Althing Ballot Can be Downloaded Here
Important: Do NOT fill out your ballot and submit it yet. This ballot is being presented now so you can look over it and ask any questions you may be have about it before you actually vote. Voting will open on 12/13/2025 and will close on 12/16/2025 at 6:30pm
This is the ballot that will be presented at the 12/13/2025.
Proposal 1 was new business at the November KLE and due to many things that came up, the minutes from that Althing did not get posted. Due to The Everglade Sentinels being so young and with so few dues paid members, it was proposed at the last KLE that they be allowed to forgo paying taxes for this reign so they can use their coffers to help build up their holding.
Proposal 2 was approved by the Monarch to skip the “New Business” step of voting, to allow Specter’s Gate to be voted on at this KLE. They would have been New Business at the last KLE except that there was a situation outside of their control that prevented them from becoming a Freehold at that time. The are officially a Freehold at this time and per our Corpora are not petitioning to become an official Blackspire Holding.
Proposal 3 & 4:
Document to amend: Bylaws Current text (Bylaws §3.9):
“Winning any election requires a simple plurality (more votes than any other candidate, taken individually).”
Proposed replacement (Bylaws §3.9):
“Winning any election requires a majority of valid votes cast. Ranked-choice voting or another reasonable alternative voting method may be used when authorized in these Bylaws or Policies.”
Intent and purpose: Replace plurality with majority for officer elections and expressly allow ranked-choice (or another reasonable method) to determine a majority preference when there are multiple viable candidates. Oregon Nonprofit law allows nonprofits to specify their own director-election methods, including preferential voting. See ORS 65.251 (“Other methods of electing directors,” including preferential voting or any other reasonable method).
Proposal 4: Amend Bylaws §3.10 (where ballots are posted) Proposed by: Roche of Dragon’s Forge Proposed at Althing 11/8/2025
Vote to commence at Althing 12/13/2025
Document to amend: Bylaws Current text (Bylaws §3.10):
“Online voting will happen on Facebook. The Financial Officer or Operations Officer will post a PDF of the ballot, including instructions for how to submit the vote. The instructions will include the kingdom email address and instructions of submitting a picture of the ballot as well as a picture of the voter holding the ballot.”
Proposed replacement (Bylaws §3.10):
“The Financial Officer or Operations Officer will post the ballot and submission instructions to the Kingdom’s website at www.blackspire.org, and duplicate if possible on social media outlets such as Facebook and Discord. Votes are submitted by email to the Kingdom address specified in the notice, with the voter’s choices indicated on their emailed ballot.”
Replace §3.10.1:
“Online voting will be kept open for a minimum of 5 calendar days.”
Intent and purpose: Reflect the Kingdom’s current communications practice by posting ballots on the website and social media so members can reliably find official election materials in either location and extend voting timeframe so that it is more accessible to members who may not realize it is posted even with above communication methods. Removing the photo requirement as it is redundant with ORK player status verification and creates barriers to accessible voting.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GjPdfnPt16ja82DurolcT6iQRZq9fmW5w6HrulCO2A8/edit?usp=sharing