Main Page/Governance
Contents
LFP governance documents
Mission and core values
Membership
Voting
Voting procedures
Most decisions in LFP happen via rough consensus. When deciding on bigger things like organizational endorsements, or if a member (plus a second) asks that a decision be put to a vote, we use the following voting structure.
Voting takes place on the main LFP listserv. Someone introduces a subject to be voted on, and there are two weeks for discussion and consensus building. This time period can be extended with an LFP member and a second asking for more time. After the discussion period has completed, there is one week for voting, and a form for voting is distributed to the group. Here is a template for voting that we should adapt for our own use: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSest2OkaEGEq__BrB7ycrVy19PY9zG97HAHBPG46wsBeOjBZQ/viewform
Votes take place using a "Fist to Five" voting method.
Fist to Five is accomplished by raising hands as in voting, with the number of fingers raised that indicates level of agreement.
- A fist means, "Block"
- 1 finger means, “I see major problems with this that must be resolved before I would go along."
- 2 fingers means “I see minor problems that need to be resolved before I go along.”
- 3 fingers means, “I see minor problems that can be resolved later.”
- 4 fingers means, “I am fine with this.”
- 5 fingers means, “I fully support and would champion this.”
Measures will pass when the majority of respondents vote between 3 and 5. Any 0 votes mean that a measure will not proceed. Any 1-2 votes mean that more discussion is needed.
There is also a caveat that if you block or postpone a decision (0, 1, or 2) you must provide reasonable solutions or alternatives. This might not be as relevant for simple yes/no decisions, but I think it is handy for more complex ones.
Non-votes will be recorded as absentions.
