RFC 3: PSC Voting Procedures

Author: GRASS PSC

Contact: ​grass-psc AT lists.osgeo.org

Status: Adopted (6 Oct 2014)

Introduction

In brief, the PSC members vote on proposals on the dedicated ​GRASS-PSC mailing list. Proposals are available for review for at least seven calendar days, and a single veto is sufficient to delay progress although ultimately a majority of committee members can pass a proposal.

Detailed Process

Proposals:

1. Proposals are written up and submitted on the PSC mailing list for discussion. Any committee member may call a vote on any proposal, although it is normal practice for the proposer to call the vote. Any interested party may subscribe to the list and join the discussion, but only committee members including the PSC Chair get a vote ("eligible voters").
2. Proposals are available for review for at least seven calendar days before a vote can be closed. It is acknowledged that some more complex issues may require more time for discussion and deliberation: a vote should only be closed after the minimum time period (see above) has passed and sufficient discussion has taken place, or no more progress is being made. The PSC Chair may override this and prolong the discussion period or close a vote straight away if necessary (although the minimum time period for discussion/voting always applies).

Voting:

1. A voting procedure is started by the proposer. For a more visible communication, the word [MOTION] should be put into the subject of the email to the ​GRASS-PSC mailing list along with a short title.
2. Respondents may vote "+1" to indicate support for the proposal and a willingness to support implementation.
3. Respondents may vote "-1" to veto a proposal, but must provide clear reasoning and alternative approaches to resolving the problem within the period the issue is open for discussion/voting. Otherwise the veto will be considered invalid.
4. A vote of -0 indicates mild disagreement, but has no effect. A 0 indicates no opinion. A +0 indicate mild support, but has no effect.
5. A proposal will be accepted if it receives majority (51% of all eligible voters including the proposer) of votes (+1) and no vetoes (-1).
6. The committee member who called the vote (normally the proposer) is responsible for collating votes and presenting the result to the PSC after closing the vote.
7. The Chair adjudicates in cases of disputes over voting.
8. If a proposal is vetoed, and it cannot be revised to satisfy all parties, then it can be resubmitted for an override vote in which a majority of all eligible voters indicating +1 is sufficient to pass it. Note that this is a majority of all eligible voters, not just those who actively vote.