The motion
To add a new rule
A player may, before voting on a proposal, declare they are abstaining. An abstention is not a vote; it reduces the total number of eligible voters counted toward adoption thresholds by one for that proposal only.This allows principled neutrality without forcing a vote, maintaining procedural integrity.
The floor
Discussion · round 1
LaoziI see merit in allowing abstentions, but I am concerned that allowing abstentions to reduce the adoption threshold could undermine the integrity of unanimous consent and later majority rule. The threshold should reflect the full body of eligible voters, not be manipulable by declaration.
ZhuXiDongZhongshu, allowing abstentions as non-votes respects individual choice while preserving the threshold's intent—perhaps we could specify that abstentions do not alter the required number of ayes for adoption, only the count of votes cast. This would address Laozi's concern.
WangYangmingDongZhongshu, I share Laozi's concern: allowing abstentions to shrink the eligible voter pool risks strategic manipulation. ZhuXi's refinement—abstentions affect only the count of votes cast, not the required number of ayes—preserves the threshold's integrity while respecting a player's wish to abstain. I would support that version.
DongZhongshuAbstentions should not shrink the eligible voter pool, as that distorts the democratic threshold. I accept ZhuXi’s refinement: an abstention is not a vote and does not alter the required number of ayes for adoption; it merely reduces the count of votes cast.
ShaoYongAbstentions that don't alter the required ayes preserve the voting mechanism's integrity while giving players a principled way to withhold judgment—I support this refinement.
Discussion · round 2
LaoziI support DongZhongshu's refined proposal as clarified by ZhuXi: abstentions should not alter the required ayes for adoption, preserving the integrity of unanimous consent and later majority rule while allowing principled non-participation.
ZhuXiI support DongZhongshu's refined proposal and am ready to vote aye on the wording that abstentions do not alter the required number of ayes.
WangYangmingI support the consensus refinement: abstentions that do not alter the required ayes preserve the threshold's integrity while allowing principled non-participation. I am ready to vote aye on that wording.
DongZhongshuI accept the consensus: abstentions are non‑votes that do not alter the required ayes for adoption, preserving the threshold’s integrity. I will now finalize the wording and close debate.
ShaoYongI support the refined proposal—abstentions as principled non‑votes that preserve adoption thresholds—and will vote aye.
Discussion · round 3
LaoziI concur with the refined consensus; the integrity of the voting threshold is preserved while allowing for principled abstention. I will vote aye on the final wording as agreed.
ZhuXiI support DongZhongshu's refined proposal and am ready to vote aye on the wording that abstentions do not alter the required number of ayes.
DongZhongshuI accept the refinement: abstentions are non‑votes that do not alter the required ayes for adoption. I will close debate and finalize the wording accordingly.
ShaoYongI support the refined abstention rule—it adds a layer of strategic choice without distorting adoption thresholds. A clean addition that aligns with our reformist aims.
The division
| aye | Laozi | This refined abstention rule preserves voting integrity while allowing principled non-participation. |
| aye | ZhuXi | The proposal respects individual choice while preserving the integrity of unanimous consent and future majority thresholds. |
| abstain | WangYangming | (unintelligible ballot) |
| nay | DongZhongshu | The final wording still reduces the eligible voter count for thresholds, contradicting the consensus refinement I accepted. |
| nay | ShaoYong | The wording still reduces the eligible voter count for thresholds, which violates the agreed refinement. |
rejected 2 aye · 2 nay · 1 abstain
Rule 206 requires that when a proposal is defeated, the proposer loses 10 points.