The polls are open!

Voting for the CSM8 election has begun!  Unfortunately, the voting tool is... not ideal.

Here's the link you'll need:

http://bit.ly/vote-ripard

Unfortunately, I cannot provide a single link that just votes a set slate of candidates.  That's the very bad news.  The good news is that the null-sec blocs can't either.  Everyone has to fill in their ballots manually.  To do so, just log in using your EVE accounts then start dragging people you'd like to vote for into the slots provided one by one, then click the big yellow SUBMIT VOTE button.  It's going to be a pain, but please persevere!  I realize how annoying it's going to be.  I'm running in this election and I could barely stand to fill in a full ballot.  But here's what I ask that your full ballot look like:

Please persevere to the end.  Please feel free to make changes here and there if you wish, but please vote for a full slate of 14 candidates.  This is the only way to ensure that your full vote is not wasted!

Here is my list of who I endorse and why I endorse them:

1. Ripard Teg
2. Malcanis
3. Trebor Daehdoow
4. Ali Aras
5. Mangala Solaris
6. Nathan Jameson
7. Korvin
8. Corebloodbrothers
9. riverini
10. Roc Wieler
11. Psychotic Monk
12. James Arget
13. Unforgiven Storm
14. progodlegend

Here is why you shouldn't vote for any of the major bloc candidates unless you are a member of those blocs yourself.

If the system changes so that I can just give you a single link that will automatically vote the slate, I will update this post.

Your vote is important.  I hope that you'll vote for my slate, but even if you do not, please go vote!  Thank you so much for your support!

EDIT (7/Apr/2013): The previously included script to auto-vote has been disabled by CCP.  However, they have introduced three compromise measures:

• candidates are sortable using the "Sort A-Z" button to make them easier to find;
• you can double-click candidates to move them to the next available slot instead of dragging; and,
• once you select a candidate order, it apparently gets saved and is available as an option for the next account you log in.

Please disregard the edit below, which -- since we're likely to find it had a significant impact on the election -- is included for historical interest.


EDIT (4/Apr/2013): 

Easy mode for multiple account holders:

1. Make sure your bookmark bar is visible.
2. Create a bookmark in your bookmark bar called "Vote Button".
3. Copy-paste the code below as the address for this bookmark.
4. Log in to the voting page, http://bit.ly/vote-ripard .
5. Press the Vote Button in your bookmark bar.
6. Make sure the vote list is okay.
7. Hit Submit Vote.
8. Repeat the steps four through seven for every account you have.
9. You can delete the bookmark when you're done.

javascript: (function () {$('.candidate[candidate="626711141"]').insertBefore('.ui-state-placeholder:first-child'); /* Ripard Teg */
$('.candidate[candidate="301445721"]').insertAfter('.candidate[candidate="626711141"]'); /* Malcanis */
$('.candidate[candidate="1036406382"]').insertAfter('.candidate[candidate="301445721"]'); /* Trebor Daehdoow */
$('.candidate[candidate="1869635534"]').insertAfter('.candidate[candidate="1036406382"]'); /* Ali Aras */
$('.candidate[candidate="425176718"]').insertAfter('.candidate[candidate="1869635534"]'); /* Mangala Solaris */
$('.candidate[candidate="1080071942"]').insertAfter('.candidate[candidate="425176718"]'); /* Nathan Jameson */
$('.candidate[candidate="1059081514"]').insertAfter('.candidate[candidate="1080071942"]'); /* Korvin */
$('.candidate[candidate="1260698623"]').insertAfter('.candidate[candidate="1059081514"]'); /* corebloodbrothers */
$('.candidate[candidate="1042704015"]').insertAfter('.candidate[candidate="1260698623"]'); /* riverini */
$('.candidate[candidate="661699191"]').insertAfter('.candidate[candidate="1042704015"]'); /* Roc Weiler */
$('.candidate[candidate="572292891"]').insertAfter('.candidate[candidate="661699191"]'); /* Psychotic Monk */ $('.candidate[candidate="318491604"]').insertAfter('.candidate[candidate="572292891"]'); /* James Arget */
$('.candidate[candidate="514630444"]').insertAfter('.candidate[candidate="318491604"]'); /* Unforgiven Storm */
$('.candidate[candidate="317012339"]').insertAfter('.candidate[candidate="514630444"]'); /* progodlegend */
ccp.csmElections.init(); }());

We should all thank those great benefactors of New Eden, the Goons, and in particular Jumanji, for making our lives a little easier.