[EC-NCSG] Statement from All Previous NCSG EC Chairs: Clarification of NCSG's Longstanding Interpretation of NOTA

[Tapani Tarvainen]

Dear predecessors,

Thank you for the explanation.

Your recollection does not quite match mine. But, my memory
being fallible, I dug into past records.

In 2011, election was run by Avri. I haven't found the actual ballot,
but list discussion indicates NOTA was present - but interpreted, by
Avri, essentially as I did now (the number of seats was different):

"In the case of the g-council vote, the decision is to pick the top 4
people. So if 'none of the above' comes in in any of the top 4 places,
I suggest that it just gets skipped and the top 4 vote getters become
the g-council representative."

http://listserv.syr.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind1110&L=ncsg-discuss&D=0&P=115980

That is so far the only statement I've found by a Chair running the
election that takes an explicit stand on the issue at hand.

In 2012 the ballot, run by Robin, was substantially different:
candidates were explicitly selected by region, with separate NOTA for
each. No explanation seems to have been offered as to what NOTA means.
(I can't now find the ballot in the web, only in my personal mail
archive.)

In 2013 ballot was again run by Robin, this time with similar style as
today with a common pool of council candidates, but there was no NOTA
option at all.

http://listserv.syr.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A3=ind1310&L=NCSG-DISCUSS&E=base64&P=1735682&B=--Apple-Mail%3D_BE8CECBD-76B4-4895-954A-1A242E2FEF7E&T=application%2Fpdf;%20name=%22NCSG%20Election%20results%20October%202013.pdf%22&N=NCSG%20Election%20results%20October%202013.pdf&XSS=3

In 2014, run by Rafik, there was one common NOTA for all council
candidates, but no mention of it in the instructions.

http://listserv.syr.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind1409&L=ncsg-discuss&F=&S=&X=31BCBB9C87C143B93B&P=1055

In 2015, again by Rafik, similar to 2014, except this time NOTA was
mentioned in his instructions - but without any explanation as to how
it would be treated, only stating that 'In each list (Chair, GNSO
councillors), you will also find the "none of the above" option.'

http://listserv.syr.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind1509&L=ncsg-discuss&F=&S=&X=24E79EEDA4AE17FE9E&P=5880

I have not read all past discussions, but on the basis of above it seems
to me the history is not quite as straightforward as you state.

-- 
Tapani Tarvainen


On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 09:58:26PM -0700, Robin Gross (robin at ipjustice.org) wrote:

> Dear Tapani,
> 
> We write to you as the 3 previous chairs of the NCSG Executive Committee out of concern for the new interpretation you provided to the membership today for the phrase ?None of The Above? (NOTA) in NCSG?s annual election process.
> 
> As all previous NCSG Executive Committee Chairs, and as those who were each involved in the drafting of NCSG?s Charter and the administration of every election NCSG has ever held under it, we feel the need to clarify how NCSG has always interpreted NOTA in our elections.
> 
> Every candidate stands against NOTA because we intended for each candidate to engage in a meaningful and honest democratic election, irrespective of the number of candidates running for a position.  Those candidates who receive less votes than NOTA are not elected for the position as there was insufficient support demonstrated for such a candidate.  NCSG elections have never been intended to be merely ??symbolic? gestures with members having no real opportunity to reject each and every candidate in an election.
> 
> Your emails to the list today on this topic caused us great concern as they seemed to contradict NCSG?s longstanding election practice and interpretation of NOTA by implying NCSG members have no opportunity to vote for or against each and every candidate. 
> 
> We hope this statement clarifies your previous misunderstanding of the meaning of NOTA and helps to reinstate NCSG members? democratic rights to accept or reject every candidate who stands for election.
> 
> Thank you,
> Avri Doria (NCSG EC Chair 2011-12) 
> Robin Gross (NCSG EC Chair 2012-14)
> Rafik Dammak (NCSG EC Chair 2014-15)