Hello,
For the AFRINIC region, selection(election) is not just based on those present (as one could consider remote participants to be present). Its however based on those "physically present" in the room who meet the voter eligibility criteria[1] at the time of conducting the election. So if someone started the meeting and left right before the election process commenced then he/she is not eligible as only the physical hands are checked and counted.
What is being proposed in relation to APNIC chair/co-chair seem to be similar to how the AFRINIC Co-Chairs terms handled; The 2 co-chairs are elected in a staggered manner and serve for 2 years, this ensures that there is always at least one experienced co-chair at every-point in time. However there can be a situation where a Co-Chair resign at the same time the other co-chair's term is expiring and that could imply have 2 new co-chairs on board (assuming the co-chair whose term expired is not re-contesting or did not win the election). We have had a situation like that in the past but in those cases, we've been either lucky to get good co-chair elected or the out-going co-chair go re-elected. Normally when a co-chair resigns, an election to replace the outgoing co-chair is conducted at face2face and the newly elected person completes the term of the co-chair.
Overall as a former Co-Chair for the AFRINIC region, i would say the staggered term has worked very well for us.
Regards
1. There are 3 of such criteria:
Has registered for the meeting (and possesses the Meeting Badge as proof).
Resides in a country within AFRINIC service region.
Is not a staff member of AFRINIC or another RIR