Dear all, Please find below the final proposed agendas for the GNSO Council Meeting Part I and Part II on 6 November 2019 at 13:00 local time, Montreal. GNSO Council Agenda 06 November 2019 - Part I Please note that all documents referenced in the agenda have been gathered on a Wiki page for convenience and easier access: https://community.icann.org/x/uoXkBg This agenda was established according to the GNSO Operating Procedures<https://gnso.icann.org/en/council/op-procedures-30jan18-en.pdf> v3.3, updated on 30 January 2018 For convenience: * An excerpt of the ICANN Bylaws defining the voting thresholds is provided in Appendix 1 at the end of this agenda. * An excerpt from the Council Operating Procedures defining the absentee voting procedures is provided in Appendix 2 at the end of this agenda. GNSO Council meeting held in Montreal 13:00 - 15:00 local time Coordinated Universal Time: 18:00 UTC: https://tinyurl.com/y33pl34a 10:00 Los Angeles; 13:00 Washington; 18:00 London; 23:00 Islamabad; (Thursday) 03:00 Tokyo; (Thursday) 05:00 Melbourne GNSO Council Meeting Remote Participation: https://community.icann.org/x/LYvkBg ___________________________________ Item 1: Administrative Matters (10 mins) 1.1 - Roll Call 1.2 - Updates to Statements of Interest 1.3 - Review / Amend Agenda 1.4 - Note the status of minutes for the previous Council meetings per the GNSO Operating Procedures: Minutes<https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/policy/2019/agenda/agenda-gnso-co...> of the GNSO Council meeting on the 19 September 2019 were posted on 10 October 2019 Minutes of the GNSO Council meeting on the 24 October 2019 will be posted on 13 November 2019 Item 2: Opening Remarks / Review of Projects & Action List (20 minutes) 2.1 - Review focus areas and provide updates on specific key themes / topics, to include review of Projects List <https://gnso.icann.org/en/council/project> and Action Item List<https://community.icann.org/x/RgZlAg> Item 3: Consent Agenda (15 minutes) * Reconfirmation of Julf Helsingius as GNSO Council Liaison to the Governmental Advisory Committee * Approval of the amended IANA Naming Function Service Level Agreement (SLA) regarding Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) tables and Label Generation Rulesets (LGRs) in the IDN Practices Repository * Approval of Tomslin Samme-Nlar to serve as the GNSO Co-Chair for the IANA Naming Function Review. Item 4: COUNCIL VOTE – Approval and adoption of the Drafting Team’s New Templates and Guidelines for the GNSO as a Decision Participant in the Empowered Community (EC) (15 minutes) Following the adoption by the GNSO Council of the revised GNSO Operating Procedures, as well as the proposed modifications to the ICANN Bylaws which were adopted<https://features.icann.org/new-gnso-voting-thresholds-address-post-transitio...> by the ICANN Board of Directors on 13 May 2018, staff identified additional proposed steps to be taken to ensure preparedness as well as facilitate the ability for the GNSO Council to act in relation to the new roles and responsibilities outlined in the post-transition Bylaws. The Drafting Team<https://community.icann.org/x/-JUWBg> was established to develop guidelines, including any recommendations for changes to GNSO Operating Procedures if applicable, that clarify additional details or steps related to a particular action to be completed by the GNSO that falls within its existing process or procedure. These guidelines are meant to help the GNSO effectively participate as a Decision Participant in the Empowered Community (EC) in accordance with the post-transition ICANN Bylaws. The Drafting Team provided an update and explanation of the guidelines and motion templates to the GNSO Council during the October 2019 meeting, noting that two documents relating to joint ccNSO/GNSO actions relating to Special IANA Function Reviews (IFRs) remain to be completed. The Drafting Team has now completed its duties and fulfilled its work plan<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yeydtqli8UWOrrvChIf9EMprGxo0pOr5lcadM-n0...> and provided the guidelines and motion templates to the GNSO Council in time for the November meeting. The GNSO and ccNSO Councils will discuss the Joint Consultation Guidelines for the ccNSO/GNSO actions related to Special IFRs and seek to jointly adopt them in Montreal. Here, the GNSO Council will vote to adopt the updated processes and procedures. 