OpenSUSEBoard

Let me give some indications. If I get any account on lizard, I can copy this there :-).

Board elections rules (jdd proposal, see also http://lizards.opensuse.org/2010/08/25/revising-the-board-election-rules/ and http://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Board_election).

The election of the openSUSE Board will be done using the following rules:

Only openSUSE members may run for the Board and vote, each member having one ballot that has one vote per seat to be elected.
The election is run by an Election Committee that consists of at least three openSUSE members.
None of the Election Committee can run for or be elected as an openSUSE board member.

old rule:

"The openSUSE board election period is two years and every year approximately half of the board will be elected. So, the people getting elected this time are elected for two years. The other members stand for re-election next year and get a 2 year period as well."

small change:

The openSUSE board election period is two years and every year one novell and one non novell member will be elected. So, the people getting elected this time are elected for two years. The other members stand for re-election next year and get a 2 year period as well. The chairman, nominated by Novell is changed only and when Novell wants so.
openSUSE board members can serve for up to two consecutive election periods. After that they must stand down for at least one year, but may be run again after the one year break.
All candidates will publish their manifesto on the Wiki, and are strongly encouraged to blog on why they should be elected.

Handling of special cases:

Running board is allowed to appoint one new member and one only in the following situations. If an appointed member quits, he can be replaced by the board. If a second elected member quits, a new election have to be organised. A Novell emmloyee have to be replaced by a Novell employee, and same applies to community member.
On the following election, the appointed member is replaced by an elected one. A "tirage au sort" (lottery?) designs the elected people that are elected for 1 or 2 years

Appointment situations are: resignation of a member, removal of a member.

Any member can resignate at will, but then he will not be allowed to be candidate for the next election.

A Board member may be subject to removal only in case of absence of participation of three consecutive meetings or complete lost of contact. The board have to publish all the work done to try to solve the problem. A three month delay will be spent between the first notification of the problem and the board vote. the Board member in question may be removed by unanimous vote of the other members of the Board.

Novell employement.

Novell employment have to be valid at the vote date. Any change wont have effect on the board membership situation.

Constitution: A new board term should start on the first of January, the elections should be finished 14 days before. In the case of delays, the new board will start 7 days after the election results are published.
Amendment: Changes by the election rules can be done by vote of the board where at least 3 members approve including the chairperson.

Comments:

It's better to have an equal number of seats and keep normal vote than special vote and appointment. Appointment is negation of democracy and have to be kept to a bare minimum.

Other possible rule: If The board need to make an appointment, he have to first ask the non elected candidate of the previous election.