2023 BlogClan Elections

Art by Elenbasilevs [black cat wearing bow-tie and top hat]

Welcome, welcome, to the first post of the BlogClan Elections: 2023 Edition!

First off, we have to of course thank our amazing Deputy, Medicine Cat ( 😉 ), and Medicine Cat Apprentice for their absolute amazingness these past two years. Cheetahspark and Viperfrost, thank you from all of us. You both have filled your positions beautifully and embody what BlogClan is all about – kindness, respect, and acceptance. We couldn’t be more thankful for you and you are absolutely wonderful people. ❤️

I will be giving a big sappy speech later in the elections, but from me to all of you, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to be your Medicine Cat these past two years. I cannot overstate how grateful I am for each and every one of you for showing me what it truly means to be a Blogclanner by exhibiting the traits I listed above each and every day.

Now, shall we get started?

What are the Medicine Cat and Deputy Positions?

Medicine Cat

The Medicine Cat is a friendly ambassador to this community.

They welcome the newest members of BlogClan and play an active role on the New Members page.
They keep the community content, making sure every member of the site feels happy and involved.
They act as a go-between with BlogTeam and BlogClan, being one of the most useful points of contact between these two parts of the community.
They will choose a Medicine Cat Apprentice that they believe best fits the role.

The Medicine Cat Apprentice is not a role you can run for in these Elections. It is solely up to the winning candidate to decide their apprentice.

Deputy

The Deputy is a friendly, welcoming role model to this community.

They welcome the newest members of BlogClan and play an active role on the New Members page.
They help out members with any problems or difficulties around the blog.
They are generally a friendly person anyone can approach for help and guidance. They are a role model for BlogClanners.

Rules for Running

BlogTeam has made the decision that moderators will no longer be in the running for Medicine Cat or Deputy as past elections have shown that the tallied votes often skewed in favor of any moderator(s) running, as BlogClanners tended to include a moderator as one of their votes. Our belief is that all BlogClanners should have an equal opportunity to succeed in being elected for these positions. 🙂

Like running for Senior Warrior, there are rules and requirements for running for Medicine Cat and Deputy!

Candidates have been active on the Blog for at least 1 (one) year.
Candidates must have commented at least once in the past month.
Candidates can only run for 1 (one) of the two positions.
Candidates cannot be a moderator at the time of running.

What are the Elections?

During these next two weeks, we will be looking for candidates to fill these roles. Ultimately, it is up to BlogClanners to elect them and we trust you to pick who you think is most suited for the role.

We will hold an application process. During this time, members that meet the requirements will be able to apply to one of these two roles.

After initial applications, we will then hold hustings for candidates. In these hustings, candidates will provide speeches and answer questions to showcase why they believe they will best fill their chosen role.

Next, we will begin the first round of voting. Members who have been BlogClan for at least one month will get up to three votes for any of the candidates, though they do not need to use all three. The top three candidates with the most votes after this period will then move on to the second and final voting round.

In the last voting round, members who have been on BlogClan for at least one month will get one vote for the candidate of their choice. Choose wisely!

The Elections are supposed to be fun and encouraging, not a popularity contest. Please keep it that way and encourage every candidate! If you are not the winning candidate, that does not mean you don’t fill the role or contribute to BlogClan in unique and amazing ways. From your comments to your creative contributions, everyone makes BlogClan a better place by being here and we appreciate each and every one of you. 🙂

What are Hustings?

Hust•ings: (hŭs′tĭngz)pl.n.(used with a sing. or pl. verb)

1. A place where political campaign speeches are made.

2. The activities involved in political campaigning: a veteran of the hustings.

Each day we will publish a post giving a group of candidates the chance to give speeches, answer questions, and explain why they want this position. Please engage in as many posts as you can! Ask questions pertaining to what you think is most important for the role.

Schedule

Date	Event
July 1st	Introduction + Applications Open
July 2nd	Hustings, Day 1
July 3rd	Hustings, Day 2
July 4th	Applications Close + Hustings, Day 3
July 5th	Hustings, Day 4
July 6th	Election Break
July 7th	First Round of Voting Begins
July 8th	Election Commentary, Part 1
July 9th	First Round of Voting Ends
July 10th	Final Round of Voting Begins
July 11th	Election Commentary, Part 2
July 12th	Final Round of Voting Ends
July 13th	Election Wrap-Up
July 14th	Announcement of BlogClan’s New Medicine Cat + Deputy