It’s probably common-knowledge by now that the voting system is going to change. According to a recent interview with one of the wormhole candidates (I believe James Arget, but I could be wrong), they were told by Two Step that the system would change, and that Two Step has a blog post ready and waiting for the official CCP announcement.
The exact voting system is not known for sure. I think it’s a safe bet that it will be the Schulze method. CCP Veritas will be coding the new voting system. CCP Veritas has mentioned being in favour of the Schulze method on multiple occasions. Since Veritas is the one doing the work, CCP Xhagen will likely defer to whatever it is he wants to do. I don’t say this as a complaint, simply as rationale for my belief that we’ll likely be getting the Schulze method this spring.
(If on the off chance it’s not Schulze, then likely a straight-forward single transferable vote [STV] model. Either way, the voting process is similar, if not the results entirely.)
What’s interesting is that, under the previous first-past-the-post system, a large group like Goonswarm had the capability of getting two to three candidates elected. (Although, during CSM7, they chose to utilize all their voting power towards a single candidate.)
What’s interesting in a Schulze or STV system is that Goonswarm will have influence over every single candidate, not simply the one or three candidates they want elected. How they tell their members to rank candidates will have a strong influence on the overall results. Goonswarm was 1/6th of the voting electorate during CSM7. Consider also that the CFC was approximately 1/5th of the voting electorate last year, that they’ve grown in the interim, and that they’ll mostly follow the Goonswarm voting trend.
Consider further Test Alliance and the HBC. Although their voting strategy will likely differ from that of Goonswarm and the CFC, the differences are not likely to be stark. The entirety of the CFC and the HBC is approaching nearly half of the voting electorate. That’s an incredible amount of influence.
Consider, that if we’re looking at a more complex voting system, we’re likely going to see a lower overall turnout than we did for CSM7. I’m predicting 45K-50K votes, down from 60K votes last year. CFC and HBC voting will likely not suffer the same percentage decline.
I don’t point this out because I think it’s a bad thing. I’ve never been unhappy with any candidate that Goonswarm has chosen to support. I simply point it out, because if the goal was to limit the influence of the large powerblocs, it seems to me that changing the voting system will give these nullsec blocs increased power in creating a CSM to their liking. How they vote will likely determine nearly all fourteen members sitting on the council, and the order in which they sit.
Now I’m not suggesting that Goonswarm is going to stack the council with a tonne of null candidates. They’re smarter than that. They’ll look at who is running and decide who they want to serve with. I would imagine Ripard Teg, Marc Scaurus, Malcanis, Unforgiven Storm, one of the wormhole candidates, maybe even James 315, along with Mynnna, will all be on the ranking list that Goons will be encouraged to copy for their vote.
Come election time, I’d love to see the suggested rankings that Goonswarm sends out to its membership. I’d love to compare that list at the end of the election to the results. I think there’s going to be a lot of similarity between how the CFC/HBC voted and the final tally.
You can read more of Poetic Stanziel’s opinions at his Poetic Discourse blog.
Way I see it HI SECCerz are being more & more discouraged to vote…. This will reinforce CSM is a NULL sec thing IMHO
Previous CSM panels will confirm this.
ccp devs = former goons, csm = goons, game = goons, enjoy the botting empire they have set up to make money off all you blind sheep
no you made critical mistake ccp devs = PL/Goons (AND NOT FORMER)
Why would you want to limit the influence of larger powerblocs… The alliances in question are allied/large for a reason, more likely than not that reason is that they have similar interests. If their interests are similar why should they not vote similarly for something that is conducive to their interests?
I am no fan of GSF, CFC, TEST or the HBC but when it comes to freedom of expression and selection of representation who are you to say a certain demographic are not allowed to vote together?
It's like saying everyone should be given more complicated ballot forms because it will confuse the elderly and less of them will vote… because they vote in record numbers… and it will even the playing field… WTF lol.
I do not want to limit their power or organization.
