I wanted to reinforce a point that may be a bit subtle --
Voting systems like STV and cumulative are useful when there are a number
of seats up for election at the same time. These voting methods tend to
ensure that if there N seats to be filled, a minority with 1/N of the
votes could elect a seat.
In normal majority mode voting -- each seat is a distinct election and the
net result is that the majority takes every seat, the minorities get none.
Now, when terms are staggered, and there is but one or a few seats open at
each election, STV or cumulative voting systems are made less effective.
In other words, staggered terms are a way of repressing minorities.
If ICANN is to try to reflect diversity of opinion then it should reject
stagered terms.
--karl--
