Request for Debates

I would like to request the consideration of the organization of debates between the candidates for Delegate and/or Vice Delegate prior to the close of votes (preferably sooner rather than later).

According to the Candidacy Declarations topic, "The candidacy declaration period is from Thu Jan 01 2015 6:25:00 PM (your forum time) to Tue Jan 06 2015 6:25:00 PM (your forum time). Voting will be approximately from Tue Jan 06 2015 6:35:00 PM (your forum time) to Sun Jan 11 2015 6:35:00 PM (your forum time)." (A further note suggests voting may be delayed by 7 hours).

I expect I would be available from Wed Jan 07 2015 12:00:00 AM to Wed Jan 07 2015 5:00:00 AM, Wed Jan 07 2015 10:30:00 AM to Wed Jan 07 2015 1:15:00 PM, Thu Jan 08 2015 12:00:00 AM to Thu Jan 08 2015 5:00:00 AM, Thu Jan 08 2015 10:30:00 AM to Thu Jan 08 2015 1:15:00 PM, Fri Jan 09 2015 12:00:00 AM to Fri Jan 09 2015 5:00:00 AM, Fri Jan 09 2015 10:30:00 AM to Fri Jan 09 2015 1:15:00 PM, or Sat Jan 10 2015 12:00:00 AM to Sat Jan 10 2015 12:00:00 PM. (But not all together, obviously )

I would solicit the candidates and potential moderators to also state availability times swiftly so that we might have a chance of actually making this happen

Edit: The Election Commission should be familiar with the process, but for everyone else this is how to use the time= macros that the Election Commission uses, and I just used: one enters (time=NUMBER) where NUMBER is a UNIX timestamp obtainable using this tool.

I would like to see this as well. Would it be done over IRC? Skype?

Egalotir:

I would like to see this as well. Would it be done over IRC? Skype?

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IRC, Skype, or on the offsite forum, in order of my preference. It'd be up to the moderators, I'd imagine.

I would prefer forum, I think it is easier to coordinate where time constraints are concerned. IRC if we can coordinate with times, not really a fan of skype these days

I also agree that the debates should be held on the forum. It's easier to organise, regulate and it actually gives time for the candidates to give meaningful answers rather than off the cuff platitude and cliche filled answers.

A debate on the forum would also tend to put a lid on the 'uninformed voter' effect.

Given over two pages of votes have been cast, is it not a tad late for this?

Maybe next time the debates ought to be scheduled three days or so before the ballots open. It might also encourage people not to declare at the last minute.

Makes me wonder if the nomination/ campaigning period should be a bit longer.

I would make the nomination period a week shorter than that campaigning period, so that all candidates have to be declared a week before polls open. that would give time for debates etc.

I think abolishing the breathing period / campaign period between nominations and voting may have been a mistake, yes.

mcmasterdonia:

Makes me wonder if the nomination/ campaigning period should be a bit longer.

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I agree.

What we really need is a months worth of time for candidates to prepare, debate, campaing, etc.,,, and then official declarations of candidacy a week prior to the opening of voting. In that way, you actually have time for some real discussion of issues, platforms, etc.,,, instead of the bums rush we have at this point. It might cut out a lot of the 'beautiful baby contest' aspect of the elections and require people to actually deliver real substance to their campaigns.

And, besides, I can tell you who is going to win. In fact, I concluded the winner of the election before anyone even declared their candidacy.