Resistance polling¶

Resistance polling, also known as "systemic consensing," reverses the usual perspective. Instead of measuring approval, it measures resistance. The option with the lowest total resistance is selected. This approach identifies the most broadly acceptable option among the available choices.

How it works in Rhizome¶

All participants indicate their level of resistance on a scale for each option. A low value means you can support the option. A high value signals concerns. The option with the lowest total resistance wins.

If during a consent or consensus process an objection cannot be resolved by modifying the original proposal and an alternative proposal emerges, Rhizome automatically creates a resistance poll to compare the options.

Extended decision rules¶

Disqualifying resistance threshold¶

You can define a disqualifying resistance value — a specific level on the resistance scale (shown in the app as emoji faces from no resistance to maximum resistance) that, if selected by any participant for a given option, causes that option to fail even if it would otherwise have won.

This means: even if one option accumulates the least total resistance overall, a single participant's maximum resistance can block it entirely. This rule is designed to ensure that outcomes which are truly unacceptable to at least one person are not imposed on them. It complements the resistance scale by providing a hard stop for edge cases.

Quorum¶

Sets the minimum number of participants who must respond for the decision to be valid.

For a complete reference of all available rules, see Special rules.

Use cases¶

Use resistance polling as a preliminary gauge before a final decision. It shifts the perspective away from approval logic and toward finding the option with the least opposition. This makes it a strong foundation for a subsequent consent or consensus decision.