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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Imran is raising a very good point about the "abstain" option… A "none of the above" vote is usually a protest against "the system" which is (the abstainer is asserting) somehow structured in such a way as to not allow for choices sufficient to the abstainer's taste.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>In our case, who would the abstainer be protesting against and what are the structures that are in place to prevent the inclusion of a candidate to the taste of the abstainer i.e. what does the abstainer want and who do they expect to do this?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>M<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> governance-request@lists.igcaucus.org [mailto:governance-request@lists.igcaucus.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Imran Ahmed Shah<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, January 14, 2013 1:53 AM<br><b>To:</b> governance@lists.igcaucus.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [governance] Notice to the IGC on Proposed Charter Amendments<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>Dear All,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>With reference to the recently proposed amendment for the Voting Options by adding "Abstain", whereas the abstention traditionally used for an active & protest gesture and </span><span style='color:black'>beneficial for the sake of protesting against the system or candidates. </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>I have some reservations to use one "Abstain" option for the coordinators elections where the candidate offers contribution to serve CS voluntarily.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>I think that due to fear of abstention (protesting votes), that will reduce the fair participation and voluntarily contributions in the IGC CS progressive activities.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>So, there are three options, if the abstention vote is required..:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style='margin-left:.5in'><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:-.25in;background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>a.</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>to protest against all of the voluntarily candidates, (with apology), why the preferred candidate was not nominated (or self-nomination submitted) for the election? So, being a member of the caucus it is our prime responsibility to either nominate our best candidate or submit self-nomination, upon any call for the nominations. If the candidate(s) are more than one, should elect one of them through election. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style='margin-left:.5in'><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:-.25in;background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>b.</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>for protesting against the system, when we are going to edit the charter and amendment process is on the way, it is right time to suggest the better system for the election and to manage the activities involved in it.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style='margin-left:.5in'><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:-.25in;background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>c.</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>for the membership status, to remain a qualified and voting member (as otherwise, charter restrict to vote in the next election), it is better either to rephrase the text and rule defined in the charter, or if it is still mandatory to have the abstention option (for the reasons of a+b+c), it is proposed to also add the option for Blank Vote; that mean you have used your right to vote but not against the system or candidate, and still remain as a voting member.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></body></html>