Department of Federal Elections: Homelycooking, SoFE

[tmthforu94]

Clarence is getting first preferences from people needed for someone center-right to win in Atlasia. Combine that with the high number of second preferences from Kalwejt voters, and right now, I think he's on track to victory.

[homelycooking]

Sunday March 24, 11:50 PM - 120 ballots cast

FIRST BALLOT

Clarence 49 (Goldwater, benconstine, jerryAR, Maxwell, Smid, Hagrid, Dereich, Miles, Spamage, Gustaf, NHI, Pingvin, Matt from VT, Homely, TJ in Cleve, Angus, DC al Fine, Inks, Reaganfan, Ghost of Tilden, Lumine, ZuWo, PiT, Dibble, Sirnick, Scott, JCL, Cathcon, Sanchez, bmotley, Dolph McCrungus, Vosem, Oldies, ProgReal, ID BDD, Winfield, Rooney, Anton Kreitzer, A-Bob, Mr X, Afleitch, Supersonic, Xahar, Averroes Nix, Clarence, Master Jedi, Torie, Duke, NCYankee)
Snowguy 38 (bgwah, Siren, Nathan, a Person, Ebowed, Ogre Mage, Tender, TNF, Solopop, bore, Hatman, nolesfan, Fezzy, Snowstalker, Jackson, Fritz, Jason Savage, Eraserhead, JBrase, OAM, Seatown, Alfred Jones, polnut, Cincinnatus, opebo, MaxQue, BRTD, Tweed, Gass, Velasco, Sewer, Snowguy, Adam Griffin, Zanas, TexasDem, Marokai, nclib, Bacon King)
Kalwejt 25 (tmthforu, Antonio, Clinton96, Kalwejt, Lewis, Franzl, Hawkeye, Sbane, Earthling, 20RP12, SeanNJ9, HockeyDude, Hashemite, Mr Moderate, Napoleon, Thomas D, Sir John Johns, Dallas, Wolfentoad, shua, drj101, Poirot, wan, DemPGH, Badger)
Maxwell 1 (sjoycefla)
Superique 1 (Superique)

Exhausted 1 (JulioMadrid)
Invalid 5 (Ody, Adam OABB, cinyc, Taft, Jerseyrules)


SECOND BALLOT

Clarence 50 (Goldwater, benconstine, jerryAR, Maxwell, Smid, Hagrid, Dereich, Miles, Spamage, Gustaf, NHI, Pingvin, Matt from VT, Homely, TJ in Cleve, Angus, DC al Fine, Inks, Reaganfan, Ghost of Tilden, Lumine, ZuWo, PiT, Dibble, Sirnick, Scott, JCL, Cathcon, Sanchez, bmotley, Dolph McCrungus, Vosem, Oldies, ProgReal, ID BDD, Winfield, Rooney, Anton Kreitzer, A-Bob, Mr X, Afleitch, Supersonic, Xahar, Averroes Nix, Clarence, sjoycefla, Master Jedi, Torie, Duke, NCYankee)
Snowguy 38 (bgwah, Siren, Nathan, a Person, Ebowed, Ogre Mage, Tender, TNF, Solopop, bore, Hatman, nolesfan, Fezzy, Snowstalker, Jackson, Fritz, Jason Savage, Eraserhead, JBrase, OAM, Seatown, Alfred Jones, polnut, Cincinnatus, opebo, MaxQue, BRTD, Tweed, Gass, Velasco, Sewer, Snowguy, Adam Griffin, Zanas, TexasDem, Marokai, nclib, Bacon King)
Kalwejt 26 (tmthforu, Antonio, Clinton96, Kalwejt, Lewis, Franzl, Hawkeye, Sbane, Earthling, 20RP12, SeanNJ9, HockeyDude, Hashemite, Mr Moderate, Napoleon, Thomas D, Sir John Johns, Dallas, Wolfentoad, shua, drj101, Superique, Poirot, wan, DemPGH, badger)

Exhausted 1 (JulioMadrid)
Invalid 5 (Ody, Adam OABB, cinyc, Taft, Jerseyrules)


