Dear colleagues,
Please note that a proposal to change the APNIC SIG Guidelines will be
discussed at APNIC 55 in Manila, Philippines on 28 February 2023.
The proposal will be presented at a Joint SIGs meeting for community
input and support. If agreed, the new document will be circulated for
an Editorial Draft comment period following APNIC 55.
Please find the proposal text below.
The current SIG Guidelines are available here:
https://www.apnic.net/community/participate/sigs/sig-guidelines/
We encourage you to express your views regarding the proposed changes on
the mailing list and/or at the Joint SIGs meeting.
Kind regards,
Joy and Bertrand
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Update election procedures in the SIG Guidelines
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Proposers: Bertrand Cherrier ([email protected])
Joy Chan ([email protected])
1. Problem statement
--------------------
During the community elections held at APNIC 54, anomalies were observed
in the conference registration list and in patterns of online
participation. An analysis of the data showed there was no impact on the
APNIC 54 SIG elections. However, APNIC 54 registration and attendance
data did indicate significant potential for manipulation of the existing
rules and procedures in future elections.
A copy of the election analysis report is available:
https://blog.apnic.net/wp-
content/uploads/2022/10/APNIC54-Election-report.pdf
A high number (291) of questionable registrations from a single
organisation was notable, as the suspect registrations will be entitled
to vote in future elections, under current rules. This may be
interpreted as a manipulation of the election rules, in an attempt to
dominate future elections.
The implications are significant. SIG elections normally attract 50-100
votes; therefore an organised voting bloc of 250+ would determine
election results in future.
The difficulty of confirming the identities of voters indicates a
further vulnerability to SIG elections. Prior to online elections, all
SIG voting was in-person at a conference so voter identities could be
confirmed.
2. Objective of policy change
-----------------------------
To ensure the integrity of APNIC SIG elections.
3. Situation in other regions
-----------------------------
Following are links to the election processes for similar roles in other
RIR regions. Each region uses a different method for electing or
appointing community representatives.
AFRINIC Policy Development Working Group:
https://afrinic.net/policy/development-working-group#selection
ARIN Advisory Council:
https://www.arin.net/participate/oversight/elections/processes/
LACNIC Public Policy Forum Chairs:
https://www.lacnic.net/736/2/lacnic/process-and-requerimentos-for-the-
elections-of-the-public-policy-forum
RIPE WG Chairs: https://www.ripe.net/publications/docs/ripe-692
4. Proposed solution
--------------------
The SIG Guidelines document the procedures for SIG elections:
https://www.apnic.net/community/participate/sigs/sig-guidelines/#
_Toc70085862
Replace sections 3.3, 3.4, 3.4.1, 3.4.3, 3.4.5, and 3.7 in the SIG
Guidelines with the following text:
3.3 Criteria for election If more than one nomination is received by the
closure date, an election must be held. If there is only one candidate,
the candidate will be elected via acclamation in the SIG meeting room.
3.4 Election procedures Elections will use the same online voting system
as APNIC EC and NRO NC elections.
3.4.1 Nominations
- Nominations are managed by the APNIC Secretariat.
- Nominees must reside within the Asia Pacific service region. Staff
members of any Regional Internet Registry (RIR) are ineligible for
nomination.
- Individuals cannot hold more than one elected position
(EC, SIG, or NRO NC). Those who are elected to a new position must
resign from any other currently held EC, SIG or NRO NC position as soon
as practicable but no later than 30 days following the election.
- Self-nominations are permitted.
- Nominees must meet the same eligibility criteria as the voters in
Section 3.4.3
- Nominees will be invited to provide a recorded video ëcandidate
statementí to be published on the conference website.
3.4.3 Voting eligibility
Each APNIC Member organization is entitled to cast one vote during the
times noted in the SIG election timetable. Online voting entitlements
for Member organizations are only available to those individuals who
are:
- Corporate Contacts, or
- Authorized contacts with voting rights given by the Corporate Contact.
In-person attendees at APNIC conferences are also eligible to vote in SIG
elections. A conference attendee must meet the following criteria to
vote:
1. Registered and attending the current conference in person. The
attendee must be checked-in at the registration desk at any time from
the start of the conference until 10.00am (conference local time) on the
final day of the conference.
2. Registered and attended (in-person or online) at least one of the
immediate past eight (8) APRICOT or APNIC standalone conferences (not
including the current conference). Eligible registered attendees will
vote online in the SIG elections and will be entitled to one vote each.
Verification of an individualís entitlement to vote against official
records will be used where necessary. There is no proxy voting at SIG
elections. APNIC staff and other RIR staff are ineligible to vote.
3.4.5 Voting period
Online voting for APNIC Members and eligible registered conference
attendees will open two (2) hours after the start of the APNIC
conference and will close at the end of the lunch break on the last day
of the APNIC conference (before the start of the AMM).
3.7 Removing a Chair or Co-Chair
If a SIG Chair or Co-Chair does not attend one in every two APNIC
Conferences and does not attend the SIG forum held at the APNIC
Conference, the APNIC EC will have discretion to remove the Chair or
Co-Chair from their role. The process of electing a replacement will
then begin.
If SIG members do not think that the Chair or Co-Chair is sufficiently
performing their duties (as described in Sections 2.3, 2.3.1 and 2.3.2),
they can express their concerns on the mailing list or in the OPM or SIG
forum. If there is consensus that the Chair or Co-Chair is not
sufficiently performing their responsibilities, the Chair or Co-Chair
will be removed by the APNIC EC. The process of electing a replacement
will then begin.
If an individual holds more than one elected position and does not
resign in accordance with section 3.4.1 within 30 days of their
election, the APNIC EC has discretion to remove the individual from
their elected positions/s (excluding the position for which they were
most recently elected).
5. Advantages / Disadvantages
-----------------------------
Advantages:
- Allows verification of conferences attendees as real people who are
eligible to vote
- Ensures individuals cannot hold multiple community-elected positions
to avoid 'capture' of community roles
- Clarifies who is responsible for the removal of a Chair or Co-Chair.
Disadvantages:
- Online-only conference participants who are not Members are ineligible
to vote.
6. Impact on resource holders
-----------------------------
None.
7. References
-------------
APNIC SIG Guidelines:
https://www.apnic.net/community/participate/sigs/sig-guidelines/
_______________________________________________
sig-policy - https://mailman.apnic.net/[email protected]/
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