callistra | Jan. 4th, 2008

http://community.livejournal.com/aust_sf_fan_fun/6533.html?view=19589

Stolen from Jean Weber's webpage here:

Voting deadline is midnight on January 31, 2008.

Since 1972 the Down Under Fan Fund, a fan-supported fellowship, has encouraged closer ties between science fiction fans in Australasia and North America through an alternating exchange of representatives. DUFF delegates attend the Worldcon or a national convention in the host country and visit fans they might otherwise never meet in person. Delegates are responsible for raising funds and administering DUFF until a new delegate from their continent is elected, and are expected to publish trip reports which can be sold to aid the fund.

VOTING: DUFF uses the preferential balloting system to guarantee an automatic runoff and a majority win. The voter ranks the candidates in order of preference (1, 2, 3, etc.). If there is no absolute majority for one candidate after the first count of votes, first-place votes for the lowest-ranking candidate are dropped, and the second-place votes on those ballots are assigned to the candidates named. This goes on until one candidate has a majority. So it's important to vote for second, third, etc. places, especially if you choose to write in a candidate. (The voter is not required to fill in more than their name, address and first choice.)

Ballots must be signed and accompanied by a donation of at least $5US or $6 Australian. Anyone may contribute and donations in excess of the voting minimum are gratefully accepted. Checks should be made payable to Joe Siclari (in North America) or Norman Cates (in New Zealand/Australasia) in the administrator's home currency.

Anyone may vote who has been active in fandom on or before January 1, 2007. "Active in fandom" means involved in fannish pursuits such as fanzine writing or reading, convention running or attending, amateur film/video production, or club participation. Only natural persons may vote. Each voter may vote only once.

CANDIDATES: Two Australasian fans and three North American fans nominate each candidate. Each candidate has written a platform and promised (barring Acts of God) to travel to Swancon, the Australian National Science Fiction Convention, in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, March 20-24, 2008, and to serve as administrator of the fund until the next North American delegate is elected.

For more information, click here!