Update OpenWrt rules

[Hauke Mehrtens]

On 9/15/25 17:36, Rich Brown wrote:
> To the OpenWrt-adm list:
> 
> Thank you hauke for updating the document. I took the liberty of pulling your comments into my branch: https://github.com/richb-hanover/OpenWrtRules/blob/main/OpenWrt%20Rules.md
> 
> I made a few minor changes. The commit note lists them (copied here):
> 
> * Moved "Frequent committers..." to the Membership section, to make it clear how one becomes an active member. (It was buried in the Voting section).

like that.

> * s/suggest/propose/ in "Project members are free to propose..."

like that.
> * Highlighted "Simple Approval" and "Other Changes" as the only two types of voting situations.

Thanks
> * s/voters/members/g - I don't think we mean to create a distinction between active voters and active members - we should use the same term.

Yes we want to distinguish between these two roles. There are some 
people who are actively contributing, but not voting. We have the active 
member status and the active voter status. These are two different roles.

> 
> * A fussy thing - s/less/fewer/ "Fewer" refers to things that are countable (votes) while "less" refers to things that are not (numbers, sand, etc.)I am content with the current state of the document, but look forward to further comments.

Sorry, these are the mistakes none native speakers do. ;-)

Hauke

> 
> Thank you again.
> 
> Rich
> 
> 
>> On Sep 14, 2025, at 14:21, Hauke Mehrtens <hauke at hauke-m.de> wrote:
>>
>> Hi OpenWrt committers,
>>
>> <Please answer on the mailing list>
>>
>> we have problems getting any votes done in the OpenWrt project. To fix this problem we would like to update the rules to reduce the quorum and do some other changes to membership.
>>
>> Please read the current proposed rules and comment if you see there any problem or have any improvement. Preferable answer on the mailing list.
>> https://github.com/hauke/OpenWrtRules/blob/main/OpenWrt%20Rules.md
>>
>> I would like to start the vote on this in 2 weeks and do not want to do any changes any more after the vote started.
>>
>> Hauke
>>
>> On 9/14/25 20:13, Hauke Mehrtens wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>> We are working since some time to update the OpeWrt rules to fix the voting problem we have with the current rules.
>>> The current rules are on our website:
>>> https://openwrt.org/rules
>>> Here is the in development rule proposal:
>>> https://github.com/hauke/OpenWrtRules/blob/main/OpenWrt%20Rules.md
>>> Please read the new rule proposal and mention any concerns you have here or as a PR to the repository.
>>> We would like to start a vote on this in two weeks and it would be very annoying if we start a discussion about some changes then, because it is not easy to get the two third majority.
>>> Hauke
>>> Current proposal:
>>> ---------------------------------------------------------
>>> # Proposed OpenWrt Rules - June 2025
>>> _[Compare to the current [OpenWrt Rules](https://openwrt.org/rules)]_
>>> _**Membership**_
>>> * The roles within the OpenWrt project are:
>>>    active members, inactive members, and non-members.
>>>    There is no core developer group or any other
>>>    group of specially privileged members.
>>> * Members may voluntarily switch between active and inactive status at
>>>    any time.
>>> * If a member appears not to be participating in project matters,
>>>    any active member may request that the non-participating
>>>    member switch to inactive status.
>>>    This request must be sent by email to the person concerned,
>>>    with the openwrt-adm mailing list in CC.
>>>    If the person either agrees or does not respond within 30 days,
>>>    they will be moved to inactive status.
>>> _**Commit access**_
>>> * Active members can request commit access to all repositories.
>>> * The commit credentials of inactive members are revoked.
>>>    They will be restored upon their return to active status.
>>> _**Voting**_
>>> * All active members have the right to vote and are encouraged
>>>    to liberally exercise this voting right in order to
>>>    maintain a broad consensus on project matters.
>>> * To propose changes to project matters or the overall development
>>>    direction, a formal proposal must be sent to the openwrt-adm mailing
>>>    list.
>>>    The proposal must clearly describe the suggested changes
>>>    and include a specific deadline for when the voting period will end.
>>>    A simple approval is required.
>>> * All active members who voted in the past 6 months before the new vote
>>>    was started are considered active voters. If less than 3 votes
>>>    occurred in the past 6 months the last 3 votes are considered to
>>>    determine the active voters.
>>> * For a simple approval, the proposal must achieve a two-thirds majority
>>>    among the active members who participate in the vote.
>>>    Additionally, it must receive approval from at least 50% of the active
>>>    voters, regardless of whether they participated in the vote.
>>> * For a change to these rules, a 75% majority among the active members
>>>    who participate in the vote must approve,
>>>    as well as 50% approval from the active voters.
>>> * Neutral votes are considered half-approvals.
>>> * Frequent contributors may become members after a simple approval.
>>>    Project members are free to suggest suitable candidates.
>>> * Any votes and decisions will be made public on the project website.
>>> _**Infrastructure**_
>>> * Project infrastructure should be outsourced to FOSS community operated
>>>    services whenever possible in order to allow members
>>>    to focus on actual development efforts.
>>> * Any infrastructure that is operated by the project
>>>    itself shall be administered by at least three different people
>>>    to reduce the likelihood of the project getting locked out
>>>    due to administrators being unreachable.
>>> * Responsible administrators for the various services shall be
>>>    documented publicly.
>>> _**Other rules**_
>>> * The project will not offer individual email accounts
>>>    under its project domain for privacy and equality reasons.
>>> * Be nice to each other (formerly known as "Rule 12")
>>
>