Hi Owen,

> Given that the none-of-the-above option has been removed from AfriNIC 
> elections, should not the NomCom have a mandate to seek at least two 
> candidates for any position before declaring a final slate?
> 
> Otherwise, this basically gives the NomCom the authority to appoint members 
> of the governance committee (and other bodies such as the board).

And this build down to: the current "election" is not an election by any 
definition. I looked up the words in Merriam-Webster 
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/election):

Definition of election
1a: an act or process of electing
1b: the fact of being elected
2: predestination to eternal life
3: the right, power, or privilege of making a choice

I don't think definition 2 is applicable here. The definitions applicable to 
the current situation are 1a and 3.

Looking a bit further down that page we see:

CHOICE, OPTION, ALTERNATIVE, PREFERENCE, SELECTION, ELECTION mean the act or 
opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen. CHOICE suggests the opportunity or 
privilege of choosing freely. OPTION implies a power to choose that is 
specifically granted or guaranteed. ALTERNATIVE implies a need to choose one 
and reject another possibility. PREFERENCE suggests a choice guided by one's 
judgment or predilections. SELECTION implies a range of choice. ELECTION 
implies an end or purpose which requires exercise of judgment.

All of the applicable definitions require the ability (right) to freely choose. 
When there is no choice, there is no election.

Cheers,
Sander

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