Moderator Election Update
While the tampering in the election was disappointing to me personally and, more importantly, to the candidates involved, and while it was very unfortunate for the board, it is most important to remember it was only one person who tampered with the votes and violated the trust of the community.
Had nothing else happened, Prelude would have had nearly a fifty percent vote; unfortunately, in a PM she expressed a desire to withdraw her candidacy, a decision she told me was independent of the recent revelations.
The tampering has left everyone in an unfortunate position: it is very hard to choose how to act without letting this event affect our actions. Yet we must not let the actions of only a single person damage the board's democratic nature.
Because Prelude does not wish to be a moderator, and because we do not know if our second place candidate would have received a definite fifty percent majority, I think the only option is to have a carefully watched revote (and that is possible. Rest assured that tampering with the next election will be impossible.).
I hope that none of the candidates will withdraw as a direct result of the tampering -- to do so is to let a childish prankster overcome an entire community. Instead, let us go on from here more watchful but not more distrustful -- because Prelude's decision is independent of the tampering, a revote is, I believe, fair. Regretably, there may be a bitter taste in the mouths of some of the candidates involved, and I do not wish to force anyone to take part in the next vote: previous candidates, please let me know immediately if you wish to be a part of the revote. If you do or do not, please reply to this thread.
To the candidates affected, I apologize for not being more watchful. To the community, I apologize for not being more watchful. To the cheater, I am now watching you.