4.1 – Presentation of motion<https://community.icann.org/x/voXkBg> (Council Leadership) 4.2 – Council discussion 4.3 – Council vote (voting threshold: simple majority) Taking this action is within the GNSO’s remit to ensure that the GNSO, as a Decisional Participant in the Empowered Community, is able to “exercise its rights and perform its obligations under ICANN's Articles of Incorporation and these Bylaws” as described under Annex D: EC Mechanism under the ICANN Bylaws. Item 5: COUNCIL DISCUSSION – Discussion on the Addendum to the Review of All Rights Protection Mechanisms in All gTLDs Charter to Integrate Recommendation 5 From IGO-INGO Access to Curative Rights Protection Mechanisms Final Report (15 minutes) On 18 April 2019, the Council voted<https://community.icann.org/display/gnsocouncilmeetings/Motions+18+April+201...> to approve recommendations 1-4 of Final Report from the IGO-INGO Access to Curative Rights Protection Mechanisms PDP WG. The Council also resolved to not approve Recommendation 5 and, ” directs the Review of All Rights Protection Mechanisms in All gTLDs (RPM) PDP to consider, as part of its Phase 2 work, whether an appropriate policy solution can be developed that is generally consistent with Recommendations 1, 2, 3 & 4 of the PDP Final Report and: * accounts for the possibility that an IGO may enjoy jurisdictional immunity in certain circumstances; * does not affect the right and ability of registrants to file judicial proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction; * preserves registrants’ rights to judicial review of an initial UDRP or URS decision; and * recognizes that the existence and scope of IGO jurisdictional immunity in any particular situation is a legal issue to be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.” The GNSO Council resolved also to, “amend the charter for the RPMs PDP Working Group to reflect this new instruction accordingly.” Some members of the GNSO Council met with certain members of the GAC and IGOs at ICANN65, where there appeared to be agreement from the GAC/IGOs to support the chartering of this separate work. A small team of Councilors was convened to prepare a draft Addendum to the RPMs PDP charter, which was discussed during the Council’s September 2019 meeting. After integrating Councilor feedback, the revised Addendum<https://gnso.icann.org/en/drafts/rpms-charter-addendum-09oct19-en.pdf> was shared with the GAC and IGOs for their consideration. The Council will consider GAC/IGO feedback received on [date], as well as feedback from the meeting with the GAC at ICANN66. Here, the Council will discuss what changes are needed, if applicable, in order to adopt the Addendum to the RPMs PDP charter. 5.1 – Introduction of topic (Council leadership) 5.2 – Council discussion 5.3 – Next steps Item 6: COUNCIL DISCUSSION - ICANN Board Response to the GNSO Council Letter Regarding the Consultation on Non-Adopted EPDP Phase 1 Parts of Recommendations (purpose 2 and recommendation #12) (15 minutes) On 15 May, the ICANN Board informed<https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/file/field-file-attach/chalaby-to...> the GNSO Council of the Board’s action in relation to the GNSO’s EPDP Phase 1 policy recommendations. The Board did not adopt two of the recommendations in full, where the Board has identified that portions of those recommendations are not in the best interests of the ICANN Community or ICANN and is initiating the consultation process between the Board and the GNSO Council. This concerns recommendation #1, purpose 2 and recommendation #12, deletion of data in the Organization field. As required under the ICANN Bylaws at Annex A-1,Section 6.b, a Board Statement is attached as Annex A to the letter, articulating the reasons for the Board’s non-adoption of these two items. As per the Bylaw requirements (Annex A-1, Section 6.c), “the Council shall review the Board Statement for discussion with the Board as soon as feasible after the Council's receipt of the Board Statement.” During the Council’s Extraordinary Meeting on 28 May 2019, it reviewed the Board Statement and conducted a lengthy discussion on the best path forward. On 30 May 2019, Keith Drazek, the GNSO Chair provided an update to the EPDP Team on the expected next steps in relation to the ICANN Board’s action on Phase 1 recommendations and requested that the EPDP Team provide input to identify any questions, comments or concerns in relation to ICANN Board’s action on the EPDP Phase 1 Recommendations. Subsequently, on 9 June 2019, Janis Karklins, Chair of the EPDP, informed the GNSO Chair of the following preliminary input noting that there was not sufficient time to formalize and agree on an EPDP Team response: “• In relation to purpose 2, there is a general understanding for why the Board decided to not adopt this purpose and the EPDP Team confirms that it considers