In February 2024, Web3 Basis created the Decentralized Voices program for Polkadot and Kusama to permit extra folks to be considerably concerned in OpenGov by delegating KSM and DOT to lively voters within the Polkadot and Kusama ecosystems. A second cohort started in June, with twenty delegates, with the cohort ending on 10 September.
It’s now time to pick out new delegates for Cohort 3 of the Decentralized Voices program. Please be aware that there will likely be some modifications for this cohort — see under for particulars.
Functions are open till the tip of the day on 29 September (Central European Time). Choices and delegations will observe shortly thereafter and will likely be for a four-month interval.
Web3 Basis wish to thank all the contributors in Cohort 2 for his or her time and vitality spent figuring out the way forward for Polkadot and Kusama!
For extra details about how the delegates voted and the consequences that they had on the end result of Referenda, you’ll be able to view Colourful Notion’s Dune Decentralized Voices dashboard, which features a wealth of data.
Web3 Basis will proceed to delegate its personal DOT and KSM to particular person voters who’ve been proven to be avid and considerate contributors to governance via each on-chain voting and off-chain interactions. These delegations will proceed to happen on all Spender tracks (32, 33, 34), Tipper tracks (30, 31), in addition to the Treasurer monitor (11) and Want-for-change monitor (2). Candidates should write a public declaration of their political “philosophy” and/or agenda and should have the ability to present vital historic participation in Polkadot or Kusama governance.
Members are anticipated to vote recurrently and clarify the rationale behind their voting on Polkassembly, Subsquare, and/or different communications media (e.g. Polkaverse, X/Twitter, Polkadot Discussion board). Members are barred from voting Aye or Nay for Treasury Proposals for themselves or for which they’ve a battle of curiosity (e.g. voting towards a competitor, for a proposal for which they are going to be compensated, buying and selling votes, or any type of “quid pro quo” exercise). In such instances, they might vote Abstain or not vote in any respect.
Candidates are anticipated to self-police to make sure they don’t seem to be voting with a battle of curiosity. In case of questions, traces of communication with Web3 Basis, primarily by way of Matrix, are open. Please be aware that the choice of what constitutes a battle of curiosity is solely decided by Web3 Basis. Any candidate who was discovered to be voting with a battle of curiosity will likely be warned and requested to alter their vote to Abstain, or in egregious and/or repeated instances, their delegation revoked and any potential compensation forfeited. By no means ought to any Decentralized Voices delegate obtain compensation for voting in a specific means or for withholding their vote. In such instances, delegation can and will likely be revoked instantly, and any potential compensation from Web3 Basis will likely be forfeited.
In case of makes an attempt to sway their votes aside from dialogue (e.g. threats, bribes, gives to commerce votes), Decentralized Voices delegates are anticipated to report this to Web3 Basis.
Though public enter is requested and appreciated, the ultimate choice of candidates is on the discretion of Web3 Basis, and delegation might be revoked at any time within the case of violation of the principles.
Present delegates are allowed and inspired to request to obtain one other delegation from Web3 Basis sooner or later or appeal to different delegations from the ecosystem.
Not like earlier cohorts, Decentralized Voices delegates will likely be delegated each DOT and KSM voting energy. There is not going to be two separate applications for Polkadot and Kusama. It’s because the way forward for the 2 networks is extremely aligned. Moreover, the variety of Referenda on Kusama is minimal in comparison with Polkadot.
The variety of delegates is being lowered to 5. This quantity could also be lowered or elevated on the discretion of Web3 Basis. Delegates from earlier cohorts are inspired to use and within the case of excellent efficiency, to stay Decentralized Voices delegates for future cohorts. That is to optimize for high quality over amount in delegations. Now that OpenGov has been stay for over a yr, now we have way more details about how delegates and others have voted and interacted and may make higher choices.
Delegation size is being elevated to 4 months from three and could also be prolonged additional with future cohorts. It has change into apparent that being DV delegate takes ramp-up time, and we need to give groups the flexibility to take action. This additionally offers DV delegates extra certainty and stability of their planning.
