After consideration, the @SEEDgov delegation has decided to vote “For Elections Only” on this proposal at the Snapshot vote.
Rationale
SEEDGov welcomes the implementation of the shielded voting specifically for elections, as it can help mitigate the bandwagon effect, which often turns elections into popularity contests. However, we have some reservations regarding how this could impact initiatives such as ‘Should the DAO Create COI & Self Voting Policies?’. In cases where self-voting policies are adopted, shielded voting could prevent the community from knowing if a delegate has self-voted until after the vote is over. This could damage the DAO’s ability to take corrective action during the vote itself. For instance, if delegates disapprove a certain delegate’s conduct, they may want the chance to shift their vote to another candidate.
On the other hand, we are cautious about extending shielded voting to all types of votes. Transparency and the sharing of rationale behind votes have proven to be valuable in guiding other delegates in their decision-making process. While shielded voting doesn’t prohibit a delegate from publishing their rationale during the vote, it may reduce the incentive to do so.
That said, we view the use of shielded voting as a test, and this trial could open the door to expanding its use in the future, depending on its success.