THIRD BALLOT

Clarence 57 (Goldwater, benconstine, jerryAR, Maxwell, Smid, Hagrid, Dereich, Miles, Spamage, Gustaf, NHI, Pingvin, Matt from VT, Homely, TJ in Cleve, Angus, DC al Fine, Inks, Reaganfan, Ghost of Tilden, Lumine, ZuWo, PiT, Dibble, Sirnick, Scott, JCL, Cathcon, Sanchez, bmotley, Dolph McCrungus, Vosem, Oldies, ProgReal, ID BDD, Winfield, Rooney, Anton Kreitzer, A-Bob, Mr X, Afleitch, Supersonic, Xahar, Averroes Nix, Clarence, sjoycefla, tmthforu, Clinton96, Earthling, 20RP12, Superique, Wolfentoad, shua, Master Jedi, Torie, Duke, NCYankee)
Snowguy 55 (bgwah, Siren, Nathan, a Person, Ebowed, Ogre Mage, Tender, TNF, Solopop, bore, Hatman, nolesfan, Fezzy, Snowstalker, Jackson, Fritz, Jason Savage, Eraserhead, JBrase, OAM, Seatown, Alfred Jones, polnut, Cincinnatus, opebo, MaxQue, Antonio, Kalwejt, Lewis, Franzl, Hawkeye, Sbane, HockeyDude, Mr Moderate, Napoleon, Thomas D, Sir John Johns, Dallasfan, drj101, BRTD, Tweed, Gass, Velasco, Poirot, Sewer, wan, Snowguy, Adam Griffin, Zanas, TexasDem, Marokai, DemPGH, Badger, nclib, Bacon King)

Exhausted 3 (JulioMadrid, SeanNJ9, Hashemite)
Invalid 5 (Ody, Adam OABB, cinyc, Taft, Jerseyrules)

[homelycooking]

Snowguy has mounted a furious comeback, but Clarence still prevails by two in the preliminary count.

[homelycooking]

OFFICIAL RESULTS

AT-LARGE SENATE - VACANCY

FIRST BALLOT

Clarence 49 (Goldwater, benconstine, jerryAR, Maxwell, Smid, Hagrid, Dereich, Miles, Spamage, Gustaf, NHI, Pingvin, Matt from VT, Homely, TJ in Cleve, Angus, DC al Fine, Inks, Reaganfan, Ghost of Tilden, Lumine, ZuWo, PiT, Dibble, Sirnick, Scott, JCL, Cathcon, Sanchez, bmotley, Dolph McCrungus, Vosem, Oldies, ProgReal, ID BDD, Winfield, Rooney, Anton Kreitzer, A-Bob, Mr X, Afleitch, Supersonic, Xahar, Averroes Nix, Clarence, Master Jedi, Torie, Duke, NCYankee)
Snowguy 38 (bgwah, Siren, Nathan, a Person, Ebowed, Ogre Mage, Tender, TNF, Solopop, bore, Hatman, nolesfan, Fezzy, Snowstalker, Jackson, Fritz, Jason Savage, Eraserhead, JBrase, OAM, Seatown, Alfred Jones, polnut, Cincinnatus, opebo, MaxQue, BRTD, Tweed, Gass, Velasco, Sewer, Snowguy, Adam Griffin, Zanas, TexasDem, Marokai, nclib, Bacon King)
Kalwejt 25 (tmthforu, Antonio, Clinton96, Kalwejt, Lewis, Franzl, Hawkeye, Sbane, Earthling, 20RP12, SeanNJ9, HockeyDude, Hashemite, Mr Moderate, Napoleon, Thomas D, Sir John Johns, Dallas, Wolfentoad, shua, drj101, Poirot, wan, DemPGH, Badger)
Maxwell 1 (sjoycefla)
Superique 1 (Superique)

Exhausted 1 (JulioMadrid)
Invalid 5 (Ody, Adam OABB, cinyc, Taft, Jerseyrules)

