Merge pull request #21 from w3c-cg/staggered-elections

Staggered co-chair elections

Author: michielbdejong

charter/2023-09-01.md

@@ -163,14 +163,14 @@ An affiliation MAY submit one ballot that ranks candidates in their preferred or
 
 #### Choosing a Chair
 
-* At any given time there may be up to three co-chairs, each holding one seat. Each seat defines a 2 year cycle of service.
-* In the first election after ratification of this charter, all seats will be up for election. Thereafter, in each year, a single election will be held to fill any vacant seats.
-* In the case of interim vacancy, the remaining chairs may appoint a co-chair for each open seat, hold an election for the same, or wait until the next election, at their discretion. If the chairs do not take any action, the seat will automatically be up for election in any cycle. Any such interim appointments or elections shall hold the seat until the end of its natural cycle.
+* At any given time there may be up to three co-chairs, each holding one seat for a two year term, measured from their election date, which may be shortened if they step down or are removed.
+* In the first election after ratification of this charter, all seats will be up for election. Thereafter, elections will be held whenever there is a vacant seat.
+* In the case of interim vacancy, the remaining chairs may appoint a co-chair for each open seat, and postpone the election, at their discretion. If the chairs do not take any action, the seat will automatically be up for election. Any such interim appointments shall hold the seat until the next election.
 * Reelection is restricted to two consecutive terms, with the possibility of being reelected after sitting out one election cycle.
-* In an election year, current chairs will select a date for elections, which will set a nomination period of two weeks, starting 4 weeks prior to the election.
+* Current chairs will select a date for elections, with a nomination period of two weeks starting four weeks prior to the election.
 * For an individual to run for election, they must self-nominate and make a statement regarding their background and why they are running, on the group mailing list.
 * The current chairs will host a conference call during the nomination period, during which candidates may make a statement and answer questions from the community.
-* If, at the end of nominations, any given seat only has a single candidate, that candidate immediately wins that seat. For any seats with multiple nominees, there will be an election for those seats.
+* If, at the end of nominations, any given seat only has a single candidate, that candidate immediately wins that seat. There will be an election for any seat(s) with multiple nominees.
 * If, after nominations, any given seat has no candidates, the remaining chairs after any election (if necessary for other seats), will address the vacancy as an interim vacancy, described above.
 * To elect one of multiple candidates, a vote will be held by the election mechanism of ranked choice voting, in which voters rank candidates by preference on their ballots. The candidate with the majority (more than 50%) of first-choice votes wins outright. If no candidate gets a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate who ranked the worst is eliminated, and that candidate’s voters’ ballots are redistributed to their second-choice pick. If the vote results in a tie, an immediate runoff of the top two candidates shall be held. If the vote remains tied, the winner shall be the candidate whose nomination was first recorded publicly on the group email list.