it firmly within its scope for phase 2 to further review this purpose in the context of the System for Standardized Access / Disclosure (SSAD); • For recommendation #12, some additional context has been provided that may help explain the thinking behind the EPDP Team’s original recommendation. However, there is no agreement at this stage on whether or not the Board’s non-adoption should be supported.” During the Council’s June 2019 meeting, it continued to consider the next steps<https://mm.icann.org/pipermail/council/2019-May/022754.html>, taking into account a discussion with the ICANN Board at ICANN65. The reasoning and intent of the deletion part of recommendation #12 was explained to the Board, as well as the intent of purpose 2 and it was agreed that a letter should be drafted and sent to the ICANN Board as well as the EPDP Team to provide an update on the current thinking of the GNSO Council and likely next steps. The Council discussed a draft response on its 18 July 2019 meeting, subsequent discussion on the mailing list, and additional dialogue on the 22 August 2019 meeting. On 9 September 2019, the GNSO Council sent its response<https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/file/field-file-attach/gnso-counc...> to the ICANN Board. On 14 October 2019, the ICANN Board provided its response<https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/file/field-file-attach/chalaby-to...> to the GNSO Council’s update. On the Council’s October 2019 meeting, the Council considered the Board’s response and discussed next steps. The Council agreed to consult with the EPDP Team regarding some potential ways of addressing Board’s concerns (such as additional rationale or implementation guidance), in preparation for discussions with the ICANN Board at ICANN66. Here, the Council, taking into account feedback from the EPDP Team and the ICANN Board, will seek to agree on next steps. See also Annex A-1, Section 6. Board Approval Process below for further details. Section 6. Board Approval Processes The Board will meet to discuss the EPDP recommendation(s) as soon as feasible, but preferably not later than the second meeting after receipt of the Recommendations Report from the Staff Manager. Board deliberation on the EPDP Recommendations contained within the Recommendations Report shall proceed as follows: a. Any EPDP Recommendations approved by a GNSO Supermajority Vote shall be adopted by the Board unless, by a vote of more than two-thirds (2/3) of the Board, the Board determines that such policy is not in the best interests of the ICANN community or ICANN. If the GNSO Council recommendation was approved by less than a GNSO Supermajority Vote, a majority vote of the Board will be sufficient to determine that such policy is not in the best interests of the ICANN community or ICANN. b. In the event that the Board determines, in accordance with paragraph a above, that the proposed EPDP Recommendations are not in the best interests of the ICANN community or ICANN (the Corporation), the Board shall (i) articulate the reasons for its determination in a report to the Council (the "Board Statement"); and (ii) submit the Board Statement to the Council. c. The Council shall review the Board Statement for discussion with the Board as soon as feasible after the Council's receipt of the Board Statement. The Board shall determine the method (e.g., by teleconference, email, or otherwise) by which the Council and Board will discuss the Board Statement. At the conclusion of the Council and Board discussions, the Council shall meet to affirm or modify its recommendation, and communicate that conclusion (the "Supplemental Recommendation") to the Board, including an explanation for the then-current recommendation. In the event that the Council is able to reach a GNSO Supermajority Vote on the Supplemental Recommendation, the Board shall adopt the recommendation unless more than two-thirds (2/3) of the Board determines that such guidance is not in the interests of the ICANN community or ICANN. For any Supplemental Recommendation approved by less than a GNSO Supermajority Vote, a majority vote of the Board shall be sufficient to determine that the guidance in the Supplemental Recommendation is not in the best interest of the ICANN community or ICANN. 