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Election Day
Inside CIRA Governance
Maureen Cubberley CIRA Board Chair Bernard
Turcotte CIRA President
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Welcome
Bernard Turcotte CIRA President
Maureen Cubberley Chair, CIRA Board
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Presentation Overview

• About CIRA and dot-ca
• Background and history
• Governance approach
• Opportunities
• Elections Process
• History and experience
• Candidate involvement
• Outreach to members and public
• Special interests

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About CIRA and Dot-CA

• 1987 - November 2000
• Dot-ca domain managed by John Demco and
  University of British Columbia volunteers
• 60,000 active domain names
• Restrictions on dot-ca registrations
• December 2000
• CIRA assumes management control of dot-ca
• 60,000 domain names transferred
• New more flexible registration rules take effect
• Canadian Presence Requirements

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About CIRA and Dot-CA

• June 2002
• Close to 300,000 domain names
• 500 growth in 18 months
• 84 certified registrars
• Thick registry
• Budget 3.3M (US)
• Staff 15

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About CIRA and Dot-CAOpen and Accountable
Governance
CIRA members voting at the Annual General Meeting
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Dot-caOpportunity Canada Takes Notice
Canadians increasingly choosing dot-ca
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Board of Directors13 Persons

• 9 elected
• 3 appointed
• 1 non-voting
• (government)

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Elections

• June 2001
• First Board of Directors election
• 90,000 eligible members (voters)
• 3,000 members vote/participate
• 9 Directors elected
• May 2002
• Second Board of Directors election
• 140,000 eligible members (voters)
• 1000 members vote/participate
• 3 Directors elected (3 Board seats to fill)

VOTER APATHY?
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Elections Process

• Nomination Committee
• Selected by CIRA Board
• Nominates at least 3 candidates to final ballot
• Members Nominees
• Can nominate candidates
• Require support from 50 other members

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Elections Process

• Online Question and Answer Forum
• Open to general public
• Hard questions and issues raised by Canadians
• Candidates can state views and positions

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Elections ProcessCandidates Campaigns
Highly motivated candidates seek support from
members (voters)
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Elections ProcessMedia and Public Relations
Outreach
- Mass advertising raises awareness - No direct
impact on voter turnout
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Elections ProcessSpecial Interest Groups

• Alliances and coalitions can take shape
• Online Board elections have much in common with
  real world politics and elections

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Elections Process

• Online voting
• ID/PW required
• 7 day voting period
• 1 vote per member (for each open seat)

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Closing Remarks

• Openness and transparency
• Foundation of dot-ca governance
• Needed for fair and credible elections
• Essential to involve interested parties
• Key challenge
• Participation by members and candidates
• Reward
• Accountable governance practices

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Thank You!

• Questions?
• m.cubberley_at_sympatico.ca
• bernard.turcotte_at_cira.ca
• www.cira.ca
• Canadian Internet Registration Authority
• Suite 1110, 350 Sparks Street
• Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 7S8
• Canada