The intent would be that the process starts exactly as it does now: the candidate clicks a link, it subst's the core questions template onto a personalized RFA page (WP:RFA/Username). They then respond to all the questions to the best of their ability. When they are done, they would contact an RFA clerk (possibly via a distribution list or an RFA Clerk noticeboard?) to advise that its ready to go live
An RFA clerk would verify that the questions are all answered (not considering quality/spelling/grammar), and have the candidate correct as required. When complete, this page gets full-protected
An RFA clerk will transclude the core questions, create the "optional questions" page (WP:RFA/Username/optional), attach it to the RFA page, then transclude the RFA to the open RFA's as current - including dates, etc.
Editors may ask optional questions, and an RFA clerk will advise the candidate that there are optional questions awaing their input. They then complete as desired.
The original asker of the question may post one follow-up question
RFA clerks will erase any threading or responses by other editors, or !votes
After 3 days, the optional questions page is full-protected.
The RFA clerk subst's the default blank voting section onto the RFA page, and opens the RFA for voting
People !vote, with a maximum of XX number of characters for comment.
RFA clerks will remove comments beyond the limit, and prevent threading
after 4 days of !voting, and RFA clerk closes the RFA. This includes:
substing all sub-pages onto the candidate's RFA page
tallying the final result
advising Bureaucrats
Bureaucrat makes promotion decision and advises candidate