Forum:Poll Rules

Here are the current rules we have about polls: One_Piece_Encyclopedia:Forum_Rules.

The problem is, they do not apply to non-forum polls—at least, not explicitly. It is important to be explicit in rules, to avoid disputes about their interpretation. It is especially important when these rules deal with polls!

In this forum, I'd like that we discuss whether these rules should apply to any "official" poll, and if not, how talk page polls should be different.

While we're at it, there are a few "loopholes" in the current rules that we should correct (both in forum and talk page polls). Here's what I think should be added: If you can think of anything else, of course, we're going to discuss it too.
 * the obvious fact that the poll shouldn't be modified after it has started (end date or questions—there are exceptions to this, that must be discussed here and formally stated in the rules);
 * implied by the previous point: the fact that a poll should be agreed upon before it is started;
 * the fact that anybody can change/withdraw their vote at any time (or not).

Discussion
Personally, I think the rules should be extended to talk pages. The only thing that should be changed is the duration. Sometimes two weeks is too long for a talk page poll (and even for a forum)…

A mandatory 2 weeks is kind of excessive. I presume you made this forum for the rather insignificant poll about the unreleased content stuff, which is a prime example of a poll that doesn't need to run for 2 weeks. Changing a poll after any votes have been cast should make them automatically invalid and the people that have voted already should be informed so that they may vote again. Sometimes changing a poll is necessary for better wording/clarification, it's just unacceptable to do it without prior discussion. Aside from that, the forum rules seem plenty applicable for talk pages as well. 13:29, January 19, 2013 (UTC)

Yeah, I feel that these rules should be nearly identical for all polls, and the only that that should change for different polls is the time for each since in some cases 2 weeks is a bit ridiculous. I think we should decide on the times for different scenarios now though, so that nobody makes shit up all the time. Here are a few of my timing suggestions:
 * Standard/most polls should be 2 weeks by default, and no poll should be less than a week (with one exception).
 * Two-part things like admin elections or ban forums should be 2 weeks total (1 week nominations, 1 week voting, or 1 week ban or not, 1 week how long the ban is.)
 * The exception being chat mod polls which run rather smoothly with a 6-day run time (3 days nominations, 3 days voting) because chatters are frequently on every day.
 * Any talk page poll about deletion of a page/category/whatever should be moved to a forum (copy/paste all the related talk page content to the forum, like I did with Forum:Fansub Page) where there should be a 2 week poll.
 * Any poll about different versions of a picture should just be one week, and the poll should take place on the talk page.

My rationale for these times is how likely a person is to notice and vote on a poll in its later days. We don't want to make every poll too short, otherwise semi-infrequent editors will never be able to vote on things.

There should be examples of the poll made before the poll starts, and we should generally standardize the format of them (we could possibly make a template or something so it's easier to make a poll as well). And I think minor changes to the poll such as minor phrasing alterations or formatting corrections that make the forum can be done without prior notification as long as it's done as a separate edit from someone's voting and the edit summary is used. Otherwise they should be discussed in the forum. Votes should only be invalidated though if the alterations would effect the outcome (ex another outcome is added/or one is removed).

As far as people changing their votes mid-poll, I think this is acceptable (as long as it doesn't happen in a way that breaks the rules here). I've changed my vote a few times because something that was said in the ongoing discussion has actually changed my mind. If people can't change their vote, then it makes any discussion that occurs after the poll starts completely useless, and lessens the chances of compromise or endings everyone could be happy with. 15:30, January 19, 2013 (UTC)

Like sff9 said, I think polls rules should be general and not limited to forums, though I prefer not to make rules too strict or we may regret them later. I quickly read the forum poll rules and, assuming we are extending them globally, there are some changes and additions I'd like to discuss: Ok these are mine suggestions.
 * Length: I rather avoid setting specific length times, instead we can simply say that a poll can last either one or two week. The length will be decided by consensus during the discussion or decided by an admin if that's not the case. This is just to make things easier.
 * Poll creation: this is something I think we should also discuss. I remember poll created hastily or with poor wording choice. Hence I think we should set some guidelines about this too, for example:
 * A poll should be created after an exhaustive discussion. Basically, "don't rush to make a poll, talk first".
 * A poll should be gone through a short trial period of a day before officially be opened to vote. This is to double-check with all user if the option's choices are fine and if there aren't any issue. I remember some polls where I disagreed with the wording choice, or other where the options were changed because there were some issue with them.
 * I propose that admins can cancel out a poll in the first week/3 days if there are some anomalies or irregularities, but only one time (or not?). This is to ensure a sort of "referee role". Note, that
 * Admins should add a notice to the site news about an ongoing poll. Sometimes I missed some poll because I wasn't even aware that they were started.
 * Other rules: I think any other specific one-time rule for a poll (don't know what they may be) can be decided upon poll creation, as long they don't go against the guidelines and they are approved by the admins.

Most polls should last 2 weeks and should only be on the forums. People don't notice talk page votes which is evidenced by the lack of votes that happened on the Unreleased content talk page until people were told to vote. SeaTerror (talk) 22:53, January 19, 2013 (UTC)

1 week is probably best. Waiting half a month for a poll to end when it's pretty one sided is stupid, or if all the votes possible are already cast. 22:54, January 19, 2013 (UTC)

@SeaTerror: most people won't notice any poll, regardless where it's placed, if it's not highlighted by admins in the site news.

@Galaxy: I disagree, or rather one week is fine for some polls but others require two weeks. This is why I suggested that it should be decided upon poll creation.

Polls should be allowed to take place on talk pages or forums, but I think that, as Levi said, they should be highlighted in the Wiki Activity. I personally think that in the case of admin votes, ban votes, or important forum decisions about wikia policy, then a two week vote should be used. In the deletion of pages, translation problems, or other issues, there can be a one-week poll. Other than that, I think we should go with Levi's proposed set of rules. A poll should not be started until the topic has been discussed in its entirety, and we definitely need some regulations on wording. I remember in Seaterror's forum where half of the discussion was over poll wording and not about the issue at hand. 23:36, January 19, 2013 (UTC)


 * I'd like to add some revisions to my response. To simplify things, how about one-week polls on talk pages and two-week polls on forums? In addition, the problem concerning "vote rigging", where people convince others to vote a certain way, needs to be addressed. I personally don't think that it matters, and that some people need to grow a spine, but we should discuss this. 02:35, January 20, 2013 (UTC)

Sounds fine PX. 02:36, January 20, 2013 (UTC)

Two weeks is already the voting rule anyway. We would need to revote on a whole new system if we try to do it that way. SeaTerror (talk) 02:54, January 20, 2013 (UTC)

^ For forums. Not all pages. 02:55, January 20, 2013 (UTC)