RIR Comparison Table

This table provides a brief overview of the selection procedures for community group leaders at each of the Regional Internet Registries (RIRs). It is provided as background information for a review of APNIC SIG Chair Election procedures.

If you would like to participate in the review please refer to the review page for instructions about where you can join the discussion.

APNIC Documentation
Term	Chairs and Co-Chairs of the APNIC Policy Special Interest Group (SIG) are elected for a two-year period. More than one Co-Chair may be appointed, at the discretion of the Chair. Exit of Chair(s) include a handover period and an expectation that sitting Chairs follow proposals, which have already reached consensus, to the completion of their PDP cycle.
Nomination	Nominations are managed by the Secretariat. Self-nominations are allowed. Nominees must confirm they are able to fulfil the role obligations and may make an online statement. Candidates are invited to speak at the SIG meeting prior to the election. There are no written limits on campaigning.
Selection	If no Chair/Co-Chair is available to conduct the election, by tradition, Secretariat staff will conduct the election. Candidates must be present at the SIG meeting to participate. Voting takes place by a count of a show of hands of those present at the meeting. Secretariat staff, or other impartial observers (such as RIR staff) conduct the count. By tradition, if a Co-Chair is to be appointed, nominations are called and an election for the position is held by the newly appointed Chair immediately following their successful election. However, SIG Guidelines permit the following procedure: “If a current Co-Chair stands for the position of Chair and is elected, the newly vacant Co-Chair position can be filled by one of the remaining candidates for the Chair position, or by a call for volunteers at the SIG session.” By tradition, if only one nominee stands for a position, they are declared elected by acclamation.

APNIC

Documentation

Term

Chairs and Co-Chairs of the APNIC Policy Special Interest Group (SIG) are elected for a two-year period. More than one Co-Chair may be appointed, at the discretion of the Chair.

Exit of Chair(s) include a handover period and an expectation that sitting Chairs follow proposals, which have already reached consensus, to the completion of their PDP cycle.

Nomination

Nominations are managed by the Secretariat. Self-nominations are allowed. Nominees must confirm they are able to fulfil the role obligations and may make an online statement. Candidates are invited to speak at the SIG meeting prior to the election.

There are no written limits on campaigning.

Selection

If no Chair/Co-Chair is available to conduct the election, by tradition, Secretariat staff will conduct the election.

Candidates must be present at the SIG meeting to participate. Voting takes place by a count of a show of hands of those present at the meeting. Secretariat staff, or other impartial observers (such as RIR staff) conduct the count.

By tradition, if a Co-Chair is to be appointed, nominations are called and an election for the position is held by the newly appointed Chair immediately following their successful election. However, SIG Guidelines permit the following procedure: “If a current Co-Chair stands for the position of Chair and is elected, the newly vacant Co-Chair position can be filled by one of the remaining candidates for the Chair position, or by a call for volunteers at the SIG session.”

By tradition, if only one nominee stands for a position, they are declared elected by acclamation.

LACNIC Documentation
Term	The elected chair will begin their two-year term immediately after the closing of the Public Policy Forum during which their election is ratified.
Nomination	Call for nominations will be made through the Public Policy mailing list. Nominees must be LACNIC Members, or supported by a LACNIC Member. Nominees must not be a member of LACNIC staff.
Selection	Voting takes place electronically immediately before the Public Policy Forum. Only those subscribed to the policy mailing list may vote. The election outcome must be ratified by consensus among those present as judged by the acting Chairs. If the winner is not ratified, LACNIC’s Board of Directors will appoint a Chair to fill the vacant position until the following Public Policy Forum. The next time an election and ratification process can be conducted, the person elected shall fill the position only for the remaining part of the original term.

LACNIC

Documentation

Term

The elected chair will begin their two-year term immediately after the closing of the Public Policy Forum during which their election is ratified.

Nomination

Call for nominations will be made through the Public Policy mailing list. Nominees must be LACNIC Members, or supported by a LACNIC Member. Nominees must not be a member of LACNIC staff.

Selection

Voting takes place electronically immediately before the Public Policy Forum. Only those subscribed to the policy mailing list may vote.

The election outcome must be ratified by consensus among those present as judged by the acting Chairs.

If the winner is not ratified, LACNIC’s Board of Directors will appoint a Chair to fill the vacant position until the following Public Policy Forum. The next time an election and ratification process can be conducted, the person elected shall fill the position only for the remaining part of the original term.

RIPE NCC Documentation (NOTE: Each RIPE working group may reach consensus on its own Chair selection procedure.)
Term	The RIPE Address Policy Working Group (APWG) aims to maintain a team of two Chairpersons. Annually, one of the Chairs voluntarily steps-down, opening a call for candidates at least one month prior to the start of a RIPE meeting. This means the term is nominally two years.
Nomination	Self-nominations are made directly to the APWG mailing list prior to the session.
Selection	Those present at the APWG session, either in person or remotely, select a new Chair by consensus. The remaining Chair will judge consensus, or if there is no APWG Chair, then the RIPE Chair will gauge the consensus. If no consensus can be reached, RIPE NCC Staff will then conduct a secret ballot among those physically present. The result will be determined using proportional representation through the single transferable vote (PR-STV). If a working group is left with no Chair, an interim chair may be appointed according to the selection above procedures, but with candidates nominated at the working group session. An interim chair must step down at the next working group session, but may stand for re-selection.

