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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=937144412-24092009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Note that Steve cites examples for both counting
abstentions as votes and not counting them. I responded to Steve's message
on the OSC list yesterday and planned to share his points in today's call.
I will forward my response to him on the Council list.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=937144412-24092009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=937144412-24092009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Chuck</FONT></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> owner-council@gnso.icann.org
[mailto:owner-council@gnso.icann.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Philip
Sheppard<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, September 24, 2009 3:37 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
'Council GNSO'<BR><B>Subject:</B> [council] Abstentions<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=953443507-24092009>Please note some wise words from Steve M.sent to the
OSC list.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=953443507-24092009></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=953443507-24092009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> owner-gnso-osc@icann.org
[mailto:owner-gnso-osc@icann.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Metalitz,
Steven<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, September 24, 2009 12:11 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
Gomes, Chuck; gnso-osc@icann.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: [gnso-osc] FW: Further
Council Ops Procedures Thoughts<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>I am afraid we are trying to square the circle on this
abstention issue. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Abstentions may occur for a lot of reasons. But if
one occurs in order to avoid a conflict of interest problem, then we cannot
treat it as a functional "no" vote -- which we do if we insist that the
denominator in calculating a voting threshold must always be the total number
of people seated in the House or council. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT
size=2><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT size=+0>Let's assume that on
a motion before the council, a councillor's financial interests will
be directly benefited by defeat of the motion. The councillor
should refrain from voting on (or even from participating in the discussion
of) the motion. </FONT></SPAN>L<SPAN class=682365721-23092009>et's
assume the council consists of 10 people and that a majority vote is needed
for the motion. </SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT
size=2><SPAN class=682365721-23092009></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>However, if the councillor abstains for this reason, then
if 5 vote for and 4 against, the motion fails. Abstention will have
achieved exactly the result that a conflict of interest policy should
avoid at all costs -- the action of the councillor has directly benefitted his
financial interest. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT
size=2>I<SPAN class=682365721-23092009>f the councillor is able to truly
abstain, so that his presence is not counted for purposes of achieving the
voting threshold, then the vote (5-4) reflects the views of the majority of
council members who were allowed (in accordance with conflict of interest
policy) to vote, and should be enough to carry the
motion. </SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT
size=2><SPAN class=682365721-23092009>
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>The same scenario could play out almost no matter what is
the voting threshold required or the number of eligible
voters. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>I emphasize that many abstentions will not be for
conflict reasons -- quite commonly, it will be because the
constituency/stakeholder group could not reach a position on the issue, or an
issue arises suddenly and the councillor has decided that she will not vote
absent instructions from her constituency/SG. There is
less of a problem counting the abstention for purposes of a voting threshold
in this case -- though it still may not be a good idea. But there would
need to be an exception to this general rule for situations in which an
abstention is dictated by conflict of interest rules.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Steve</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>