Open Source Matters, Inc. and the Joomla! Project is now operating under the new structure that was formalised in March 2017, then updated in 2021. This article sets out the new Election Cycle that is now in place.
Election Groups
The first post-transition new board of directors (NBOD), was deemed complete on March 23, 2017. All election cycles will be based upon the completion date of the NBOD.
According to the Bylaws, Section 5.03 (B), and additionally with motion #2017/041, The Board of Directors and Officers of Open Source Matters, has divided the board into the following Election Groups in order to stagger elections to assist with continuity and minimise disruption in leadership, with Group 1 having an initial 6 month term.
Group 1
- Vice President
- Treasurer
- Outreach Department Coordinator
Group 2
- President
- Secretary
- Production Department Coordinator
- Operations Department Coordinator
Who has the right to vote
Department Coordinators
Team Members (Class 3) and Team Leaders (Class 2) have the right to cast their vote for the Department Coordinator of the Department to which their team belogs. Only Team Members and Team Leaders of any first-level Team listed as Official in the Volunteers Portal. Subteam members don't have the right to vote, as well as Teams listed as "Unofficial" or "In formation".
Officers
Team Members (Class 3), Team Leaders (Class 2), Department Coordinators (Class 1) and Officers (Class 1) have the right to cast one vote for each Officer position. In case of multiple membership, each individual shall have only one vote. Only Team Members and Team Leaders of any first-level Team listed as Official in the Volunteers Portal. Subteam members don't have the right to vote, as well as Teams listed as "Unofficial" or "In formation".
Definitions
- Team Members are defined in Section 4.01(A)(3) of the Bylaws.
- Team Leaders are defined in Section 4.01(A)(2) and Section 4.05(A) of the Bylaws.
- Department Coordinators are defined in Section 4.05(B) and Section 5.01 of the Bylaws.
- Officers are defined in Section 6.01 of the Bylaws.
Election Scenarios & Methodologies
The following methodologies have been introduced after the Community vote on the "Changes to the Nomination and Election Process", approved on December 29, 2019.
Contested Department Coordinator / Officer
Contested Department Coordinator / Officer
This scenario occurs when there are more than one candidate, including the case in which one of them is already incumbent in the position.
Election phases & timeline
Milestone | Group 1 | Group 2 | Note |
---|---|---|---|
Call for Candidate Manifestos published | July 10 | January 03 | The Current DC/Officers shall announce their intention to run as candidate beforehand. |
Candidate Manifesto submission deadline | August 07 | January 31 | Candidates have 28 days to prepare/submit their manifestos. |
Full list of Candidates and Manifestos published. Recommendation form opened. |
August 08 | February 01 | 1 day after the manifesto submissions deadline. Communication channels with candidates are opened (one for each position). |
Recommendations submission deadline | August 15 | February 08 | The Community has 7 days to submit their recommendations for the candidates. During this time candidate shall be available to answer the questions from the Community in the dedicated channels. |
Recommendations published | August 16 | February 09 | The Secretary publishes the recommendations received for each Candidate. The Community will have one week to digest the recommendations and ask questions to candidates. |
Ballots sent out | August 23 | February 16 | Voting parties have seven (7) days to submit their preferences. Ballots shall also have the opportunity to vote for "None of the above". |
Ballots close | August 30 | February 23 | Ballots automatically close at 23.59 UTC. |
Results announced / Handover begins | August 31 | February 24 | The Secretary publishes the Elections Results announcement. During the four (4) following weeks, the current DC/Officer shall start handing over information, assets and permissions to the elected successor. |
Last Day of Old Term | September 28 | March 23 | This is the last day of the current Board Member tenure. |
First Day of New Term | September 29 | March 24 | The newly elected DC/Officers are effective in their position. |
New Department Coordinator / Officer Uncontested
New Department Coordinator / Officer Uncontested
This scenario occurs when there is only one candidate that would be new in the position.
This timeline is valid also in the "New Department Coordinator/Officer Uncontested Empty Board Seat", meaning that there is only one candidate that would be new in the role and the position is vacant, after resignation/removal of the previous DC/Officer"; in such scenario, the Full Board of Directors and Officer might action a specific motion to declare the elected members effective immediately, anticipating their term.
