I initially added Rae’s name to the list of candidates seeing they nominated themself. This is obviously a reasonable conclusion to make. However, when I talked it over with Sil, I pointed out to him that we’ve seen people nominate themselves and make a show of accepting that nomination (Mall has done this on occasion for example). We have also seen people be extra obnoxious and nominate every eligible citizen, something that would include themselves, and yet no one actually considered those people to be candidates by virtue of doing that. Someone could be having fun by nominating themself - that in itself is not actually a commitment. I can easily see how someone will joke around, throw out a nomination and let it dangle without ever addressing it - after all, that’s what happens with many nominations.
When there are several possibilities, and we’re trying to run a fair election for everyone, we cannot rely on guesswork and gut checks when there are clear rules to follow. If there’s any doubt, or reason to doubt, a course that we take, we should avoid that doubt by relying on rules that are clear for everyone. And giving these rules a clear reading, there is only one correct conclusion: a nomination of one self is not a declaration of candidacy. Observe our rules, which are posted in every declarations thread:
To run, one must either accept a nomination or declare candidacy in this thread. To withdraw from running, one must post a withdrawal of candidacy in this thread.
Acceptances of nominations, declarations of candidacy, and withdrawals of candidacy posted outside this thread will be discounted. Acceptance of a nomination is understood to also constitute declaration of candidacy even if no nomination has been made. Acceptances of nominations, declarations of candidacy, and withdrawals of candidacy must be posted during the candidacy declaration period to be valid
There are two choices: accept a nomination or declare candidacy. Nominating yourself is not either of those choices. And we know that these distinctions matter because the next paragraph takes time to point out that accepting a nomination is the same as declaring candidacy even if no nomination was made. So accepting an invisible nomination is seen as a cute way to declare your candidacy. Given how many scenarios this contemplates, it could easily contemplate nominating oneself - but it doesn’t. Maybe it should. But right now it doesn’t. Right now we have all the scenarios laid out and how they work.
Rae probably meant to be a candidate. But I don’t know Rae. This could have been deliberate, a fun little why not without fully committing to a run. Only Rae can answer definitively, and the fact that there is an alternative possibility should be enough for us to stick with rules as written.
Rae needs to accept their self-nomination or just outright declare candidacy. I also suggest that the EC clarify the rules to explicitly warn people of the need to accept self-nominations, or to warn them that self-nominations will be considered declarations of candidacy.
