SAMPLE OF A ROUND ROBIN FORMAT |
ROUND ROBIN FORMAT for a 2-hour debate with 16 candidates. Seven issues will be addressed (more if time allows). 14 minutes will be allotted for each issue. One candidate from each party will be selected by lot to answer the first question and lot will also decide the order they will start. Each candidate will give a one-minute closing statement (optional). Lot will also decide the two candidates starting the closing statements.
For question # one, the first two candidates speaking will each have up to 2 minutes to answer. When they are finished, the other candidates may volunteer to address the issue for up to one minute each although it is not mandatory. They raise their hands, the moderator will call on them, and a volunteer with a “roving” microphone will bring that person a mike. As many roving mikes as possible will be available in order to make the process flow smoothly and quickly. The moderator will make sure that all candidates who choose to participate will have a chance to speak once before anyone is allowed to speak a second time on the topic. The moderator will allow this discussion to continue for 14 minutes or until he/she thinks the topic is exhausted.
This same process will be repeated with the rest of the questions with the candidates giving the two-minute answers rotating in order.
The moderator reserves the right to tailor the amount of time candidates have to speak to accommodate the time remaining in the segment (i.e., he/she might limit answers to 30 seconds as time runs out).
The moderator will make every effort to rotate the order in which the candidates are called so that candidates from one party are not called on twice in a row. The exception to this will be if no one from one of the parties’ wishes to speak and several from the other party still do and the moderator does not feel the issue is exhausted. Each minor party candidate will be treated as an individual party.
Any time left over from the 14 minutes allotted for each issue will be used at the end of the forum for asking extra questions. As the forum gets closer to the end, the moderator again may limit the amount of time candidates have to speak in order to tailor it to the time remaining.
The decision as to who will be allowed to speak first to the first question will be decided by putting numbers in a hat. The first two will be numbered 1 and 2 and the rest of the 12 slips of paper will be blank (if there are minor party candidates, an additional number will be added for each one). Whoever draws the number 1 will answer the first question first and 2 will follow (plus others if there are minor party candidates). If two candidates from the same party both draw numbered slips, the number 2 plus 5 blank slips will be returned to the hat and the opposing party will draw again for the number two slot. This process is repeated a second time to decide the two candidates who start the closing statements (again, adjust for minor party candidates).
After the first question is completely finished, question number 2 will start the process over again. The two-minute candidates will be the ones seated next to the previous ones and the moderator will continue to rotate them in order. If a Republican was the first to answer question number one, a Democrat will be the first to answer question number two. Minor party candidates will each be treated as a separate party. The moderator will also attempt to alternate the party of the candidates who volunteer for the one-minute answers.
Four timers will be seated in a prominent place.
One will time the candidates and let each candidate and the moderator know when 15 seconds remain to speak and when time is up by holding up signs. The candidates should be introduced to their timer and they all should be able to see the signs from where he/she is seated.
The second timer will time the 14-minute segments and will signal the moderator when two minutes remain and again at 15 seconds and stop. This will be done by holding up signs. The signs should be different colors to prevent confusion.
The third one times the entire event and lets the moderator know if he/she is getting off schedule. This timer is also the one that alerts the moderator to wrap up in order to allow enough time for candidate closing statements and the wrap-up at the end of the forum.
The fourth one sits behind the candidate timer and times along as a back-up. It is not unusual for a stopwatch to mess up or for a timer to become bemused by a candidate’s statement and forget to time. This back-up timer is the fail-safe person.
The moderator will keep the discussion issue orientated, orderly, and fair. The moderator’s decisions about time, what is appropriate discussion, and when to end discussion, are final.
Source: Mark Russak presented this “Sample of a Round Robin Format” at the Voter Service Workshop at LWVCT Convention 2003.