SECOND BALLOT

Clarence 50 (Goldwater, benconstine, jerryAR, Maxwell, Smid, Hagrid, Dereich, Miles, Spamage, Gustaf, NHI, Pingvin, Matt from VT, Homely, TJ in Cleve, Angus, DC al Fine, Inks, Reaganfan, Ghost of Tilden, Lumine, ZuWo, PiT, Dibble, Sirnick, Scott, JCL, Cathcon, Sanchez, bmotley, Dolph McCrungus, Vosem, Oldies, ProgReal, ID BDD, Winfield, Rooney, Anton Kreitzer, A-Bob, Mr X, Afleitch, Supersonic, Xahar, Averroes Nix, Clarence, sjoycefla, Master Jedi, Torie, Duke, NCYankee)
Snowguy 38 (bgwah, Siren, Nathan, a Person, Ebowed, Ogre Mage, Tender, TNF, Solopop, bore, Hatman, nolesfan, Fezzy, Snowstalker, Jackson, Fritz, Jason Savage, Eraserhead, JBrase, OAM, Seatown, Alfred Jones, polnut, Cincinnatus, opebo, MaxQue, BRTD, Tweed, Gass, Velasco, Sewer, Snowguy, Adam Griffin, Zanas, TexasDem, Marokai, nclib, Bacon King)
Kalwejt 26 (tmthforu, Antonio, Clinton96, Kalwejt, Lewis, Franzl, Hawkeye, Sbane, Earthling, 20RP12, SeanNJ9, HockeyDude, Hashemite, Mr Moderate, Napoleon, Thomas D, Sir John Johns, Dallas, Wolfentoad, shua, drj101, Superique, Poirot, wan, DemPGH, badger)

Exhausted 1 (JulioMadrid)
Invalid 5 (Ody, Adam OABB, cinyc, Taft, Jerseyrules)

THIRD BALLOT

Clarence 57 (Goldwater, benconstine, jerryAR, Maxwell, Smid, Hagrid, Dereich, Miles, Spamage, Gustaf, NHI, Pingvin, Matt from VT, Homely, TJ in Cleve, Angus, DC al Fine, Inks, Reaganfan, Ghost of Tilden, Lumine, ZuWo, PiT, Dibble, Sirnick, Scott, JCL, Cathcon, Sanchez, bmotley, Dolph McCrungus, Vosem, Oldies, ProgReal, ID BDD, Winfield, Rooney, Anton Kreitzer, A-Bob, Mr X, Afleitch, Supersonic, Xahar, Averroes Nix, Clarence, sjoycefla, tmthforu, Clinton96, Earthling, 20RP12, Superique, Wolfentoad, shua, Master Jedi, Torie, Duke, NCYankee)
Snowguy 55 (bgwah, Siren, Nathan, a Person, Ebowed, Ogre Mage, Tender, TNF, Solopop, bore, Hatman, nolesfan, Fezzy, Snowstalker, Jackson, Fritz, Jason Savage, Eraserhead, JBrase, OAM, Seatown, Alfred Jones, polnut, Cincinnatus, opebo, MaxQue, Antonio, Kalwejt, Lewis, Franzl, Hawkeye, Sbane, HockeyDude, Mr Moderate, Napoleon, Thomas D, Sir John Johns, Dallasfan, drj101, BRTD, Tweed, Gass, Velasco, Poirot, Sewer, wan, Snowguy, Adam Griffin, Zanas, TexasDem, Marokai, DemPGH, Badger, nclib, Bacon King)

Exhausted 3 (JulioMadrid, SeanNJ9, Hashemite)
Invalid 5 (Ody, Adam OABB, cinyc, Taft, Jerseyrules)


CLARENCE is elected At-Large Senator.

There was a total turnout of 120 votes, with 5 ballot papers being rejected.

I, Homelycooking, Secretary of Federal Elections, declare the above results to be a complete and accurate summary of the votes cast.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Just when you thoguht you could go on that vacation...

Mr. Secretary,

I have unfortunately (especially because of all the problems the disruptions will cause) been informed that Senator Oakvale (Something-CA) has resigned his Pacific Senate seat and that Sen Franzl (Something-ah VT was it? Ah who cares now) has resigned the #2 At-Large Senate seat.

Cheers,
Yankee

[homelycooking]

The special election to Franzl's seat will be held one week from tomorrow (April 5-7).

Could someone please inform me of the Pacific Region's law, if any exists, governing the procedure for filling a vacancy in its regional Senate seat?

