I decided not to write in the long thread of messages related to the current situation with the ballot. 

What makes me really astounded is the broader context of this discussion. While many members of this stakeholder group are fighting for transparency, accountability and fair processes in different working group at the ICANN, it strikes me what kind of comments about democracy I see here on the list from the NCSG leadership. "Symbolic elections"? Where all the legitimacy and fairness of the processes have gone? How I personally can define the set values of this stakeholder group, the values I (and many others) am supposed to stand for?

I agree with Dave, who pointed out that even the notion of "symbolic" election is a bad idea. And no, it's not about not having enough people running for the seats. It's about not being able to vote against any of them. 

I am not talking about this particular elections - I wish all our candidates good luck and hope they won't get NOTA votes. I am talking about the broader context, about the comments I have never thought I will see on the list of the group that is supposed to stand for fairness and due processes. 

And this is all very sad. 

Warm regards

Tanya