To have a proper Advanced Dotmocracy session that is fair and effective for everyone the following situations must exist:

Core Rules

1. Official facilitators are authoritative and responsible for the Dotmocracy session and location. They should be in control of the process but neutral on the content.

2. Each participant can only fill one dot per a Dotmocracy sheet.

3. There are no changes to an ideas text inside the idea box once dotting has started. Amendments should be presented as a new complete idea on a new sheet. Comments may be added at any time outside of the idea box.

Facilitator's Responsibilities

1. Everyone has the right to participate.

2. If the outcome of process is important to someone, they should be directly invited and easily able to participate.

3. Everyone who asks for a blank Dotmocracy sheet gets one.

4. There should be no limit on dispensing sheets as long as they are not being wasted.

5. Barriers to participation should be reduced as much as possible within reason and available resources.

6. Dotting start and end times should be publicized to all participants.

7. Dotmocracy sheets need to be used on accessible tables, walls, and/or clipboards.

8. There should be enough writing utensils for all the people who want to participate at any time.

9. Posted ideas or comments should not be censored unless obviously profane, confusing or promoting hate.

10. A Dotmocracy sheet should only be removed from the dotting process according to the official facilitator's judgment.

11. Opinions are anonymous. Participants have the right to privacy from having their identity associated with their dots and comments.

12. The following must be posted:

    1. Process instructions, questions to be answered and any official preamble.

    2. An official policy on how the results will be used by the sponsoring organization(s).

    3. The sponsor(s) and facilitator(s) contact information.

Participants Responsibilities

1. One must fully read and consider a posted idea before dotting.

2. One's dot represents one's judgment of the idea written on the sheet, not the comments, although comments may inform one's judgment.

3. One must sign each sheet she or he dots. Exception: On request, a facilitator may fill a dot and sign a sheet for someone with disabilities or who is not comfortable putting their own signature.