Proposed Poll Standards Reform

A.	The following criteria are required for a poll to be binding: 
	1.	Quorum levels must be met.
		a.	Quorum for polls is 1/3 of the active census within the
			first 24 hours or;
		b.	1/2 of the active census after the first 24 hours.
	2.	Approval levels must be achieved.
		a.	In the first 24 hours a super plurality is required.
			1.	To "win" the poll in the first 24 hours, a
				category must receive at least double the
				votes received by the next highest choice.
		b.	After the first 24 hours a simple plurality is
			required.
		c.	If "Abstain" ever holds equality or plurality at the 
			end of a poll, the poll is not binding. 
B.	The following criteria are required for a poll to be valid:
	1.	Discussion thread open for 24 hours, minimum.
	2.	Poll type in the header and first post. 
	3.	Poll end dates/times noted in the first post. 
		a.	End dates/times can be conditional. (Example: 
			poll ends at the beginning of the next chat turn) 
	4.	Link to relevant discussion threads in the first post. 
	5.	Inclusion of an "Abstain" option. 
	6.	Link to the poll in the Poll Registry.
C.	The following criteria are preferred for all polls:
	1.	Proposed poll, up for 24 hours minimum.
	2.	Poll posted with link from discussion thread. 
	3.	Poll duration minimum of 24 hours (48 hours plus is 
		preferred). 
		a.	If the poll runs into the weekend it is advised 
			that the duration be extended by 24 hours for 
			each weekend day. Forum participation is much 
			lower on the weekends. 
	4.	Link to the poll in the appropriate Department thread.
	5.	Participation requirement (quorum needed) noted in the 
		first post.
D.	Information polls - Do not have restrictions and cannot be used 
	to justify policy, plans or actions. 
	1.	All polls posted by Leaders are considered Official unless 
		specifically noted to be informational in the header and 
		first post.

Old:	Two types of official polls, Standard and Quick.
New:	One type of official poll. Criteria for the poll to be
	binding changes after 24 hours. This lets a poll finish
	faster if it has good support from the populace.

Old:	24 hour discussion, 24 hour pre-poll, 48 hour poll. 
	Minimum of 96 hours for a full poll to progress legally.
New:	24 hour discussion. Poll can end as soon as it reaches
	quorum.

Old:	No requirement to make the poll generally known. "Stealth"
	polls are quite possible.
New:	Polls must be advertised in the Poll Registry. Ensures 
	that a citizen must only subscribe to one thread to be
	notified when any poll is posted.

Old:	Quick Poll required 1/3 census. Results like 4/3/3 (Yes,
	No, Abstain) could pass in 24 hours.
New:	Super plurality required in first 24 hours. The winning
	choice must have double the support of the second choice.
	This allows a popular proposal to be quickly endorsed
	while preventing marginally supported ones from being
	adopted prematurely.

Old:	An unpopular poll could force a bad decision. With 2 bad
	choices, plus Abstain, one of the bad choices would win.
New:	Any poll where Abstain ties or wins is now a voided poll.

Old:	Wishy-washy terms like "should" caused confusion and
	attempts at getting around the procedures.
New:	All wishy-washy terms have been removed.

1.	A poll is not valid unless a quorum of participation has been reached. 
2.	All polls should have the following information: 
	A.	Poll type in the header and first post. 
	B.	Poll start and end dates/times in the first post. 
		1.	End dates/times can be conditional. (Example: poll ends
			at the beginning of the next chat turn) 
	C.	Link to relevant discussion threads in the first post. 
	D.	Inclusion of an "Abstain" option. 
3.	Official polls 
	A.	Quorum level is 1/2 of the active census. 
	B.	Poll should proceed as follows: 
		1.	Discussion thread, up for 24 hours minimum (48 hours 
			plus is preferred). Then, 
		2.	Proposed poll, up for 24 hours minimum. Then, 
		3.	Poll posted with link from discussion thread. 
		4.	Poll duration is a minimum of 24 hours (48 hours plus
			is preferred). 
			a.	If the poll runs into the weekend it is advised
				that the duration be extended by 24 hours for 
				each weekend day. Forum participation is much 
				lower on the weekends. 
		5.	Link to the poll in the Poll Registry and/or Department 
				Thread (if appropriate). 
4.	Quick polls - When topic discussion is unwarranted or poll procedures 
	cannot be maintained due to time constraints, a quick poll may be used. 
	A.	Quick polls do not have to follow the time conditions of Official
		Polls. 
	B.	Quorum level is 1/3 of the active census. 
	C.	Results may be used to make temporary changes or specific, one 
		time decisions. They may not be used to make permanent article or
		law changes. 
		1.	The specific action item must be noted. 
		2.	The action item must be applicable to the upcoming turn
			chat. 
		3.	The action item should be instantaneous or 
			reversible/correctable. 
			a.	Examples of items that meet the criteria are: 
				i.	City name change 
				ii.	Change of tiles worked in a city 
				iii.	Tile development 
				iv.	Purchasing a technology 
				v.	Upgrading troops 
				vi.	Changing a build queue 
			b.	Examples of items that would not meet the criteria
				are: 
				i.	Deals with a duration (resources or 
					gold/turn involved) 
				ii.	Declaration of war 
				iii.	Disbanding troops 
		4.	These actions may be reversed, changed or overruled by any 
			subsequent Official Poll. 
		5.	Information polls - Do not have restrictions and cannot be 
			used to justify policy, plans or actions. 
			A.	All polls posted by Leaders are considered Official 
				unless specifically noted to be informational in the 
				header and first post.