 2-year term, with one position up for renewal each year. Unlimited reelection is allowed.

3.2.3. About the election of the Chairs:
o Calls for nominations will be announced through the Public Policy List.
o Anyone subscribed to the Public Policy List may participate.
o The election will be conducted immediately before the Public Policy Forum.
o Voting will be conducted electronically, applying mechanisms to ensure that each subscriber to the list can cast only one vote.
o The winner of the electronic voting process must be ratified at the Public Policy Forum. The acting chairs will ask those in attendance whether they have any objections to the electronic voting process. If any objections are raised, the chairs will evaluate whether such objections are significant. If no objections are raised, or if the chairs consider that any such objections are not significant, they will proceed to ratify the winning candidate. Any chair who ran in the election must abstain from participating as chair during the ratification process.
o Elected chairs will begin their term immediately after the closing of the Public Policy Forum during which they were ratified.
o If a winner is not ratified, the LACNIC Board will appoint a chair to fill the vacant position until the following Public Policy Forum. The next time an election and ratification process can be held, the person elected will only fill the position for the remainder of the original term.

New text

3.2.2. About the PDP Chairs
o PDP Chairs may not be LACNIC staff.
o The position is not compatible with other roles that are directly involved in the flow of the policy development process in any of its phases. If this were the case, the candidate's nomination must specify how they will solve this situation should they be elected. Thus, if they are elected, they will automatically cease in (or not take possession of, as the case may be) such incompatible positions, as specified in their nomination.
o The Chairs may not be from the same company or from the same or related companies, except in exceptional cases where there are no other acceptable candidates.
o Their work is voluntary and unpaid.
o Candidates to the position must reside in the region more than 50% of the year and they must be the membership contact of a LACNIC member organization or nominated by one such contact.
o PDP Chairs will each serve a two-year term, with one position up for renewal each year. PDP Chairs may only be re-elected for one consecutive term, but are eligible to run again after a one-year pause.
o Candidates must have been part of the Public Policy List for at least 6 months prior the start of the election process.
o In addition to their biographical information, candidate nominations must include specific information that allows assessing their contribution, participation and experience in the PDP.

3.2.3. About the election of the Chairs:
o Calls for nominations will be announced through the Public Policy List.
o Voting will be conducted electronically, using mechanisms to ensure, to the extent possible, that each voter can cast only one vote.
o Given that the voters registry consists of the subscribers to the Public Policy List, in order to avoid tampering, efforts will be made to keep participants who subscribe solely for the election process from participating in each election by limiting the voters registry to those who have subscribed at least six months prior to the start of said process.
o Any use of the list for electoral purposes, even by persons clearly supportive of a candidate, may result in their disqualification if there is evidence of collusion.
o If at any time during the process it is determined that there are sufficient indications of fraud, the candidate or candidates in question may be disqualified. If necessary, they may even invalidate the entire process and request that LACNIC repeat the process in its entirety, in which case a timeline will be set such that the timing of the election results will coincide as much as possible with the following Public Policy Forum.
o The election process begins with a call for candidates issued on the 1st day of the month three full months prior to the end of the term of the chair that is to cease in their position. This phase will remain open for 28 to 31 days, depending on the length of the particular month during which it takes place.
o LACNIC will communicate to the Public Policy List the names of those candidates that meet all the requirements and have been accepted, announcing where the candidates’ information will be published.
o A period of ten calendar days will then begin during which the community will be able to contribute relevant information on the candidates. If confirmed, this information will be published simultaneously for all candidates on the first working day following the end of the ten-day period. Based on such information, the Board may proceed to disqualify one or more candidates.
o Voting will begin on the first working Monday after the period specified above and will remain open for seven calendar days.
o A difference of less than 10% will be considered a tie. In this case, if there are more than two candidates, runoff voting among the two candidates with the highest number of votes will begin the following working Monday and will remain open for seven calendar days.
o LACNIC will immediately announce the results of the first voting round as well as those of the runoff vote if applicable.
o If any objections are raised by a member of the community, such objections must be communicated to the Board within seven calendar days of the announcement of the results. In this case, the Board will assess whether such objections are significant and have been proven. If no objections are raised, or if the Board decides not to consider such objections, it will proceed to ratify the winning candidate.
o Elected chairs will begin their term immediately after the closing of the next Public Policy Forum.
o If it were not possible to ratify a candidate, the LACNIC Board will appoint a chair to fill the vacant position until the following Public Policy Forum. The next time an election and ratification process can be held, the person elected will only fill the position for the remainder of the original term. This same mechanism will apply, if necessary, in case either of the chairs resigns before the end of their term or for any reason fails to meet their responsibilities.
o The LACNIC Board is the highest instance of appeal in matters relating to the election process.
o The Board of Directors may delegate its functions relate to the election process to a Fiscal Commission or its equivalent.

