Would agree, if not a small glitch - it would be entirely true, if Council would actually *have* any technical possibilities (access to infrastructure) to keep it going.

Now, what you're saying is like "every member of HEN team is obliged to release new version, because improved booston was released ages ago". Sure, in principle, it's true, but You don't have technical means to "force" MAG into updating GUI to current state and releasing new version.
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I think that lesson from this is - in contacts with our technical staff, we must be as bureaucratic as possible/required (sadly, as I would prefer to start from "people mean well" [at least here] position ). It was clearly stated, that X-Fade will check on dates and get election going.

The only thing I may admit, is that quick reaction should be took no latter than on 10th's May end, but it apply to everyone interested (me included). SD69 is only one active Council member currently, and it's somehow understandable, that he didn't managed to react as swiftly as we would like. Fortunately, number of council volunteers is going to get back into normal, right?
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As for Your ideas - election banner is sitting on any maemo.org infrastructure page (not only TMO) for quite a long time. Voting was covered extensively on Maemo mailing list. Every registered member with enough karma will get e-mail baloon about voting, with a week time to participate. IMo, it's more than enough. IRC Announce could be nice addition, but honestly, it could be done by any willing member - same apply for blogs (BTW, election was covered in Maemo Weekly News many times, including candidate's declarations) and other less formal ways of communication.

Honestly - again - I'm not very sympathetic about baloon idea. Instead, I would like banner/info posted month before election, announce on mailing list, etc - it would ensure, that any active Maemo participant will have 110% chance of knowing about votes. Sending baloon to everyone with Karma of 10 - even if he doesn't have anything to do with Maemo for months or years - isn't going to bring us reasonable voters, actively interested in Maemo's grown. I would rather say, that many voters will just pick "almost random" basing on Candidates declarations, without even knowing what they (declarations) are referring to - but,, if You have vote, it's a loss to not use it, yep?

/Estel

// Edit

Of course I understand, that current rules require such e-mail baloon. I think that - amongst other, more important things - a referendum should be held during next council's period, about improving voting procedure.

I'm quite certain, that proper announcement on infrastructure many weeks before (month or more) + mailing list + IRC + TMO + Council's official blog would be enough, and there is no gain from bringing "dead souls" (at least, those having 10+ karma) via mail.

BTW, hoerg_rw, don't waste time and nerves for mrtroll. Personally, I've added him into blacklist many months ago, and it's proper place for him, amongst other TMO "stars".