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The baton being passed from one admin to the next.
After DanCherek's RfA in August 2022, Tamzin(talk·contribs)resumed a tradition of "passing the baton" to the newest admin. The tradition took hold, and the baton is still making its way around the 'pedia. It is a part of the generous benefits package new admins receive. Since November 2024, the baton has been involved in the competitive sport of accelerated baton-throwing, as part of a bi-annual tradition after administrator elections.
Appearance of the baton
There is no designated image of the baton, and the admin who passes the baton may pick whatever image they please from Commons. Whatever form the baton takes, though, it should be understood to bear this inscription:
Tamzin started this tradition to recognize DanCherek for his bravery in ending the three-month drought that began with the conclusion of her own acrimonious RfA. It serves as a reminder that, despite dramas petty and grand, we work together to build an encyclopedia—and serves to recognize those who subject themselves to a nerve-wracking and often unfair process out of their dedication to this project. You, holding this baton, are saluted by all its past holders. Thank you.
A: First, you have to become an administrator—which is not an easy feat! If you are successful, congratulations! Historically, the previous baton-holder will leave you a message on your talk page within a day or two of you receiving the mop. I know that receiving the baton is the entire reason you ran in the first place, but patience is a virtue!
2. What if the current baton-holder is inactive?
A: Someone else passes the baton on their behalf. This has happened before, twice. See the table at the bottom of the page for those occasions.
3. As the baton holder, what are my responsibilities?
A:The baton holder's job is to pass the baton as soon as humanly possible. Think of the baton as a hot potato. You can accomplish this by encouraging good candidates to throw their hat into the ring. Once someone is successful in their RfA, leave the baton and a message of encouragement on their talk page.
4. Anything else I should be doing in the meantime?
A: I suppose you could make use of the tools you just received.
Known as accelerated stick-throwing, relay races have taken place after administrator elections since 2024. As of October 2026, the record is currently held by AELECT3 candidates with an average relay time of 157 minutes.
↑The tradition has been reïnvented several times. Tamzin was inspired by a previous instance of baton-passing xe saw while looking through old usertalk archives, although xe can't remember which. It may have been the pair of baton-passings identified by GirthSummit at User talk:Spicy/Archive 6 §Passing the baton.
↑Other benefits include the T-shirt and a 100% pay raise.
123To commemorate their simultaneous elections, MCE89 and Staraction were each given one half of the baton. They somehow managed to repair it before jointly passing it on to Dclemens1971.
↑Average relay time is calculated by total relay time / no. of relays.
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