So just to clarify, the Admin was contacted about splitting (NOT by Mankin) and a poll was started to see if we would split. At the time Mankin made HIS poll, the votes in the other poll (started before his) were in FAVOR of splitting, but that changed later.
Series of events in that chain:
1. Big fight after NE posted the thread about Honor.
2. Several thought that the rules process was hopeless due to fighting and began to post the idea of a split across several threads.
3. Someone pm'ed Erwin saying that the Adventist forum was in chaos and suggesting a split.
4. Erwin dispatched the forum manager Letalis to investigate, and he also pm'ed the only two Adventists he knew very well, which would be Sophia and I since we served on staff, and I worked with him in theology. He wanted to get our take on the situation.
If he pmed others I am not sure.
5. Woob, apparently seeing the reaction pushing for a split decided to make a poll. However, by that time he had already re-thought the split apparently and constructed his poll options to steer people towards the middle ground option of cooperation.
6. Letalis came into the poll thread and made it plain that he wanted the opinion of the members and that a split was possible. Therefore the poll was not part of our wiki process but it was something that Erwin himself, through Letalis, was watching. That is a valid poll.
They wanted to assess how bad things were.
TrustandObey has said she didn't want a poll but just wanted to work behind the scenes for a split.
7. However, the poll had three options and would likely go to a plurality with no majority. So we reconstructed the poll options to be either yes or no, essentially.
Woob insisted on the portion regarding stricter rules because it was clear (though perhaps enlarged by the recent fight) that things were not working as they were.
8. I was going to re-post the poll but was busy so Sophia did in response to Woob's request. Since she is on staff she could lock the old one. It was locked and the new poll was started.
9. Mankin, apparently seeing either the poll or the calls for a split, started his own poll wondering where people would go.
So.....
Here is my take on the above.
The one who contacted Erwin is the one who set in motion the poll process, even though Woob beat them to the punch.
If folks want to start their own section they can, by following the CF guidelines. But to split a section you need approval from those in it.
Erwin was not going to split it just because he got some pm's but wanted to get everyone's take. Since Letalis saw a poll already started he worked with it. And despite some coming in who hadn't been around in a while, it would have passed without them. It would have been the same if you took out the non-eligibles. It had several traditionals as well on the side of not splitting.
In other words, the poll did what it was supposed to and showed the general outlook of the forum.
Moreover, I have no problem with someone coming back from a break and voting to not split something they may want to participate in later.
Several have gone for long breaks and come back. I don't see that as bad. And they should still have a voice.
This was not under the wiki process, and has not been included in the wiki poll numbering. Therefore the "who is eligible" poll wouldn't directly apply, but even if it did the "regulars" portion was in regard to who was included that had another icon. It was to show that we knew who was Adventist from their disclosing it before, though they did not bear and Adventist icon. It did not apply to those who came back from a break because it was about WHAT they were, not how often they had been here lately.
The poll became "official" when Erwin dispatched Letalis, and Letalis clarified his intentions.