Commons:Commons Photographers User Group/Board Elections
These are records of elections for the Commons Photographers User Group.
Board Election rules edit
The Commons Photographers User Group had its first election in 2021 with little documentation or organization. Anyone with ideas for rules should make proposals on the talk page.
The Wikimedia community develops best practices for managing elections and this election seeks to follow those precedents. To learn more about Wikimedia elections, join discussions on Meta-wiki or wherever Wikimedia community members are gathering.
Election stakes edit
This election is for seats on the board of the organization. The board's powers include the following:
- the power to represent the membership of the organization
- official communication channels for messaging members of the organization
- administering the use of the organization's resources
- publishing official reports
Election committee edit
The board confirms an election committee. The election committee operates independently of the board, and after appointment, should run a transparent Wikimedia-style community election. The election committee is responsible for the following:
- Confirming the voter registry, which is based on the organization's membership list
- Maintaining the election page to inform the membership of the election, rules, and results
- Counting votes
- Reporting the result
- Answering questions and resolving issues relating to the election
The committee should be at least two people. The expected labor total labor commitment for running an election is 2 hours per person. Following an election the coordinators should report their labor costs of administration.
Eligible voters edit
Organization members are the electorate. Each member gets one vote. Only members who are in good standing at the time of election confirmation are eligible to vote in the election. Anyone who wishes to vote but who is not eligible may apply for membership to vote in a future election.
Good standing includes the following:
- Valid Wikimedia account
- The ability to post to Wikimedia Commons on the day that the election begins
- Registered membership in this organization
Election nominees edit
To stand in the election, eligible voters may nominate themselves by editing the election page. Nominees should add a new sub topic titled with their name as they want it to appear on the ballot followed by their candidate profile. For typical Wikimedia community elections, successful candidates in the past have included the following:
- personal info and background relevant to the work of Wikimedia & photography
- Wikimedia & photography activities and major achievements;
- experience that might be relevant to this role;
- expertise / relevant governance experience;
- commitments that you can make to promote ethics, values, diversity, and inclusion;
- why you believe you are suitable to serve as a board member;
- any special areas / types of activities you would like to concentrate on while on the board.
Confirmation of candidates edit
Election nominees become election candidates after confirmation from the current board. This confirmation is a security practice which checks for the good standing of members. Verification includes checks that the organization identifies the candidate, that they are not under block or restriction, and may include other online safety practices which the Wikimedia community develops.
Voting format edit
This organization is relatively small and a simple election is sufficient.
Voters vote on the wiki election page which contains a list of the confirmed candidates. Voters may vote for any number of them. The election winners are those with the most votes. The "ballot" space is shared, and voters cast their vote by signing their wiki signature in support of candidates as is common in other Wikimedia voting and !voting processes.
The election results report the number of votes received and the total count of votes for each candidate. Optionally report additional information, such as intentionally spoiled ballots, improperly cast ballots, or whatever else seems useful given the current technology in use.
Election period edit
Eligible voters may cast ballots for eligible candidates during the election period.
Scrutiny of ballots edit
The election committee manages the election on wiki. Features which are part of the voting include the following:
- Users cast votes while logged into their Wikimedia accounts
- The election committee confirms the validity of ballots
- The election committee generates a report at end of election
- As the process is transparency, anyone who can access the election page has the option to scrutinize ballots and post comments
Regardless of election security, all elections will have unanticipated events and odd outcomes. By default the election committee will interpret ballots as they are. If and when the committee identifies odd outcomes, they will bring this information to the community for discussion and interpretation.
Confirmation of results edit
The election committee will report the results of the election to the board first. Ideally, the election committee and the board will co-report election results, but in case of dispute or delay, the election committee may independently report results. The board has final say in mediating disputes and confirming election results.
Candidate confirmation edit
Following the reporting of results the board will make an offer of board appointment to elected candidates. After appointment, those organization members become board trustees.