Proposal to amend the SEEDIG Executive Committee ToR

November 2020

Proposed amendments

[Update] The proposed amendments are passed, with 19 votes ‘for’, and 0 votes ‘against’ or ‘abstaining’.

Building on the experience of the 2019 partial election process, and in line with art.8 of its Terms of Reference (ToR), the Executive Committee is proposing a series of amendments to its ToR.

The experience of the 2019 elections revealed some flaws in the ToR, which significantly delayed the election cycle and led to the restart of the whole election process as a result of an individual complaint. To avoid any similar situation in the future and to bring the ToR in compliance with the democratic and legally viable electoral procedures, the Executive Committee takes this opportunity to suggest the following amendments to the ToR.

Article 6.32, paragraph b is reviewed and reformulated as follows: b. If an objection is raised, the election committee shall review ~~it and provide a response~~ the provided rationale and respond within three (3) days. The election committee may: (1) accept the objection and revise the election results and proposed composition of the executive committee accordingly, or (2) reject the objection and provide a rationale for keeping the initially proposed composition of the executive committee. In any case, the decision taken by the election committee in response to the objection shall be considered as final and not subject to appeal.

Article 6.32, paragraphs c and d are removed. c. If no further objection is raised, the election committee shall announce the final election results and the composition of the executive committee.
d. If any additional objection is raised, the entire election process is re-initiated.

The revised Article 6.32 will read as follows: 6.32. A proposal made in line with Art. 6.31 shall be subject to review and approval by the SEEDIG community through the following mechanism:
a. Voting members of the SEEDIG community may file written motivated objections to the proposal within seven (7) days from the date when the proposal is announced. Objections may only be raised on procedural grounds and concern the fulfillment of the conditions provided in Art. 6.31. If no objection is filed within this timeline, the election committee shall announce the final election results.
b. If an objection is raised, the election committee shall review the provided rationale and respond within three (3) days. The election committee may: (1) accept the objection and revise the election results and proposed composition of the executive committee accordingly, or (2) reject the objection and provide a rationale for keeping the initially proposed composition of the executive committee. In any case, the decision taken by the election committee in response to the objection shall be considered as final and not subject to appeal.”

Decision making

Members of the SEEDIG community are invited to vote on the proposed amendments, by responding to this Doodle poll by the end of the day on Wednesday, 11 November 2020.

Please note that your name is required when expressing your option, as only community members included in the SEEDIG mailing list are allowed to participate in the voting (article 6.23 in the ToR applies mutatis mutandis). If you do not indicate your real name, your vote will not be considered.

The proposed amendments to the ToR will be considered as passed if supported by a simple majority of those voting.