------------------------------------------------------------------------ Update election procedures in the SIG Guidelines ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposers: Bertrand Cherrier (b.cherrier@mynet.nc) Joy Chan (joychan@twnic.tw) 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/