Facebook Users Have 5 Days Left to Vote on Policy Changes, Voting Rights

 Facebook users have five more days to cast their ballot in the "Facebook Site Governance Vote."
The social-network giant proposed changes to its Statement of Rights and Responsibilities (SSR) and Data Use Policy on Nov. 21. Now, Facebook is asking its 1 billion members to decide whether they would prefer the changes or keep the status quo.

Users can vote on whether or not they want the following to take place:

• Facebook will get rid of user voting on its governance changes; instead, the company will allow members to provide feedback by submitting questions to Erin Egan, Facebook's chief privacy officer, as well as hosting webcasts to address comments and inquiries.
• Facebook will share user data with its affiliates, including Instagram, which the company purchased in April
• Facebook will set "new filters" for managing incoming messages to users' inboxes.
• Facebook will change how they "refer" to certain products.
• Facebook will clarify exactly who can see what on user timelines.

Voting started on Dec.3 at 12 p.m. PT (3 p.m. ET), and will last until Dec. 10 at 12 p.m. PT (3 p.m. ET). An "independent auditor" will examine vote tabulation to ensure "accurate results,"

As of Dec. 5, close to 137,000 members have voted for Facebook to keep its existing documents, while more than 13,000 have voted for the company to enforce the proposed changes. Despite the former's ample lead, however, at least 30% of all active registered users must vote in order for the results to be "binding," according to Facebook. Any less than that, and the vote will only be "advisory" -- meaning the social network can go ahead with its proposal.