Election phases & timeline
Milestone | Group 1 | Group 2 | Note |
---|---|---|---|
Call for Candidate Manifestos published | July 10 | January 03 | The Current DC/Officers shall announce their intention to run as candidate beforehand. |
Candidate Manifesto submission deadline | August 07 | January 31 | Candidates have 28 days to prepare/submit their manifestos. |
Sole Candidate declared, Manifesto published. Recommendation form opened. |
August 08 | February 01 | 1 day after the manifesto submissions deadline. Communication channels with candidates are opened (one for each position). |
Recommendations submission deadline | August 15 | February 08 | The Community has 7 days to submit their recommendations for the candidates. During this time candidate shall be available to answer the questions from the Community in the dedicated channels. |
Recommendations published & Ballots sent out |
August 16 | February 09 | The Secretary publishes the recommendations received for each Candidate. Voting parties have seven (7) days to submit their preferences. Ballots shall also have the opportunity to vote for "None of the above". |
Ballots close | August 23 | February 16 | Ballots automatically close at 23.59 UTC. |
Results announced / Handover begins | August 24 | February 17 | The Secretary publishes the Elections Results announcement. During the four (4) following weeks, the current DC/Officer shall start handing over information, assets and permissions to the elected successor. |
Last Day of Old Term | September 28 | March 23 | This is the last day of the current Board Member tenure. |
First Day of New Term | September 29 | March 24 | The newly elected DC/Officers are effective in their position. |
Same Department Coordinator / Officer Uncontested
Same Department Coordinator / Officer Uncontested
This scenario occurs when there is only one candidate that is already incumbent in the role. This is the expedited timeline.
Election phases & timeline
Milestone | Group 1 | Group 2 | Note |
---|---|---|---|
Call for Candidate Manifestos published | July 10 | January 03 | The Current DC/Officers shall announce their intention to run as candidate beforehand. |
Candidate Manifesto submission deadline | August 07 | January 31 | Candidates have 28 days to prepare/submit their manifestos. |
Existing DC/Officer declared as sole candidate. Manifesto published and ballots sent out. |
August 08 | February 01 | 1 day after the manifesto submissions deadline. Communication channels with candidates are opened (one for each position). The Secretary shall publish the candidate's Manifesto and sent out the ballots. Voting parties have seven (7) days to submit their preferences. Ballots shall also have the opportunity to vote for "None of the above". |
Ballots close | August 15 | February 08 | Ballots automatically close at 23.59 UTC. |
Results announced |
August 16 | February 09 | The Secretary publishes the Elections Results announcement. |
Last Day of Old Term | September 28 | March 23 | This is the last day of the current Board Member tenure. |
First Day of New Term | September 29 | March 24 | The newly elected DC/Officers are effective in their position. |
Reporting timeline
Reporting cycle | Group 1 | Group 2 | Note |
---|---|---|---|
First Day of Term | September 29 | March 24 | The newly elected DC/Officers are effective in their position. |
90 Day Report publishing deadline | January 11 | July 06 | Each DC/Officer shall prepare a quarterly report with their progress and achievements. Report is due 14 days after the 90th day of the term. |
180 Day Report publishing deadline | April 10 | October 04 | Report is due 14 days after the 180th day of the term. |
270 Day Report publishing deadline / Declaration of Intention deadline | July 09 | January 02 | Report is due 14 days after the 270th day of the term. The DC/Officer shall send also the declaration of intention and their manifesto to the Secretary if they are interested to run for another term. |
Year End Report | October 12 | April 06 | Report is due 14 days after the end of the term. |
Replacement Elections
Replacement Elections
New Department Coordinator / Officer Uncontested Empty Board Seat
This scenario occurs when there is only one candidate that would be new in the role and the position is vacant, after resignation/removal of the previous DC/Officer; the elected members will start their term immediately after the election results are published
Election phases & timeline
Milestone | Deadline | Note |
---|---|---|
Call for Candidate Manifestos published | Day 0 | The Call for manifestos shall be published when a position becomes vacant after resignation or removal. This represent the "Day 0" of the election phase. |
Candidate Manifesto submission deadline | Day 14 | Candidates have 14 days to prepare/submit their manifestos. |
Sole Candidate declared, Manifesto published. Recommendation form opened. |
Day 15 | 1 day after the manifesto submissions deadline. Communication channels with candidates are opened (one for each position). |
Recommendations submission deadline | Day 22 | The Community has 7 days to submit their recommendations for the candidates. During this time candidate shall be available to answer the questions from the Community in the dedicated channels. |
Recommendations published & Ballots sent out |
Day 23 | The Secretary publishes the recommendations received for each Candidate. Voting parties have seven (7) days to submit their preferences. Ballots shall also have the opportunity to vote for "None of the above". |
Ballots close | Day 30 | Ballots automatically close at 23.59 UTC of the 7th day after the ballots are sent out. |
Results announced | Day 31 | The Secretary publishes the Elections Results announcement. |
First Day of New Term | Day 31 | The newly elected DC/Officers are effective in their position. |
Contested Department Coordinator / Officer Empty Board Seat
This scenario occurs when there are multiple candidates that would be new in the role and the position is vacant, after resignation/removal of the previous DC/Officer; the elected members will start their term immediately after the election results are published
Election phases & timeline
Milestone | Deadline | Note |
---|---|---|
Call for Candidate Manifestos published | Day 0 | The Call for manifestos shall be published when a position becomes vacant after resignation or removal. This represent the "Day 0" of the election phase. |
Candidate Manifesto submission deadline | Day 14 | Candidates have 14 days to prepare/submit their manifestos. |
Sole Candidate declared, Manifesto published. Recommendation form opened. |
Day 15 | 1 day after the manifesto submissions deadline. Communication channels with candidates are opened (one for each position). |
Recommendations submission deadline | Day 22 | The Community has 7 days to submit their recommendations for the candidates. During this time candidate shall be available to answer the questions from the Community in the dedicated channels. |
Recommendations published, Debates begin. |
Day 23 | The Secretary publishes the recommendations received for each Candidate. The Community will have one week to digest the recommendations and ask questions to candidates. |
Ballots sent out | Day 30 | Voting parties have seven (7) days to submit their preferences. Ballots shall also have the opportunity to vote for "None of the above". |
Ballots close | Day 37 | Ballots automatically close at 23.59 UTC of the 7th day after the ballots are sent out. |
Results announced |
Day 38 | The Secretary publishes the Elections Results announcement. |
First Day of New Term | Day 38 | The newly elected DC/Officers are effective in their position. |
References
- Motion 2017/041: «Approve the Joomla! Election Cycle Document.» - Proposed by Robert Jacobi, seconded by Luca Marzo and passed with unanimous consent on June 15, 2017 at the meeting of the Board of Directors and Officers.