[homelycooking]

REPUBLIC OF ATLASIA - In Dave We Trust
Preliminary Ballot

This election is held in accordance with Article V of the Constitution and with the Consolidated Electoral System Reform Act.  The regular election begins at 23:59 EDT, Thursday, April 4, and ends at 23:59 EDT, Sunday, April 7.

DO NOT EDIT OR DELETE THE POST CONTAINING YOUR BALLOT IN ANY WAY AFTER 20 MINUTES OF ITS BEING POSTED OR YOUR VOTE WILL BE INVALIDATED

The act of campaigning within the election booth is strictly forbidden and will render void any votes made by those who campaign. The act of campaigning is considered to include, but is not limited to, strong attempts to compel others either to vote or not to vote for one or multiple candidates, or other related activities that could reasonably be construed as a direct attempt to influence how future voters cast their ballots. In other words, this is not a discussion thread. In short, the department will be taking a liberal interpreation of this, so Keep posts to votes only.

Place the numbers 1, 2, etc. in the space provided beside the candidates who you wish to vote for to designate your order of preference for these candidates.  If any other mark or attempt to order the candidates is made, the Department of Forum Affairs will make every effort to deduce voter intent from the content of the ballot, but the warning must be issued that failure to follow the above instructions may result in the invalidation of your ballot in the event of an inability to discern voter intent.  You are an eligible voter in general if you were registered to vote on or before the proper date, and if you made 10 posts in any location within the Atlas Forum in the 8 weeks prior to the commencement of the regular election. In other words, if your name appears on the Census list, you can presume you are eligible.  

In the event that you do not support any listed candidate or that you support one or many candidates that are not listed in addition to those that are, you may write in other candidates and include them in your list of preferences.  Space is provided for one such write-in, but as many can be listed as you wish.  In the event that you do not support any listed candidate, and do not wish to write in any candidate, you may place an X or a 1 beside "None of the above", and only beside "None of the above".  In the event that an X or a 1 appears beside "None of the above" on a ballot, all other marks or numbers will be ignored.  It is not permissible under current election law to vote for both "None of the above" and other candidates.

Note that voting begins at midnight and ends in exactly 72 hours.

Names of candidates follow in alphabetical order.

AT-LARGE SENATE (1 vacancy to fill)

[  ] bore of Rhode Island
^{Labor Party}

[  ] Matt from VT of Vermont
^{Federalist Party}

[  ] Write-in:______________________________


[  ] None of the above

[homelycooking]

9:15 AM Saturday

Matt 36 (Clarence, Scott, tmthforu, Dallasfan, Spamage, Odysseus, Dereich, Maxwell, Fritz, Wolfentoad, Goldwater, ID BDD, Franzl, Ebowed, Napoleon, NVGonzalez, PiT, Kalwejt, SJoyce, jerryarkansas, Pingvin, Mr X, Gustaf, homely, Matt, Ben, MasterJedi, 20RP12, Oldies, Lumine, Winfield, Supersonic, SPC, Cathcon, ZuWo, NHI)

Bore 17 (Adam Griffin, Marokai, Solopop, Velasco, Zanas, Talleyrand, Bore, Snowstalker, Lewis T, Snowball, Sir John Johns, Siren, Alfred, NYExpress, bgwah, Badgate, TNF, )

Hashemite (WI) 2 (Hashemite, Averroes)

And a dozen or so scattered preferences for "both candidates are great!", "such a hard decision!", &c.

[Knives]

How did the amendment vote go?

[homelycooking]

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

Matt 58 (Clarence, Scott, tmthforu, Dallasfan, Spamage, Odysseus, Dereich, Maxwell, Fritz, Wolfentoad, Goldwater, ID BDD, Franzl, Ebowed, Napoleon, NVGonzalez, PiT, Kalwejt, SJoyce, jerryarkansas, Pingvin, Mr X, Gustaf, homely, Matt, Ben, MasterJedi, 20RP12, Oldies, Lumine, Winfield, Supersonic, SPC, Cathcon, ZuWo, NHI, Torie, Sbane, TJ in Cleve, Wyodon, rejectamenta, Hagrid, Zac, Duke, A-Bob, Shua, NCYankee, JCL, Sanchez, Inks, Bmotley, Miles, Ghost of Tilden, Poirot, Dibble, Thomas D, Cincinnatus, Polnut)

