[rpd] Policy Proposal: PDP Working Group (WG) Guidelines and Procedures

[Owen DeLong]

> On Aug 28, 2020, at 11:16 AM, ALAIN AINA via RPD <rpd at afrinic.net> wrote:

> 

> Hello,

> 

> Below are our  responses to  last comments received on list on this proposal. 

> 

> 

> ###### Comment 1

> Elections by consent is not for real world. 

> #######

> 

> It does work for working groups chairs selection in RIPE region 


I’d argue that the WGs in RIPE are far less contentions and drama-prone than AFRINIC.

It has, also, shown its limits on occasion there.


> ##### Comment 2

> It's just something too utopic.

> #######

> 

> As  utopic as  how “rough consensus” appear until you experiment it and cherish


Sorry, unable to parse that…

The idea that AfriNIC would come to consensus on co-chair candidates when we couldn’t even come to consensus for several hours on how to elect them at the last in-person meeting strikes me as, well, let’s say optimistic at best, since you don’t like utopia.

> 

> ###### Comment3

> Election by vote where qualified people (with minimal requirements) vote and the candidate with the highest votes win, works in most places in the world with less margin  for further disputes

> ######

> 

> there are many models of elections with different ways of qualifying voters, determining the winners, etc....

> What you described is just one the them. Not one fits all.

> 

> Each  region adopts the best model for its PDP and how chairs/lead for the PDP activities are selected.

> https://www.apnic.net/community/participate/sigs/sig-guidelines/chair-elections/rir-comparison-table/


And we are discussing what would be the best model for AFRINIC here. I do not believe that a consensus model for electing co-chairs would be functional for AFRNIIC, at least not at this time.

As such, IMHO, either an instant runoff ranked-choice or first past the post model is, IMHO, the best choice here.


> Can you please elaborate on how the “qualified people” should be selected in the context the PDPWG for the online voting and how to prevent abuse and further disputes?


I would say that it should be limited to those who have subscribed to RPD list no later than some appropriate cutoff. (e.g. board selected some time in June for the upcoming meeting).

Owen