3.2.2. About the PDP Chairs
o
PDP Chairs may not be LACNIC staff.
o
The position is not compatible with other roles that are directly involved in the flow of the policy development process in any of its phases. If this were the case, the candidate's nomination must specify how they will solve this situation should they be elected. Thus, if they are elected, they will automatically cease in (or not take possession of, as the case may be) such incompatible positions, as specified in their nomination.
o
The Chairs may not be from the same company or from the same or related companies, except in exceptional cases where there are no other acceptable candidates.
o
Their work is voluntary and unpaid.
o
Ca To rundidates tfor the position must reside in the region more than 50% of the, year cand idathey must be the membership contact of a LACNIC member organization or nominated by onthe membersuchip contact of a LACNIC member organization.
o
PDP Chairs will each serve a two-year term, with one position up for renewal each year. PDP Chairs may only be re-elected for one consecutive term, but are eligible to run again after a period of at least one- year pause.
o
Candidates must have been part of the Public Policy List for at least 6 months prior the start of the election process.
o
In addition to their biographical information, candidate nominations must include specific information that allows assessing their contribution, participation and experience in the PDP.

3.2.3. About the election of the Chairs:
o
Calls for nominations will be announced through the Public Policy List.
o Voting will be conducted electronically, using mechanisms to ensure, to the extent possible, that each voter can cast only one vote.
o
Given that the voters registry consists of the subscribers to the Public Policy List, in order to avoid tampering, efforts will be made to keep participants who subscribe solely for the election process from participating in each election by limiting the voters registry to those who have subscribed at least six months prior to the start of said process.
o
Any use of the list for electoral purposes, even by persons clearly supportive of a candidate, may result in their disqualification if there is evidence of collusion.
o
If at any time during the process it is determined that there are sufficient indications of fraud, the candidate or candidates in question may be disqualified. If necessary, they may even invalidate the entire process and request that LACNIC repeat the process in its entirety, in which case a timeline will be set such that the timing of the election results will coincide as much as possible with the following Public Policy Forum.
o
The election process begins with a call for candidates issued on the 1st day of the month three full months prior to the end of the term of the chair that is to cease in their position. This phase will remain open for 28 to 31 days, depending on the length of the particular month during which it takes place.
o
LACNIC will communicate to the Public Policy List the names of those candidates that meet all the requirements and have been accepted, announcing where the candidates’ information will be published.
o
A period of ten calendar days will then begin during which the community will be able to contribute relevant information on the candidates. If confirmed, this information will be published simultaneously for all candidates on the first working day following the end of the ten-day period. Based on such information, the Board may proceed to disqualify one or more candidates.
o
Voting will begin on the first working Monday after the period specified above and will remain open for seven calendar days.
o
A difference of less than 10% will be considered a tie. In this case, if there are more than two candidates, runoff voting among the two candidates with the highest number of votes will begin the following working Monday and will remain open for seven calendar days.
o
LACNIC will immediately announce the results of the first voting round as well as those of the runoff vote if applicable.
o
If any objections are raised by a member of the community, such objections must be communicated to the Board within seven calendar days of the announcement of the results. In this case, the Board will assess whether such objections are significant and have been proven. If no objections are raised, or if the Board decides not to consider such objections, it will proceed to ratify the winning candidate.
o
E The elected chairs will begin their term immediately after the closing of the next Public Policy Forum.
o
If it were not possible to ratify a candidate, the LACNIC Board will appoint a chair to fill the vacant position until the following Public Policy Forum. The next time an election and ratification process can be held, the person elected will only fill the position for the remainder of the original term. This same mechanism will apply, if necessary, in case either of the chairs resigns before the end of their term or for any reason fails to meet their responsibilities.
o
The LACNIC Board is the highest instance of appeal in matters relating to the election process.
o
The Board of Directors may delegate its functions relate to the election process to a Fiscal Commission or its equivalent.

Additional information

Equivalent policies or procedures defined by the community for the same purpose also exist in the other regions. In the case of AfriNIC, candidate nominations are reviewed by a Nominations Committee (NomCom).
• https://www.afrinic.net/policy/development-working-group#election
In the case of APNIC, in order to be elected by the community, candidates must have specific knowledge and expertise, which varies for each specific working group.
• https://www.apnic.net/community/participate/sigs/sig-guidelines/chair-elections/
In the case of ARIN, instead of chairs, they have an “Advisory Council” (AC) whose members are elected through a NomCom that assesses candidates based on a set of skills as well as their expertise and prior participation, using a candidate qualification questionnaire
• https://www.arin.net/participate/oversight/elections/
• https://www.arin.net/participate/oversight/elections/procedures/

Equivalent policies or procedures defined by the community for the same purpose also exist in the other regions. In the case of AfriNIC, candidate nominations are reviewed by a Nominations Committee (NomCom).
• https://www.afrinic.net/policy/development-working-group#election

In the case of APNIC, in order to be elected by the community, candidates must have specific knowledge and expertise, which varies for each specific working group.
• https://www.apnic.net/community/participate/sigs/sig-guidelines/chair-elections/


In the case of ARIN, instead of chairs, they have an “Advisory Council” (AC) whose members are elected through a NomCom that assesses candidates based on a set of skills as well as their expertise and prior participation, using a candidate qualification questionnaire
• https://www.arin.net/participate/oversight/elections/
• https://www.arin.net/participate/oversight/elections/procedures/

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