Bore 37 (Adam Griffin, Marokai, Solopop, Velasco, Zanas, Talleyrand, Bore, Snowstalker, Snowball, Sir John Johns, Siren, Alfred, NYExpress, bgwah, Badgate, TNF, Sirnick, JulioMadrid, a Person, windjammer, Fuzzy, Fezzy, Seatown, Gass, Sewer, Seattle, SeanNJ9, Hawkeye, OAM, morgieb, Antonio V, MaxQue, Nathan, Adam OABB, Snowguy, DemPGH, Lewis T)

Hashemite (WI) 3 (Hashemite, Averroes, Xahar)

drj101 (WI) 1 (drj101)

[homelycooking]

OFFICIAL RESULTS

AT-LARGE SENATE - VACANCY

Matt from VT 58 (Clarence, Scott, tmthforu, Dallasfan, Spamage, Odysseus, Dereich, Maxwell, Fritz, Wolfentoad, Goldwater, ID BDD, Franzl, Ebowed, Napoleon, NVGonzalez, PiT, Kalwejt, SJoyce, jerryarkansas, Pingvin, Mr X, Gustaf, homely, Matt, Ben, MasterJedi, 20RP12, Oldies, Lumine, Winfield, Supersonic, SPC, Cathcon, ZuWo, NHI, Torie, Sbane, TJ in Cleve, Wyodon, rejectamenta, Hagrid, Zac, Duke, A-Bob, Shua, NCYankee, JCL, Sanchez, Inks, Bmotley, Miles, Ghost of Tilden, Poirot, Dibble, Thomas D, Cincinnatus, Polnut)

Bore 37 (Adam Griffin, Marokai, Solopop, Velasco, Zanas, Talleyrand, Bore, Snowstalker, Snowball, Sir John Johns, Siren, Alfred, NYExpress, bgwah, Badgate, TNF, Sirnick, JulioMadrid, a Person, windjammer, Fuzzy, Fezzy, Seatown, Gass, Sewer, Seattle, SeanNJ9, Hawkeye, OAM, morgieb, Antonio V, MaxQue, Nathan, Adam OABB, Snowguy, DemPGH, Lewis T)

Hashemite (WI) 3 (Hashemite, Averroes, Xahar)

drj101 (WI) 1 (drj101)


MATT FROM VT is elected At-Large Senator.

There was a total turnout of 99 votes, with 0 ballot papers being rejected.

I, Homelycooking, Secretary of Federal Elections, declare the above results to be a complete and accurate summary of the votes cast.

[CLARENCE 2015!]

I will be withdrawing from the April at Large Senate race

[homelycooking]

To the voters of Atlasia:

In certifying the results of the special election, I decided to count all disputed votes, since the voters who cast them had every reason to expect that they would be counted given past policy toward similar behavior. Please be assured, however, that I will henceforth be interpreting the existing rules governing "campaigning" and "discussion" in the voting booth very liberally.

Because Atlasian elections are conducted by public ballot, you must refrain from any behavior within the voting booth that is not directly related to the expression of your preferences toward candidates running for office. You may vote for any or all candidates running for office; you may write-in the names of any current Atlasian citizens who you feel would be good candidates for the office to be filled by the election, or you may vote for none of the above. Once you have done that, check over your ballot, post your ballot and be done with it. If you do not copy and paste the original ballot into your post and choose to list, rather than fill in your preferences, I strongly suggest that you post only the candidates' names so as not to risk misidentifying a candidate with a party or a state of residence not his own. I will attempt to count votes with misspelled names insofar as I can determine what individual is meant, but again, don't take the risk. Copy the ballot and fill it in if you need to. Check over your ballot before you click "post".

I will not tolerate messages, campaigning, commentary, frivolous write-in votes for non-citizens, non-Roman alphabets, and the like in the voting booth. If you wish to post any of the above, do it elsewhere. If you choose to post any of the above in your ballot, I will rule your vote to be invalid.

I do not believe that it is too much to ask that you take the voting process seriously. As Winfield put it, "the voting booth is for voting", and I ask that you do only that and nothing more so that I can better serve you, the Atlasian voter, as SoFE.