RIPE NCC

Documentation (NOTE: Each RIPE working group may reach consensus on its own Chair selection procedure.)

Term

The RIPE Address Policy Working Group (APWG) aims to maintain a team of two Chairpersons. Annually, one of the Chairs voluntarily steps-down, opening a call for candidates at least one month prior to the start of a RIPE meeting.

This means the term is nominally two years.

Nomination

Self-nominations are made directly to the APWG mailing list prior to the session.

Selection

Those present at the APWG session, either in person or remotely, select a new Chair by consensus. The remaining Chair will judge consensus, or if there is no APWG Chair, then the RIPE Chair will gauge the consensus.

If no consensus can be reached, RIPE NCC Staff will then conduct a secret ballot among those physically present. The result will be determined using proportional representation through the single transferable vote (PR-STV).

If a working group is left with no Chair, an interim chair may be appointed according to the selection above procedures, but with candidates nominated at the working group session. An interim chair must step down at the next working group session, but may stand for re-selection.

AFRINIC Documentation
Term	The AFRINIC Policy Development Working Group (PDWG) has two Co-Chairs selected from the community serving two-year, staggered terms.
Nomination	The Nominations Committee (NomCom) calls for nominees from 35 days prior to the meeting. A nominee must physically live in the AFRINIC service region, must be a natural person and may not be a staff member of AFRINIC or any other RIR. A person may only nominate one candidate. In case of multiple nominations by the same person, only the last nomination will be considered valid. Self-nominations will be allowed but must be backed by at least two AFRINIC members in good standing. AFRINIC or other RIR staff cannot nominate candidates. A NomCom verifies the process and conducts reviews of the nominations to confirm they meet the criteria. Candidate biographical information is published and community members may post statements in support. Candidates may also speak at the meeting prior to the vote.
Selection	Voting is by show of hands from all those present at the meeting. Voters must be registered for the meeting and not be a staff member of AFRINIC or another RIR.

AFRINIC

Documentation

Term

The AFRINIC Policy Development Working Group (PDWG) has two Co-Chairs selected from the community serving two-year, staggered terms.

Nomination

The Nominations Committee (NomCom) calls for nominees from 35 days prior to the meeting. A nominee must physically live in the AFRINIC service region, must be a natural person and may not be a staff member of AFRINIC or any other RIR.

A person may only nominate one candidate. In case of multiple nominations by the same person, only the last nomination will be considered valid. Self-nominations will be allowed but must be backed by at least two AFRINIC members in good standing. AFRINIC or other RIR staff cannot nominate candidates.

A NomCom verifies the process and conducts reviews of the nominations to confirm they meet the criteria.

Candidate biographical information is published and community members may post statements in support. Candidates may also speak at the meeting prior to the vote.

Selection

Voting is by show of hands from all those present at the meeting. Voters must be registered for the meeting and not be a staff member of AFRINIC or another RIR.

ARIN Advisory Council Documentation (NOTE: The ARIN AC is a substantially different body than the SIG/WG Chairs in other regions.)
Term	The 15 members of the ARIN AC serve three-year terms.
Nomination	A NomCom of seven representatives guides the nomination process. Candidates are nominated by ARIN Members in Good Standing, although a petition process exists for self-nomination. Each nominee is asked to complete a questionnaire developed by the NomCom for its consideration of suitability. The NomCom forwards the list of verified nominees to the President of ARIN who distributes the list and publishes the biographical information. Nominees may solicit statements of support directly, or via social media, but not using ARIN mailing lists.
Selection	An electronic vote, requiring a quorum of 5% of eligible voters, is conducted among the Voting Contacts for all General Members in good standing for a period of (at least) seven days from the Fall Public Policy and Members Meeting. The President, one member of the Board of Trustees, and ARIN’s General Council, tally the votes separately. If all counts match, a result is declared. The ARIN AC conducts an internal on-line ballot to elect a Chair.

ARIN Advisory Council

Documentation (NOTE: The ARIN AC is a substantially different body than the SIG/WG Chairs in other regions.)

Term

The 15 members of the ARIN AC serve three-year terms.

Nomination

A NomCom of seven representatives guides the nomination process. Candidates are nominated by ARIN Members in Good Standing, although a petition process exists for self-nomination. Each nominee is asked to complete a questionnaire developed by the NomCom for its consideration of suitability.

The NomCom forwards the list of verified nominees to the President of ARIN who distributes the list and publishes the biographical information. Nominees may solicit statements of support directly, or via social media, but not using ARIN mailing lists.

Selection

An electronic vote, requiring a quorum of 5% of eligible voters, is conducted among the Voting Contacts for all General Members in good standing for a period of (at least) seven days from the Fall Public Policy and Members Meeting.

The President, one member of the Board of Trustees, and ARIN’s General Council, tally the votes separately. If all counts match, a result is declared.

The ARIN AC conducts an internal on-line ballot to elect a Chair.