6.1 – Introduction of topic (Council leadership) 6.2 – Council discussion 6.3 – Next steps Item 7: COUNCIL DISCUSSION - PDP 3.0 Small Group Update/Discussion (15 minutes) The PDP 3.0 Small Team has completed at least eight (8) out of fourteen (14) PDP 3.0 improvements and has delivered three packages to the GNSO Council. Package one<https://mm.icann.org/pipermail/council/2019-August/022965.html>, on improvements 1, 2, 3, and 6 was delivered on 13 August 2019. Package two<https://mm.icann.org/pipermail/council/2019-September/023075.html>, on improvements 11, 12, 14, and 16 was delivered on 25 September 2019. Package three<https://mm.icann.org/pipermail/council/2019-October/023185.html>, on improvements 5 and 13 was delivered on 22 October 2019. The PDP 3.0 Small Team is making substantial progress on package four, which includes improvements 9 and 15. The PDP 3.0 Small Team has prepared a work plan that covers items leading up to ICANN66 and continues to work against that work plan. The work plan also touches on the elements necessary after ICANN66 and leading up to the 2020 Strategic Planning Session. Here, the Council will receive an update on progress made to date and the work plan to complete the PDP 3.0 implementation. 7.1 - Introduction of topic (Rafik Dammak) 7.2 - Council discussion 7.3 - Next steps Item 8: ANY OTHER BUSINESS (15 minutes) 8.1 - GNSO Approval Action on Fundamental Bylaws Amendment re IANA Naming Function Review Composition - Notification that vote will be needed within 21 days. 8.2 - Open Microphone 8.3 - Thank you to outgoing Councilors _______________________________ Appendix 1: GNSO Council Voting Thresholds (ICANN Bylaws, Article 11, Section 11.3(i)) See https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/governance/bylaws-en/#article11. Appendix 2: GNSO Council Absentee Voting Procedures (GNSO Operating Procedures, Section 4.4) See https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/file/field-file-attach/op-procedu... References for Coordinated Universal Time of 18:00 UTC Local time between March and October Summer in the NORTHERN hemisphere ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- California, USA (PST) UTC-8 10:00 San José, Costa Rica (CST) UTC-6 12:00 New York/Washington DC, USA (EST) UTC-5 13:00 Buenos Aires, Argentina (ART) UTC-3 15:00 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (BRT) UTC-3 15:00 London, United Kingdom (GMT) UTC 18:00 Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (WAT) UTC+1 19:00 Paris, France (CET) UTC+1 17:00 Moscow, Russia (MSK) UTC +3 21:00 Islamabad, Pakistan (PKT) UTC+5 23:00 Singapore (SGT) UTC+8 (Thursday) 02:00 Tokyo, Japan (JST) UTC+9 (Thursday) 03:00 Melbourne, Australia (AEDT) UTC+11 (Thursday) 05:00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DST starts/ends on Sunday 29 March 2020, 2:00 or 3:00 local time (with exceptions) for EU countries and on Sunday 08 March 2020 for the US. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For other places see http://www.timeanddate.com<http://www.timeanddate.com/> and https://tinyurl.com/y33pl34a Final GNSO Council Agenda 06 November 2019 - Part II (Admin) Please note that all documents referenced in the agenda have been gathered on a Wiki page for convenience and easier access: https://community.icann.org/x/uoXkBg This agenda was established according to the GNSO Operating Procedures<https://gnso.icann.org/en/council/op-procedures-30jan18-en.pdf> v3.3, updated on 30 January 2018 For convenience: * An excerpt of the ICANN Bylaws defining the voting thresholds is provided in Appendix 1 at the end of this agenda. * An excerpt from the Council Operating Procedures defining the absentee voting procedures is provided in Appendix 2 at the end of this agenda. GNSO Council meeting held in Montreal 15:15 - 16:15 local time Coordinated Universal Time: 20:15 UTC: https://tinyurl.com/y4s22xs5 12:15 Los Angeles; 15:15 Washington; 20:15 London; (Thursday) 01:15 Islamabad; (Thursday) 05:15 Tokyo; (Thursday) 07:15 Melbourne GNSO Council Meeting Remote Participation: https://community.icann.org/x/LYvkBg ___________________________________ Item 1. Seating of the 2020 / 2021 Council (20 mins) 1.1 - Roll Call 1.2 - Statements of Interest INCOMING COUNCILORS: Farzaneh Badii: SOI<https://community.icann.org/display/gnsosoi/Farzaneh+Badiei+SOI> Non-Commercial Stakeholder Group Tome Dale - SOI<https://community.icann.org/display/gnsosoi/Tom+Dale+SOI> Contracted Party House Nominating Committee Appointee Sebastien Ducos: SOI<https://community.icann.org/display/gnsosoi/Sebastien+Ducos++SOI> Registries Stakeholder Group Farell Folly: SOI<https://community.icann.org/display/gnsosoi/Farell+FOLLY+SOI> Non-Commercial Stakeholder Group John McElwaine: SOI<https://community.icann.org/display/gnsosoi/John+C.