I amusedly pointing out, that many thought a change in system could limit their power, but I believe they've more power now under a new STV-like voting system.
People scream for change, and most times they don't really realize what the result of that change will be.
It is obvious that the larger groups will have more power and it is painfully simple as to why. They are larger. It makes no difference what system is employed or limitations are set in place. One particular powerbloc has always succeeded in 'workarounds' to this type of thing, not mentioning any names goonswarm.
I expect to see a rise in votes cast this time round as HBC and CFC may have different ideas for the coming year.
HBC can barely tie a knot in their shoelaces, much less get organized enough to vote as a bloc.
Normal people tie bows in their shoelaces… Knots would make them very hard to take off.
There is more then one way to tie a knot, bows are knots.
The reason they will have more power has more to do with organization. Size of course matters here as well, but goonswarm for example, under the Schulze voting system with most likely influence the majority of who is on the CSM. Being a minority, this isn't really representing the majority of the playerbase (although the candidates of the past, and from the looks of it, the candidates of the future do care about generally everyone that plays eve, fortunately).
Then there's the fact that alot of people don't vote, I would imagine the % of voters belonging to a powerbloc is a much larger number than the % of total eve voters.
Making a "perfect" voting system for Eve is nigh impossible, especially considering that you could potentially buy votes by subbing accounts. What is perfect to me about the voting system though, is that it filters out terrible candidates.
There is one element that has been overlooked on the past replies to my initial comment. By myself, by stanz and by you. The HBC is not TEST alone. They have 'arguably' some of the best minds for eve at their helm (PL). Not to mention the unofficial HBC subsidiaries and the neodyminium cartel (who, just to clarify do not fall into the 'best minds' category. But are still powerful entitys). PL play politics with the best. If nothing more they are organisers. Even if this is historically through warfare. Pandemic Legion are and will always be striving to move forward. With the power they wield already within CCP, the fleet they have behind them and growing tension between the two coalitions, this years CSM could prove vital to future plans for the HBC. The largest coalition New Eden has ever seen.
Looking at the title I expected a humorous reference to Sgt Shultze of Hogan’s Heros!
Vee haf vays to make you tok!
Why does this article have a picture of a PL Grunt from real life, dressed up in PLs real life uniform that they all wear when they play EvE?
PL grunt best grunt.
4.bp.blogspot.com/-SCsaVzU1mqU/USU8-KEaipI…
you made me smile. you dam GOON!!!!
CFC and HBC, will pick who they want in the CSM to further their personal agenda, because they're space niggers.
CCP Devs who are alliance leaders eill see this go throigh.
To keep things as they are and resume their RMT operations.
Size matters and lets face anyone who is not part of the CFC is an underling on so many levels.
Not only do we own your voice as a customer to ccp, we own your nulsec and have in our pocket the only alliance who could could make a meaningful difference to the status quo.
We have in short won EVE, thank you for playing and please keep on coming up with benial reasons why this is not true.
Sucks to be you
Dave
lol, u wish. Keep on dreaming.
I started to like CFC and HBC. They are a huge target pool. Like pond full of fish, and me likes fishing:]
Yeah, you "own" our voice…
It would be interesting to see WHEN (not if, when) CCP Devs are caught once again putting "favouring" a particular group………..oh wait, CCP Shregs which is head of Internal Affairs, JUST SO HAPPENS to be a head Goon.
Let's see you "own" our voice when the next big scandal happens and highsec peeps who are pissed off unsubs.
Dave, now more than ever the CFC needs friends, they are giving tech to anyone who will take it. Probably straight from your own alliance's back yard. You are doing a spectacular job via your posts here to make your alliance and your coalition look insecure and weak. Not to mention any one not familiar with goon 'culture' will likely find your words insulting and demeaning.
To claim that you 'own' our voices, is just ridiculous. This is not just you. I read it from many, many goon posts that the entire player base is allowed to play as we do because goonswarm 'allows' us to.
This to me indicates false confidence and that is always undervalued for its danger.
'The bigger they are, the harder they fall'