In return for his or her work voting with delegated DOT, on the finish of the four-month delegation interval, every delegate will likely be rewarded with 3’500 DOT, vesting linearly over a one-year interval from the time of switch. Please be aware that this quantity is per delegation; within the case of a delegation to a collective entity akin to a DAO, this can depend as a single delegation and thus the identical quantity of DOT will likely be transferred as if it had been a person. In discussions with DV delegates from earlier cohorts, it’s clear that being a DV requires numerous work. We need to compensate those that are doing it nicely and allow them to know that their time is effective.
All delegates should confirm their id earlier than being accepted into this system (though it isn’t obligatory to take action earlier than making use of, you have to be conscious that this must happen earlier than delegation). Within the case of DAOs or different collectives, one consultant member might be chosen for id verification and receiving the DOT.
DV candidates should be already extremely engaged within the Polkadot neighborhood and particularly with Polkadot governance. An extended monitor document of voting on-chain, interacting on Polkassembly, Subsquare or different boards, taking part in Makes an attempt at Governance or different media, and many others. will all converse very extremely to at least one’s degree of engagement.
The best candidate may even be extremely aligned with, and educated about, Polkadot. They need to perceive the completely different mechanisms of Treasury funding, how Referenda work, the completely different tracks, and many others. They need to know the fundamentals of interplay with Polkadot, particularly use proxies and multisigs.
DV candidates ought to be independent-minded. We’re not on the lookout for dogmatic delegates however somewhat those that are open to argument and perceive the nuances of choices in OpenGov. The DV program can imply fairly a bit of debate and making trade-offs the place not everyone will get what they need. It is very important have the ability to deal with this in a mature means and stay proof against makes an attempt to sway votes.
Organizations or collectives with a transparent and clear inner governance construction will likely be prioritized over people. One of many causes for DV is to listen to from extra voices locally. Though the variety of delegations could also be happening, this could not imply that the variety of voices that these delegations characterize essentially needs to be lowered. Organizations and collectives are additionally capable of extra simply deal with the load of so many Referenda and are typically extra proof against corruption than people.
Notice that these are the overall pointers by which Web3 Basis will select delegates, however the closing resolution will likely be made by Web3 Basis, not a guidelines. Nevertheless, one closing merchandise is non-negotiable — DV delegates should be keen and capable of vote in the most effective curiosity of the general ecosystem.
Please fill out the application form by 23:59:59 29 September (Central European Time). Info requested consists of the next:
- The Polkadot and Kusama tackle to which you wish to have DOT and KSM delegated. It’s possible you’ll enter completely different addresses for Polkadot and Kusama (they don’t have to share a public key). A minimum of one of many accounts will need to have a verified id together with at the very least one of many following fields: Twitter, Matrix, or e mail. It’s extremely beneficial that you’re out there on Matrix for ongoing discussions.
- A hyperlink to a publicly accessible declaration of your Polkadot “political philosophy” and/or agenda. Ideally this ought to be on the Polkadot Forum, however it may be hosted elsewhere (e.g. Github, your homepage) so long as it’s public. This will embody an precise philosophical assertion, analogies to different political philosophies, opinions on earlier Referenda or governance choices, or every other means you wish to clarify to folks how you’d vote sooner or later. This ought to be at the very least one paragraph.
- If desired, you may additionally add a personal rationalization of why you’d be a good selection for this program. This will embody such info as earlier votes (together with votes with different accounts for those who can show you personal them), in addition to commentary, weblog posts, and many others. on Polkadot OpenGov or particular referenda. It could possibly additionally embody different info that you’d contemplate related to resolution making, e.g. being a part of different political teams or legislative our bodies.
- Notice that each one candidates are required to fill out a brand new type; simply since you utilized earlier doesn’t imply that you simply want to apply once more. Nevertheless, chances are you’ll re-use the identical publish of your political philosophy or every other info you submitted beforehand.
Polkadot Wiki Section on Delegation