All my love,

homelycooking, SoFE, RG

[Хahar 🤔]

This is an unacceptable attack on Atlasian tradition. Joke write-ins have existed for as long as Atlasia has.

[homelycooking]

This is an unacceptable attack on Atlasian tradition. Joke write-ins have existed for as long as Atlasia has.

Deal with it.

[ilikeverin]

This is an unacceptable attack on Atlasian tradition. Joke write-ins have existed for as long as Atlasia has.

WHERE WOULD I BE IF I COULDN'T WRITE-IN NYM'S COOKIES FOR LIKE 198713987 STRAIGHT ELECTIONS

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE

[MaxQue]

This is an unacceptable attack on Atlasian tradition. Joke write-ins have existed for as long as Atlasia has.

WHERE WOULD I BE IF I COULDN'T WRITE-IN NYM'S COOKIES FOR LIKE 198713987 STRAIGHT ELECTIONS

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE

You can lobby Senate or sue homely, too.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I really don't understand what is your problem.

Why ballot like this should be invalid?

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I can understand a ballot made in foreign language via google translator is an annoying thing (and sometimes hard to decode), but a traditional joke write-in?

Apart of this being a part of Atlasian folklore, it's utterly harmless.

Seriously, Homely. Atlasia shouldn't be a total joke, but shouldn't be deadly serious either. This is a f**king internet game.

[Хahar 🤔]

I refuse to "deal with" administrative fiat. At no point in history have Atlasian elections been taken seriously. A cabal of Very Serious People cannot be permitted now to ruin the game for everyone else.

[homelycooking]

I've served as SoFE for some 14 months now and as an election administrator in some capacity for almost 19, and I've put up with the general fooling-around-with-ballots for long enough. It wastes time, space, effort, and accomplishes nothing. The voting booth is for voting, and that's it. If you want to be clever and make jokes, I highly recommend that you do it elsewhere because I will have none of it in the voting booth.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I refuse to "deal with" administrative fiat. At no point in history have Atlasian elections been taken seriously. A cabal of Very Serious People cannot be permitted now to ruin the game for everyone else.

It's difficult for me to take the cries of people who are clamoring over how "the game is being ruined" seriously when such people refuse to seriously participate. This goes for everyone: If you think the game is being ruined, I hereby challenge you get involved and take it back! "Loonyism" sort of died because you let it.

I sympathize with both sides here. I like joke write-ins, but I don't like the commentary write ins. But I will allow Homely to enforce these rules as he wishes.

[MaxQue]

But I will allow Homely to enforce these rules as he wishes.

Then, don't be surprised if there is delays in the swearing-in of new senators, since I fully except a lawsuit will happen if those rules are implemented.

It's not the SoFE job to decide what is valid or not, it's the job people through its Senate.
The SoFE serves the people, it's not the people who serves the SoFE.

If he wants to do it, fine, but I fully expect than this will end in a lawsuit, especially if it has an effect on the winners of the upcoming at-large election. Some disenfranchized voter will soon, or else, a candidate which unfairly lost his legitimate right of seating in Senate due to biaised vote regulations.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I would rather Homely allow a liberal interpretation of intent, but discount ballots that include "commentary." But I'm not going to fire him over it. If someone does want to sue, it would probably be the best way to clarify the issue.

[Lincoln Republican]

Cry babies!

You heard the SoFE.

Now just deal with it!

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I refuse to "deal with" administrative fiat. At no point in history have Atlasian elections been taken seriously. A cabal of Very Serious People cannot be permitted now to ruin the game for everyone else.

It's difficult for me to take the cries of people who are clamoring over how "the game is being ruined" seriously when such people refuse to seriously participate. This goes for everyone: If you think the game is being ruined, I hereby challenge you get involved and take it back! "Loonyism" sort of died because you let it.

I sympathize with both sides here. I like joke write-ins, but I don't like the commentary write ins. But I will allow Homely to enforce these rules as he wishes.

While in regard to Atlasia Xahar did nothing constructive for years, preferring to attention whore and complain how everything's bad, there was a number of involved members criticizing Homely's decision. So please see a distinction between us and usual trolls, Mr. President.

We know you're a very active member, but it doesn't give you a right to patronize other dedicated Atlasians.