Bootstoots has proposed a rule amendment that would count abstentions by teams in a vote on game rules as not being for or against a rule proposal. Currently, abstentions have the same effect as no votes. Here is the text of the rule proposal, with changes denoted in bold:
5.2.2 - Procedure

An existing rule may be amended or removed after successfully receiving a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of all remaining teams who choose to cast a vote for or against the amendment. which shall be defined as those teams still participating in the current games as well as those teams still eligible to compete in the final game.
This poll will be open for 48 hours. Votes for abstain will count as decisions for our team to abstain from voting, not to decide personally whether or not to abstain, unless the discussion thread on the matter decides otherwise.

The thread on this issue can be found here (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=126313).

EDIT: A new ruling has now made abstentions count neither for nor against a proposal. This proposal still stands, however.

I support this amendment, as an abstention should clearly not count the same as a no vote when the intention is obviously not to vote at all. Also, it gets rid of a section that has to do with the ISDG but has nothing to do with this game.

Hmm, a new ruling has come out. Abstentions now count neither for nor against the proposal. I'm keeping this poll open, but the amendment will make no practical difference for the time being (however, it will make the rules more clear).