- Election Cycle rules [2017-2020]
- Open Source Matters, Inc. - Bylaws, Section 5.03(B) [Previous version]
- Open Source Matters, Inc. - Structure
- Removal of the Local Communities Department.
- Changes to the Bylaws, extending the right to vote.
- Open Source Matters, Inc. - Bylaws, Section 5.03(B).
- Changes to the Nomination and Election Process.
- Motion 2020/027: «For Board Elections list all members with voting rights in the election blog post». - Proposed by Harald Leithner, seconded by Luca Marzo and passed with unanimous consent on February 27, 2020 at the meeting of the Board of Directors and Officers.
- Motion 2020/046: «In case of a Replacement Election, the Call for Manifesto shall be open for 14 days. All the other deadlines and provisions of the standard election cycles are valid.» - Proposed by Luca Marzo, seconded by Djamel Kherbi and passed with unanimous consent on March 26, 2020 at the meeting of the Board of Directors and Officers.
- Motion 2021/031: «All the Election Ballots shall provide the voters the options to abstain and to vote for none of the candidates. This motion applies to elections for Working Group Leaders, Team Leaders, Department Coordinators and Officers.» - Proposed by Luca Marzo, seconded by Radek Suski and passed with unanimous consent and one abstention on April 22, 2021 at the meeting of the Board of Directors and Officers.
- Motion 2021/032: «All the Election Ballots shall be open for 7 days. This motion applies to elections for Working Group Leaders, Team Leaders, Department Coordinators and Officers.» - Proposed by Luca Marzo, seconded by Radek Suski and passed with unanimous consent on April 22, 2021 at the meeting of the Board of Directors and Officers.
Election Results
- 2017 February 01 - Department Coordinator Election Results
- 2017 March 01 - Officer Election Results
- 2017 March 03 - Vice President Run-off Election Results
- 2017 March 24 - Full Board composition after Transition period
- 2017 August 13 - Group 1 Election Results
- 2017 August 14 - Officer Election Transparency Report
- 2018 February 10 - Group 2 Election Results
- 2018 February 26 - Replacement for Events Department Coordinator Election Result
- 2018 May 26 - Replacement for Vice President Election Result
- 2018 August 19 - Group 1 Election Results
- 2019 February 10 - Group 2 Election Results
- 2019 May 19 - Replacement for Marketing & Communications Department Coordinator Election Result
- 2019 August 26 - Group 1 Election Results
- 2019 September 16 - Group 1 (2nd round) Election Results
- 2020 February 09 - Group 2 Election Results (Secretary)
- 2020 February 17 - Group 2 Election Results (Partial)
- 2020 February 24 - President Election Results
- 2020 April 17 - Replacement Election Results (Vice President, Treasurer)
- 2020 September 01 - Group 1 Election Results
- 2020 September 21 - Treasurer Election Results
- 2020 October 25 - Operations DC Replacement Election Results
- 2021 February 14 - Group 2 Election Results (Partial)
- 2021 March 07 - President Election Results
- 2021 April 21 - None elected - Marketing & Communications DC Replacement
- 2021 August 31 - Group 1 Partial Results
- 2022 April 09 - Group 2 Partial Election Results
- 2022 April 17 - DC Election Results
- 2022 September 01 - Group 1 Election Results
- 2023 February 17 - Group 2 Election Results
- 2023 August 24 - Group 1 Election Results