The matrix at /availability is the public list of every committee and what is still
open in it. Check it before you name a preference.
The two views
The secretariat chooses how much to publish.
Full matrix. Every portfolio is listed by name with its state. This is the useful view, and the one you will usually see.
Counts only. Just the number of open seats per committee, with no portfolio names. Some conferences use this to stop delegates targeting specific seats, or to keep the matrix private until it is finished.
You cannot tell from the page which mode is deliberate. If you only see counts, that is the secretariat's choice, not a fault.
What the states mean
| State | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Available | Nobody holds it. This is what you want to see. |
| On hold | A staff member has the allotment dialog open on this portfolio right now. The hold lasts two minutes and then releases itself. It is a short-lived working state, not a reservation for a delegate. |
| Allotted | Given to a delegate. Not necessarily paid for yet. |
| Blocked | Deliberately taken out of circulation by the secretariat. It will not be allotted to anyone. |
What it does not tell you
The matrix does not show who holds a portfolio, and it does not show how many people have asked for one. A portfolio can be marked available while ten people have already named it as their first preference.
Nor is it a queue. Naming an available portfolio does not put you in line for it. Allotment is a manual decision, described in the allotment floor.
When it changes
The matrix reflects the live state of the database. A portfolio disappears from "available" the moment a staff member allots it, so it is worth re-checking if you last looked a while ago.