CC Snap Election FAQs

Snap Election FAQ

Why is a snap election being held?

A Constitutional Committee member (Cardano Atlantic Council) has announced their retirement effective 25 November 2025. This reduces the Committee below the minimum size required by protocol parameters (committeeMinSize = 7), triggering the need to elect a replacement to maintain constitutional continuity.

What is the Constitutional Committee and why does size matter?

The CC confirms or rejects governance actions according to their constitutionality. The protocol requires at least seven active members to validate governance actions. Falling below this minimum pauses the governance process, until a replacement has been elected.

Why are we electing just one member? Wouldn’t adding more reduce the risk of this happening again?

This snap election is only intended to replace the single seat vacated by the Cardano Atlantic Council. Snap elections are designed to restore the Constitutional Committee to its required minimum size, not to change its structure.

Any decision to increase the number of CC members, or to adjust the minimum committee size parameter, needs clear community consent and must go through the proper governance process. Intersect will explore these broader questions separately through the appropriate mechanisms.

What is the term for the winner of this snap election?

The elected candidate will serve the remainder of the existing term, which ends at epoch 653 (6 September 2026).

How does voting work?

Voting will take place on Ekklesia from November 26th – December 5th. Detailed guides on how DReps can participate can be found here. Results will be calculated based on DRep delegation at the end of Epoch 598 (December 5th).

Who votes in this snap election?

DReps vote on Ekklesia. The final Governance Action requires both DReps and SPOs.

What happens after voting in Ekklesia closes?

Off-Chain Voting runs in Ekklesia from November 26th – December 5th. Following this, votes will be audited, the winner generates its credentials, and Intersect submits an on-chain Update Committee Governance Action to be voted on by Dreps and SPOs.

Does this snap election change the plan for CC compensation?

No. Compensation discussions continue separately.

Will committeeMinSize be updated?

It is under active discussion, but no changes apply to this snap election.

Where will updates be published?

Across this Knowledge Base, and Intersect’s social channels

Who can apply to be a candidate

Three types of applicants are eligible:

• Individuals applying in a personal capacity

• Consortia (groups of individuals/entities applying collectively)

• Companies operating within or engaging with the Cardano ecosystem

Is the application process different from the main CC election held earlier this year?

The process follows the same principles and checks but is condensed to ensure continuity of governance while still upholding legitimacy and transparency.

How do I register as a candidate?

Registration opens on Monday, 17 November at 12:00 UTC. Links to the application form and Snap election portal required documentation is published here and shared across Intersect’s channels.

Do I need to complete Proof-of-Life?

Yes. All candidates must complete a Proof-of-Life check to appear on the ballot. Exception: Consortia where 50% of members ran individually or as part of a team in the previous CC election are exempt.

What information will candidates need to provide?

• A Motivation, experience, and transparency approach statement

• Category of application (individual, consortium, company)

• Agreement to serve the remainder of the term

• Identification for Proof-of-Life

Where can I get support with my application?

All links and guidance will be shared on this GitBook page and via @IntersectMBO once registration opens. Please reach out to support in our Discord channels if needed.