Proposal on Updating the Constitution: vote now closed - VOTE RESULTS

News
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Dear all,

As set out in PROPOSAL: resolution to update the Constitution, the Steering Committee has asked for all Voting Members to express their view on whether or not the DataSHIELD Community should adopt the proposed changes to the constitution.

I will be responsible for overseeing this vote as a non-voting member of the DataSHIELD Community.

Please email me directly using simon.parker@uni-heidelberg.de to state whether you are:

  1. In favour of adopting the change (“Yes”)
  2. Not in favour of adopting the change (“No”)

I will present the results of the vote to the Steering Committee (of course without revealing how any individual person voted!).

Please send me your vote by 17:00 CEST on Wednesday September 9th 2026.

Only voting members listed in the DataSHIELD wiki are eligible to vote. If you would like to become a voting member for future votes, please see the description of the process to do so in the DataSHIELD wiki.

I look forward to receiving your votes.

Kind regards,

Simon

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The proposed changes to the constitution are:

Section 5.5

This section currently states:


    "The Steering Committee provides overall leadership to the
    DataSHIELD Community and has day to day responsibility for the
    DataSHIELD Community."

Section 5.5.7

This section currently states:


    "The Steering Committee will elect a Chair and Secretary from
    among their members."

Proposed amendments:

Section 5.5 - APPEND the following:


    "The Steering Committee will be quorate if greater than 50% of
    members are in attendance. Decisions will be made by consensus, but
    where this is not possible a simple majority of members present
    will suffice."

Section 5.5.7 - APPEND the following:

 
    "These roles are unique and may only be occupied by one person
    at a time. Each role will be confirmed on an annual basis,
    normally at the first meeting of each calendar year. Decisions
    will be made by consensus, but where this is not possible a
    simple majority of members present will suffice. In the event of
    a tie, the outgoing Chair shall provide a deciding vote."
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Thank you to all voting members who voted on this proposal.

The voting period is now closed.

The results are:

Yes - 79%

No - 15%

Abstain - 6%

17 out of 29 voting members voted therefore the vote can be considered quorate.

An updated version of the constitution will be online soon.