Poll Procedures

[Cyc]

Phoenatica is based on a Democracy in which its citizens steer the direction of the Government with poll results. These polls have been the key to our structure as a society, involving everything from moral debates to accounting procedures. The good and the bad, the fun and the dull, the horrific and the rewarding, these polls are all a necessary part of the game.

Lately they have been the topic of debate, as no policy has ever been established on the procedures governing polls. After fevered and controversial torrent about the way a poll should be approached and what makes a poll valid, the time to discuss this important subject is at hand.

At this time, no real proposals have been brought forward, although I have made quite a few suggestions. If we, as a nation, can agree on a fairly simple rule about what is required for a poll and what does a poll require us to do, then the problem will be initially resolved. This rule should be entered into the constitution as an amendment, approved by the Cabinet. This does not mean that the rule cannot be altered in the future by another discussion/poll/Cabinet vote. Our citizens may find a better path to take in creating polls. But let us start now, with a discussion.

IMO, a poll should be preceded by a discussion thread with the same heading or title as the poll. This discussion thread should not only originate but also be completed in its entirety in the same sub-forum as the poll. The discussion thread does not have a maximum length attached to it, but would have a minimum length of 24 hours. After 24 hours any citizen can post at the bottom of the discussion thread a request for a poll. If that request receives a second from another citizen, then that discussion can create a poll. The discussion creates the poll, not the person requesting a poll. The person requesting a poll can be the one to physically draw the poll up and list the options or they can request that some one else do it for them. Using decent ethics may require a discussion to be started between 1400 GMT and 0500 GMT. That point is very debatable, but would allow most citizens to become aware of the discussion and participate in it. Once the creation of the poll was seconded, it would be created with the same heading and in the same sub-forum as the discussion thread. The poll would list unbiased all the options discussed or brought forward in the discussion thread. If a poll comes under criticism because it did not adhere to the standards, then any citizen can request a moderator to close the poll if it is deemed unconstitutional.

This is only my proposal and the entire subject is up for discussion. Please join in.

 

[Immortal]

Originally posted by Cyc
After 24 hours any citizen can post at the bottom of the discussion thread a request for a poll. If that request receives a second from another citizen, then that discussion can create a poll. The discussion creates the poll, not the person requesting a poll. The person requesting a poll can be the one to physically draw the poll up and list the options or they can request that some one else do it for them.

Sound resoning Cyc, I commend you, I suggest the above be handled by the councilmembers, as this falls under their specifications. Starting polls on citizen issues (in fact, this is 33% of our job)

 

[Cyc]

Immortal, I would say almost all of our polls are started by Government Officials other than the At Large Council Members. This rule should (or would) apply to all Leader/Department sponsored polls. It may be applied in regular citizen polls as well but, should be aimed at any Government sponsored polls. If you are a Leader you are still a citizen, so you could claim immunity from this rule, but as a Govrnment Offical, you would still be bound by it.

 

[chiefpaco]

How well will the enforced times work with our 48 hour chat turnaround? Will any decisions be able to be made between rounds?

Your reasoning is otherwise sound. Discussion before polls is a critical part of democracy, IMO. How can we make it more practical?

I'd like to add if the participants in the discussion thread are unaminous, then a poll should not be enforced, but I wonder who would request a poll if everyone agreed.

Lastly, not all polls should be bound to discussion, as I think you accounted for. Opinion polls and other non-binding polls need not have discussion, as they serve other purposes.

 

[Shaitan]

A portion of Cyc's suggestion was already added to the constitution. Specifically, citizens can call a poll if at least 3 support it (Proposal, Seconded, Carried rule).

I think that discussion is almost always desired. I think that requiring it is wrong and restrictive. Some things need to be discussed, some don't. This is a judgement call in each and every circumstance. Sometimes the need for a speedy resolution plays a factor as well. Making a rule that essentially forbids any reaction to a turn chat before the next turn chat is foolish in my opinion.

 

[eyrei]

I would agree to Cyc's suggestion if we spread out the time between turns to three days rather than two. With a requirement of 24 hours for discussion, and then 48 hours for the poll, no decision based on information from the previous turns would be able to be made before the next one.

 

[donsig]

I would also like to point out that some things can be worked out to a general consensus through discussion without polling.

 

[disorganizer]

as the "where are our citizens" poll showed, the average time for our active citizens to go for polls is 48 hours! after 48h only the no-votes changed, but almost no yes-votes came to it... the time for discussion and also for voting would be 2 days, which leads us to a minimum of 4 days between chat-turns!
the 2-day schedule can only be obtained when critical vote could be directly posted.

 

[Shaitan]

This discussion seems to have died. I think this may be because discussion elsewhere has put the status of the turn chat itself into limbo and the time taken between turns is being debated. Should this discussion be put into limbo until the other items are resolved?

 

[Cyc]

I'd like to suggest one standard that I believe is small but important and can be discussed regardless of the outcome of the chat discussions/polls.

Start times and finish times should always be listed on the introductory/explanation post of each poll. This way all citizens who look at the poll know these times immediately and can then use this info in deciding how to vote. I know basic start times are listed in the left hand corner of the post, but I still think the official start time is important enough to be listed as well. It would help in eliminating mistakes.

 

[Shaitan]

Originally posted by Cyc
I'd like to suggest one standard that I believe is small but important and can be discussed regardless of the outcome of the chat discussions/polls.

Start times and finish times should always be listed on the introductory/explanation post of each poll. This way all citizens who look at the poll know these times immediately and can then use this info in deciding how to vote. I know basic start times are listed in the left hand corner of the post, but I still think the official start time is important enough to be listed as well. It would help in eliminating mistakes.

Excellent idea! Especially the end times as there's no way to know that unless you posted it or you are a Mod. I'll definitely start doing this immediately.

 

[Cyc]

I believe Poll Procedures should be an official standard and not something we try to abide by. All polls should adhere to a basic code. That way the citizens know what to expect each time they see a poll. Because they are protected by their Leaders sanctioning this code of ethics, it takes off a lot of extra wieght in the voting process. Having no standards formalized will allow anyone to deceive the public with misinformation and then demand a vote. I wonder why the people in charge don't want any rules to govern them....

 

[Shaitan]

Originally posted by Cyc
I wonder why the people in charge don't want any rules to govern them....

That's an inflamatory and outrageously incorrect statement, Cyc. Compare our original Constitution to the current one and add in all of the work in process. Then, try to explain why you would spout such vitriol.

 

[Shaitan]

The first poll on poll procedures is posted here.

Items being polled are:

• Polls posted by officials are considered binding unless they are specifically noted to be informational only in the Title and Body of the poll.
• When a discussion thread has led to a poll, the poll should reference back (hyperlink) to the discussion.
• The closing date of the poll should be noted in the poll post.