+McElwaine+SOI> Intellectual Property Constituency Carlton Samuels - SOI<https://community.icann.org/display/gnsosoi/Carlton+Samuels+SOI> Non-Contracted Party House Nominating Committee Appointee Thank you again to outgoing Councilors: Ayden Federline, Carlos Gutierrez, Rubens Kuhl, Paul McGrady, Syed Ismail Shah, and Arsene Tungali 1.3 - Review / Amend Agenda Item 2. Election of the Chair (20 mins) One nomination was received for this position from Keith Drazek of the Contracted Party House. The GNSO reviewed the candidate statement<https://gnso.icann.org/en/council/elections> and held a question & answer session with the candidates on 3 November 2019. Here the GNSO Council will proceed to hold the election for its Chair for 2020-2021, according to the GNSO Operating Procedures (note Section 2.2 of the GNSO Operating Procedures on Officer Elections: Chair and Vice-Chairs (see Appendix 1 below)). Item 3. Any Other Business (0 min) None Appendix 1: Excerpt from GNSO Operating Procedures (Section 2.2) 2.2 https://gnso.icann.org/en/council/op-procedures-01sep16-en.pdf Officer Elections: Chair and Vice-Chairs The GNSO Council shall select the GNSO Chair and two Vice-Chairs as follows: 1. The GNSO Chair shall be elected by a 60 percent vote of each house. 2. Each house will be allowed to nominate one candidate for GNSO Council Chair. Each house is responsible for determining how to nominate its candidate. A candidate for GNSO Council Chair does not need to be a member of a house, but must be a current or incoming member of the GNSO Council. Should a Chair be elected from outside of the houses that Chair will be a non-voting Chair. a. All ballots will include the “none of the above” option. In the event that a 60 percent vote of each house selects the “none of the above” option, each house will commence a new nomination period of not longer than 15 days. An election for the new nominees will be scheduled for no sooner than 30 days after the unsuccessful vote. b. In the case of a tie for the most votes between the two candidates, or between a candidate and “none of above,” a second election will be held no sooner than 30 days. The candidates shall remain the same for this second election. In the case this second election also results in a tie, each house will commence a new nomination period of not longer than 15 days. An election for the new nominees will be rescheduled for no sooner than 30 days after the unsuccessful vote. c. The leading candidate will be defined as the one with the highest score. The score is calculated by adding together the voting percentages attained from each house. The highest percentage attainable in each house is 100. Thus, the maximum score a candidate can achieve is 200 as a result of attaining 100 percent of the votes from the contracted party house and 100 percent from the non-contracted party house (100 percent + 100 percent = score of 200). In case neither candidate reaches the 60 percent of each house threshold, a second ballot will be held between the leading candidate and “none of the above.” d. In case neither candidate reaches the 60 percent of each house threshold and the candidates do not tie, a second runoff ballot will be held between the leading candidate and “none of the above.” e. If the single candidate does not reach the 60 percent of each house threshold in the runoff ballot, then each house will commence a new nomination period of not longer than 15 days. An election for the new nominees will be rescheduled for no sooner than 30 days after the unsuccessful runoff ballot. 1. Each house shall select a Council Vice-Chair from within its respective house. 2. A Chair may not be a member of the same Stakeholder Group of either of the Vice-Chairs. 3. The Chair and Vice-Chairs shall retain their votes (if any) in their respective houses (if any). 4. In the event that the GNSO Council has not elected a GNSO Council Chair by the end of the previous Chair’s term, the Vice-Chairs will serve as Interim GNSO Co- Chairs to jointly oversee the new Chair election and conduct Council business until a successful election can be held. In the event that one or both Vice-Chairs’ terms ends concurrently with the term of the previous Chair, the procedures described in Section 2.2.1 below shall apply. 