User:Bfpage/guidelines/non-admin closures

Reasons not to delete

 * when in doubt, don't delete
 * This article is consistent with verifiability, no original research or synthesis, neutral point of view, copyright, and biographies of living persons as applicable.
 * can be improved with normal editing

Non-administrators closing discussions
In general, administrators are responsible for closing deletion discussions. However, at times the many discussion venues become backlogged. Registered editors who are not administrators may close deletion discussions, with the following provisions:
 * Deletion discussions must be decided in accordance with consensus and taking account of Wikipedia policies and guidelines. If you are not familiar with deletion policy or the workings of deletion discussions, please avoid closing discussions.
 * Non-administrators should not close discussions in which they lack the technical ability to act upon the outcome, such as deletion.
 * Close calls and controversial decisions are better left to an administrator.
 * In cases where an administrator has deleted a page, including by speedy deletion, but forgot to close the discussion, anyone may close the discussion provided that the administrator's name and deletion summary are included in the closing rationale.
 * Closing discussions in which you have offered an opinion or for a page in which you have a vested interest (i.e., a page that you have edited heavily) should be avoided. The sole exception is if you are closing your own withdrawn nomination as a speedy keep and all other viewpoints expressed were for keep as well.
 * When closing deletion discussions, users should indicate in the closing decision that they are not administrators.
 * Non-administrators should, as a rule, only close discussions if they are fairly experienced editors, and have participated at previous deletion discussions.

Decisions are subject to review and may be reopened by an administrator. If this happens, take it only as a sign that the decision was not as obvious as you thought. The reopening of the discussion should include an appropriate notice as per WP:TPO.

Participants, including participating administrators, should not reopen non-admin closures. If this happens, any editor other than the closer may restore the closure with an appropriate notice as per WP:TPO.