diff --git a/rfcs/0000-voting-majority.md b/rfcs/0000-voting-majority.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ea6916a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/rfcs/0000-voting-majority.md @@ -0,0 +1,97 @@ +# Summary +[summary]: #summary + +This RFC proposes updating our voting guidelines to make it easier for +uncontroversial proposals to be accepted as the number of members in +the working group grows. Specifically, the number of approving votes +required will remain 50% of the members for one week, then be decreased +to 33% for two weeks, and then if no concerns only two approvals by members +other than the proposer are required for acceptance. + +Considerations are also made for notifying working group members of +outstanding voting issues. + +# Motivation +[motivation]: #motivation + +Currently we require a [voting majority](https://github.com/rust-embedded/wg/blob/master/rfcs/0136-teams.md#voting-majority) +consisting of more approvals than abstensions and zero unresolved concerns. +In other words, we currently require approval from more than 50% of the +current membership of the concerned team. + +At present several issues have been difficult to pass, not because of any +concerns raised but because our membership has grown and therefore so too has +the number of required votes. See for example issues #172, #187, #190. + +Several members have commented that they do not want their lack of voting +to block an issue, but they are just not interested in every outstanding +issue or do not have time to give them all detailed consideration. + +We would like to be able to pass sub-group and working-group votes quickly +where they are reasonably uncontroversial, without having to chase up many +members to give a perfunctory vote. + +# Detailed design +[design]: #detailed-design + +## Majority + +For the first week after an issue is opened, the current 50% threshold remains +in place. Votes which receive sufficient approvals can be accepted as usual. + +After one week has passed, the threshold is reduced to 33%, and remains at 33% +for two weeks. There must still be zero unresolved concerns; but only 33% of +the members need to approve for a proposal to be accepted. + +After those two weeks have passed (three weeks in total), two approvals from +members who are not the propser will permit a vote to be accepted, so long as +there are no unresolved concerns. A member is explicitly permitted to raise a +concern that there are not sufficient approvals or an issue has not received +sufficient attention and thereby block it from being accepted until that +concern is addressed. + +## Notifying Members + +At each weekly meeting, outstanding votes will be identified, and members +present at the meeting reminded to consider voting. It is the responsibiltiy +of the proposer to ensure the vote is listed on a meeting's agenda. Weeks +where a vote is not listed on a meeting's agenda will not count towards +reducing the required voting threshold. + +By notifying members of outstanding votes at the weekly meetings, it is hoped +that every member will have sufficient time to consider whether they have +concerns over a specific vote. If the full three weeks elapses with no concerns +raised, we conclude no members have concerns. + +## Self Voting + +We clarify that members may approve their own proposals in order to help reach +the required majority, but such votes will not be sufficient alone to accept a +proposal, and at least two approvals by members other than the proposer will +always be required to accept a proposal. + +# Alternatives + +## Status Quo + +We could maintain the current system, perhaps just adding the reminder emails +to attempt to collect sufficient voting majorities. + +## Different Thresholds + +The 33% number could be changed to 25%, or could be 33% for one week and then +25% for the second week. + +## Longer Timespans + +We could increase the two-week 33% period to three weeks or longer. + +## No Small Approvals + +We could omit the final stage where any number of approvals accepts a vote, +always requiring at least the 33% (or 25%) majority. + +## No Self Voting + +At the moment the voting majority rules implicitly permit self voting. We could +explicitly prohibit this instead.