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The IserveU logo

IserveU is a non-profit, direct democracy organization and web-based voting platform founded in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. [1] The organization's stated aims are to increase local engagement in governance through crowdsourcing decision-making to the voting public. [2][3]

Formation

Initially conceived in 2012[4] by Paige Saunders, it was intended to introduce a form of e-democracy to Yellowknife. IserveU has since become a web-based voting platform and volunteer organization, organizing public events and canvassing.[5] In a letter from one of the organization's founding members, it is stated that before the election, IserveU operated through volunteers and a small staff.[6]

Voting platform

The IserveU voting platform functions as a way to incorporate elements of direct democracy into a representative system by obligating city council incumbents to vote in accordance with the outcome of online votes..[7]

Councilors seeking greater citizen input into decision-making post all current motions before the council, on the IserveU site. These motions could be detailed, debated, and voted on by the registered userbase before the outcome is taken to council.[8] Councilors themselves can vote on issues with the weight of the currently 'uncast' votes.[9] That is, the outcome of a motion with very little public participation will largely be decided by the councilors' votes, as the votes in the uncast vote pool are equally divided between them. Whereas, a motion that has garnered a large amount of public participation will have fewer uncast votes for the councilors to use, reducing the councilors' impact.[10]

The system is still being modified to meet new concerns and has been released under an open source license on GitHub.[11]

Inauguration

On the 19th of October, 2015, Rommel Silverio, who is associated with the platform, was elected into the council in Yellowknife,[12][13] Mr. Silverio entered office for a three-year term starting on November 2, 2015.[14]

References

  1. ^ "Cyber Revolution Takes on City Hall". EDGEyk. Archived from the original on August 21, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  2. ^ "What is IserveU? Depends on who you ask". Northern Journal. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  3. ^ "Why E-Democracy?". IserveU.ca. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  4. ^ "IserveU's History and Mission". IserveU.ca. Retrieved 27 Oct 2015.
  5. ^ "IserveU 2.0: Door to Door with Direct Democracy". EDGEYK. 18 August 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  6. ^ "Before you make up your mind about IserveU, read this". EDGEyk. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Group aims for 'e-democracy'" (PDF). Northern News Services. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  8. ^ "IserveU, made-in-Yellowknife website, aims at crowdsourcing democracy". CBC North. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  9. ^ "IserveU: Democracy's Third Way?". Northern Public Affairs. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  10. ^ "IserveU founder Paige Saunders answers your questions". CBC North. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  11. ^ "IserveU". Github.
  12. ^ "Election 2015: List-of Winners in Yellowknife and Hay River". myyellowknifenow.com. Moose FM. 20 October 2015.
  13. ^ "IserveU celebrates Rommel Silverio's Yellowknife council win". CBC North. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Yellowknife Municipal Candidate Guide" (PDF). City of Yellowknife.
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