5. The Council shall inform the Board and the Community appropriately and post the election results on the GNSO website within 2 business days following each election and runoff ballot, whether successful or unsuccessful. Appendix 2: GNSO Council Voting Thresholds (ICANN Bylaws,<https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/governance/bylaws-en/#article11> Article 11, Section 3) (i) Except as otherwise specified in these Bylaws, Annex A, Annex A-1 or Annex A-2 hereto, or the GNSO Operating Procedures, the default threshold to pass a GNSO Council motion or other voting action requires a simple majority vote of each House. The voting thresholds described below shall apply to the following GNSO actions: (i) Create an Issues Report: requires an affirmative vote of more than one-fourth (1/4) vote of each House or majority of one House. (ii) Initiate a Policy Development Process ("PDP") Within Scope (as described in Annex A): requires an affirmative vote of more than one-third (1/3) of each House or more than two-thirds (2/3) of one House. (iii) Initiate a PDP Not Within Scope: requires an affirmative vote of GNSO Supermajority (as defined in Section 11.3(i)(xix)). (iv) Approve a PDP Team Charter for a PDP Within Scope: requires an affirmative vote of more than one-third (1/3) of each House or more than two-thirds (2/3) of one House. (v) Approve a PDP Team Charter for a PDP Not Within Scope: requires an affirmative vote of a GNSO Supermajority. (vi) Changes to an Approved PDP Team Charter: For any PDP Team Charter approved under (iv) or (v) above, the GNSO Council may approve an amendment to the Charter through a simple majority vote of each House. (vii) Terminate a PDP: Once initiated, and prior to the publication of a Final Report, the GNSO Council may terminate a PDP only for significant cause, upon a motion that passes with a GNSO Supermajority Vote in favor of termination. (viii) Approve a PDP Recommendation Without a GNSO Supermajority: requires an affirmative vote of a majority of each House and further requires that one GNSO Council member representative of at least 3 of the 4 Stakeholder Groups supports the Recommendation. (ix) Approve a PDP Recommendation With a GNSO Supermajority: requires an affirmative vote of a GNSO Supermajority, (x) Approve a PDP Recommendation Imposing New Obligations on Certain Contracting Parties: where an ICANN contract provision specifies that "a two-thirds vote of the council" demonstrates the presence of a consensus, the GNSO Supermajority vote threshold will have to be met or exceeded. (xi) Modification of Approved PDP Recommendation: Prior to Final Approval by the Board, an Approved PDP Recommendation may be modified or amended by the GNSO Council with a GNSO Supermajority vote. (xii) Initiation of an Expedited Policy Development Process ("EPDP"): requires an affirmative vote of a GNSO Supermajority. (xiii) Approve an EPDP Team Charter: requires an affirmative vote of a GNSO Supermajority. (xiv) Approval of EPDP Recommendations: requires an affirmative vote of a GNSO Supermajority. (xv) Approve an EPDP Recommendation Imposing New Obligations on Certain Contracting Parties: where an ICANN contract provision specifies that "a two-thirds vote of the council" demonstrates the presence of a consensus, the GNSO Supermajority vote threshold will have to be met or exceeded. (xvi) Initiation of a GNSO Guidance Process ("GGP"): requires an affirmative vote of more than one-third (1/3) of each House or more than two-thirds (2/3) of one House. (xvii) Rejection of Initiation of a GGP Requested by the Board: requires an affirmative vote of a GNSO Supermajority. (xviii) Approval of GGP Recommendations: requires an affirmative vote of a GNSO Supermajority. (xix) A "GNSO Supermajority" shall mean: (A) two-thirds (2/3) of the Council members of each House, or (B) three-fourths (3/4) of the Council members of one House and a majority of the Council members of the other House. https://gnso.icann.org/en/council/op-procedures-01sep16-en.pdf Appendix 1 GNSO Council Voting Results table Absentee Voting Procedures https://gnso.icann.org/en/council/op-procedures-01sep16-en.pdf 4.4 Absentee Voting 4.1.1 Applicability Absentee voting is permitted for the following limited number of Council motions or measures. 1. Initiate a Policy Development Process (PDP); 2. Approve a PDP recommendation; 3. Recommend amendments to the GNSO Operating Procedures (GOP) or ICANN Bylaws; 4. Fill a Council position open for election. 4.1.2 Absentee ballots, when permitted, must be submitted within the announced time limit, which shall be 72 hours from the meeting’s adjournment. In exceptional circumstances, announced at the time of the vote, the Chair may reduce this time to 24 hours or extend the time to 7 calendar days, provided such amendment is verbally confirmed by all Vice-Chairs present. 4.1.3 The GNSO Secretariat will administer, record, and tabulate absentee votes according to these procedures and will provide reasonable means for transmitting and authenticating absentee ballots, which could include voting by telephone, e- mail, web-based interface, or other technologies as may become available. 4.1.4 Absentee balloting does not affect quorum requirements.