Voting Procedures

This document outlines the voting procedures for community decisions that require formal consensus.

When Voting is Required

Mandatory Voting Scenarios

  • Platform Changes: Major service additions or removals
  • Policy Updates: Changes to community guidelines or code of conduct
  • Resource Allocation: Significant budget or infrastructure decisions
  • Governance Changes: Modifications to decision-making processes
  • Administrative Actions: Appointment or removal of moderators/administrators

Advisory Voting

  • Feature Requests: Community input on new capabilities
  • Event Planning: Organizing community activities
  • Content Policies: Guidelines for specific services
  • Technical Decisions: Input on technical implementation choices

Voting Methods

Matrix Room Voting

  • Platform: Community Matrix room
  • Duration: 72 hours minimum
  • Quorum: 10% of active community members
  • Notification: 48-hour advance notice required

Forum Voting

  • Platform: Community Lemmy instance
  • Duration: 1 week for major decisions
  • Visibility: Pinned posts for important votes
  • Discussion: Structured debate before voting

Emergency Voting

  • Criteria: Security issues, service outages, urgent policy needs
  • Duration: 24 hours minimum
  • Platform: Matrix room for immediate response
  • Ratification: Must be ratified in standard vote within 1 week

Voting Process

1. Proposal Phase

  • Submission: Any community member can submit proposals
  • Review: 48-hour review period for clarification
  • Refinement: Proposal may be modified based on feedback
  • Finalization: Final proposal posted for voting

2. Voting Phase

  • Announcement: Clear notification across all platforms
  • Options: Yes/No/Abstain for simple decisions
  • Ranked Choice: Multiple options for complex decisions
  • Transparency: All votes visible to community

3. Results Phase

  • Counting: Automated where possible, manual verification
  • Announcement: Results posted within 24 hours
  • Implementation: Timeline for decision implementation
  • Appeal Process: 48-hour period for challenging results

Voting Rights

Eligible Voters

  • Active Members: Regular participation in community platforms
  • Account Age: Minimum 30 days in community
  • Good Standing: No recent violations of community guidelines
  • Identity Verification: Confirmed community member

Voting Power

  • Equal Voice: One vote per community member
  • No Weighted Votes: Equal participation regardless of technical contribution
  • Transparent Process: All eligible voters clearly identified
  • Inclusive Approach: Effort to ensure all voices are heard

Special Voting Procedures

Constitutional Changes

  • Supermajority: 67% approval required
  • Extended Period: 2-week voting window
  • Community Input: Town hall meetings before voting
  • Implementation Delay: 30-day implementation period

Budget Decisions

  • Transparency: Full budget disclosure required
  • Options: Multiple budget proposals when applicable
  • Oversight: Regular budget review votes
  • Community Benefit: Priority for community-serving expenses

Technical Infrastructure

  • Expert Input: Technical advisory committee recommendations
  • Risk Assessment: Security and privacy impact evaluation
  • Rollback Plan: Contingency plans for technical changes
  • Testing Phase: Pilot programs before full implementation

Voting Security

Ballot Integrity

  • Verification: Cryptographic signatures where possible
  • Audit Trail: Complete voting record maintained
  • Privacy Protection: Anonymous voting with verification
  • Fraud Prevention: Multiple safeguards against manipulation

Dispute Resolution

  • Challenge Process: Clear procedure for challenging results
  • Review Committee: Neutral parties to review disputes
  • Transparency: Open process for resolving voting disputes
  • Final Authority: Community decision on disputed results

Digital Voting Tools

Current Platforms

  • Matrix: Real-time discussion and simple voting
  • Lemmy: Structured proposals and longer-term voting
  • Future Tools: Dedicated voting platforms under consideration

Voting Bot Features

  • Automated Counting: Reduce human error in vote tallying
  • Reminder System: Notifications for upcoming votes
  • Result Tracking: Historical voting record maintenance
  • Access Control: Ensure only eligible voters participate

Participation Encouragement

Community Engagement

  • Education: Voting importance and process education
  • Accessibility: Multiple ways to participate in voting
  • Feedback: Post-vote feedback collection
  • Recognition: Acknowledgment of active community participation

Removing Barriers

  • Multilingual: Translation support for non-English speakers
  • Accessibility: Support for community members with disabilities
  • Time Zones: Voting periods accommodate global community
  • Technical Support: Help with voting platform usage

Remember: Voting is a privilege and responsibility. Every vote helps shape our community's future and maintain our commitment to democratic governance.