NDC Elections: All You Need To Know a must-read! It's no longer news that the NDC elections are around the corner. All hands are on deck as the date of the election draws near. If you're looking to learn more about the NCD elections, stick around as we explore. NDC Elections Overview The Near Digital Collective (NDC) is known as the biggest development in decentralization on any layer 1 blockchain. In recent times, they have been concerned with creating a system where members of the NEAR protocol community will be given the opportunity to vote and be voted for. This will also grant the elected the power to have a say in the affairs of the NEAR community. The goal of the NDC elections is to ensure that there is collective decision-making, transparency, and an improvement in governance models. You have been given the liberty to vote for the candidate that you are sure will take the future of NEAR to the next level. NDC Election Eligibility To be eligible to run for the NDC elections, you'll have to meet the following criteria: You should be a very active NDC contributor in the ecosystem with proof of receiving a bounty. You must be a well-known community member for at least one year who is also still very active with contributions to the ecosystem. You must be an ecosystem leader who is in charge of projects and also contributes to initiatives that are passionate about bringing the NDC V1 to the online space. They make contributions by lending their time and resources to the cause of the project. They can also help by recruiting contributors who can help deliver the objectives. You should be a member of the NEAR Foundation. NDC Election Nomination Requirements Here are the requirements for the election nomination: You must have an OG SBT. You should know that these are not just given to anyone. They are given to people who have been active contributors to the NEAR ecosystem for a period of time. Bear in mind that the OG SBT is not based on merit but on how long you've been an active member of the ecosystem. If you've been a committed OG who has a heart for the continued growth and success of the NEAR community, You can upvote a candidate as long as you've registered through I-AM-HUMAN. Note: The nominations run for 50 days and will end on the 7th of September 2023, while the elections will commence on the 8th of September 2023 and will be ongoing for two weeks. Important Election Date Here are the key dates for the NDC elections: July 19: is the start date for candidacy submissions on BOS September 1: Deadline for voter registration through the I-AM-HUMAN September 1: Deadline for applying for the OG badge for candidacy eligibility September 7: Deadline for candidacy submissions September 8: Commencement of voting at NEAR APAC in Vietnam September 22: Voting ends. How to Participate in the NDC Elections The way to participate in the NDC elections is by voting for your preferred candidate or by running for office. Another way to take part in the elections is by engaging with other voters and candidates on the nomination platforms by discussing policy positions and contributing to the social proof of the candidate by upvoting and commenting. Eligibility Criteria for Voting Here are the criteria for voting in the NDC elections: You must have a face-verified soul-bound token (SBT). This can be gotten with a NEAR wallet via I-AM-HUMAN. How to Vote in the NDC Elections The voting process promises to be swift and easy, as it will take place on NEAR's Blockchain Operating System. You can find the link to vote on NDC's Discord, Telegram, and Medium pages. log into the dashboard. Review the profiles of your preferred candidates and their platforms. Make your choice and submit. Make sure that you vote within the given timeframe so that your vote will be recorded. Governance Structure The NDC government will consist of three houses. They are structured as follows: The House of Merit The House of Merit consists of 15 positions with the following responsibilities: Responsible for allocating the treasury Aligns the congress Deploys capital for the expansion of the ecosystem. Commitment 5–20 hours every week with a minimum participation threshold Required Expertise Treasury management Budgetary expertise for ecosystem budget planning Review Council of Advisors The Council of Advisors comprises seven seats with the following responsibilities: Ensures that other houses function effectively. Evaluates the performance of all governing bodies Guiding the deployment of the Treasury Commitment 5–20 hours every week with a minimum participation threshold Required Expertise Strategic mind to advise the House of Merit. Strategic Mind to hold veto power. Transparency Commission The Transparency Commission consists of seven positions with the following responsibilities: Making sure there are no gangs or cartels formed in the ecosystem Notifies the different houses of the state of the ecosystem Investigate problematic community members. Removes bad eggs from the ecosystem. ensures the clean behavior of the elected officials. Commitment 5–20 hours every week with a minimum participation threshold Required Expertise unbiased guardians of the treasury with the goal of investigating and getting rid of bad actors. Safeguards for NDC Election Integrity Here are the safeguards for the NDC elections integrity with pictorial representations: Fair Voting Policy: This has to do with the agreement of the voters not to sell their votes. Candidate Agreement to Transparency and Accountability: No candidate is expected to buy any votes and would be eligible for post-election enforcement when found guilty. Captcha Oracle: This is added to every vote to prevent scripting. Pikes Peak Review of Election Results: Pikes Peak will be used to monitor the election results during and after the elections to ensure a free and fair election. Whistleblower Program: The NDC has created a whistleblower program where anyone with information about election fraud can receive a bounty if their claims are accurate. Enforcement by the Transparency Commission: In a situation where there is serious election fraud, the Transparency Commission has the power to ban the voter or candidate. Frequently Asked Questions Here are some of the frequently asked questions about the NDC elections: Will there be any form of election oversight? Well, you should know that the elections are conducted on-chain and the votes are permanently stored there. This makes it transparent and open to anyone who wishes to monitor the process. What should the spending cap be for the NDC? A poll was carried out and most people voted for $3 million as the average spend cap value, with $1.5 million coming in second place. What should the term limit be for the first Congress? Six months is being discussed as the term limit for the first congress. It has been discussed that the first congress should be shorter as a test for a longer second congress. How are Candidates Selected? After the candidates have submitted their candidacies, the NDC will conduct a thorough review and publish the candidates who meet the eligibility criteria on their official channels. In The End You should lend your voice by ensuring that you take part in the upcoming NDC elections. Make sure that you pass the eligibility criteria and vote within the stipulated time. You can reach out for support on the Telegram and Discord channels. Ciao! #NDCELECTION #NDC #BOS #TNEsociety