On Stack Exchange, we believe the core moderators should come from the community, and be elected by the community itself through popular vote. We hold regular elections to determine who these community moderators will be.

Community moderators are accorded the highest level of privilege on our community, and should themselves be exemplars of positive behavior and leaders within the community.

Our general criteria for moderators is as follows:

patient and fair

leads by example

shows respect for their fellow community members in their actions and words

open to some light but firm moderation to keep the community on track and resolve (hopefully) uncommon disputes and exceptions

Every election has three phases:

Nomination Primary Election

Please participate in the moderator elections by voting, and perhaps even by nominating yourself to be a community moderator!