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).

Rules for Talk Page Polls
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)