Talk Elections

The Amendment [to be determined] to the Constitution (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=79129.0) has passed the Senate. I would appreciate it if the Governors began their votes as soon as possible.

Don't you think it might be time to determine it? :P

This is what I think was voted on:

Amendment to the Atlasian Constitution to  Preserve and Protect a Republican form of government for the Regions of Atlasia:

Be it resolved that:

The constitution of Atlasia be amended by insertion of the following text as Article IV, Section 1, Clause 5.

"The President is empowered to direct the Secretary of Forum Affairs  (i) to conduct elections for office or vote on referenda or the ratification of constitutional amendments within the regions of Atlasia in such instances where  the regional authority responsible for doing so fails to open a voting booth to conduct such elections for office or vote on  referenda or constitutional amendment  within 72 hours after the earliest legally specified time for doing so, and (ii) in instances where such a regional voting booth has been opened,  to close such voting booth and/or certify any vote result thereof if such regional authority fails to so act as otherwise required by law."

I urge all supporters of regional rights to vote against this seizure of power by the federal government

So, does this mean the SoFA can step in and conduct regional referenda and amendments to the regional Constitutions, or just on federal votes?

     I would assume it includes regional votes since it does not specify what sorts of elections & referenda.

Regional votes as well.  I am postitive because I proposed an amendment that it could only deal with federal elections and it was voted down.

At this point it looks destin to fail in the Southeast/Dirty South :)

Currently Tally is 1 in favor 5 opposed, with SPC certain to vote no

It's going to come down to the whims of the underpopulated Midwest.

The amendment empowers the SoFA to intervene in those situations, but only in cases where a vote on something would be required by regional law, and in cases where said law has been ignored for a minimum of 72 hours.

     It currently stands at 1-2 in the Midwest. It seems though that governors really hate this amendment. It stands at 3-1 in the Pacific, with Governor bgwah being the only one to vote against it. Governor ilikeverin voted against it, as has Governor Duke. Governor Sensei has voted aye & Governor Lief hasn't voted yet. It's easy to see how much governors seem to dislike it though.

That is understandable. They are fearing losing a power. Since that is the main power they have, sadly, they don't like the amendment.

^ The general idea is good, but the actual amendment is far too vague for me to vote for.

     The regionalism here is incredible. It's easily passing in the Pacific, Mideast, & Northeast. It's failing badly in the Southeast. The Midwest is the only close region, where it's failing narrowly.

This would be a huge blow to regional power if this passes.  I URGE all citizens to vote "NAY"!

     You should join the Regional Protection Party. We're devoted to fighting off attempts by the Federal Government to neuter the regions.

Actually, they're attempts to get around putting the poor neutered old bastards out of their misery. ;D

     It's now at

3-1 in the Pacific
2-2 in the Midwest
7-1 in the Mideast
3-5 in the Southeast
8-0 in the Northeast

     A nationwide total of 23-9, yet it's on track to fail. Regions forever! ;D

Ugh.

hold on there... all the ayes need is one vote in the Midwest.

     True. Another thing is that all of the margin is from the Mideast & Northeast. It's 15-1 there, while being 8-8 in the other three regions.

Just a note, Northeast regional law already allows for this under legislation passed when I was Governor.

https://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/Northeastern_Voting_Regulations

Of course, it would be the Southeast that rejects this.  Because, of course, the Southeast was the reason I found it necessary to draft this amendment in the first place.

     It's tied in the Midwest currently. Then again, the Midwest is such an underpopulated region, bizarre results out of there are not surprising in the least.

Why do I get the feeling Moderate moved to Colorado just for reasons like this :)

     That & cake? Probably. ;)

Fringe benefits.

*and* we have on occasion held elections late with nobody minding. ;D

     Crazy Midwestern rebels. :P

That's because were amazed that you're still holding elections.

     The Midwest is now at 2-3.

Hopefully the tally stays.  The funny thing is it would be passing easily if my amendment was accepted.

But that would make it pointless.

Not at all, my amendment just said that they couldn't intefere in strictly regional elections.  Constituional amendment booths could have been opened, its called a compromise, a word unknown to most on this board

Thus taking out the gist of the amendment.

And you'd be the last one talking about compromising.

I honestly don't understand how this amendment is controversial at all. If you don't open your friggin' booth, then someone else will do it for you. It isn't an infringement on regional rights, it's just a convenience. Last time I checked there is no clause in the Constitution that protects regions' rights to f**ck up.

There are three things required for the Amendment to allow the opening of a regional voting booth.

(1) The President has to agree to allow for it.
(2) The SoFA has to agree to allow for it.
(3) Existing federal and/or regional law has to require the opening of a voting booth, and the region in question needs to have neglected this responsibility for no less than 72 hours.

It's not an issue of anyone taking rights away from anyone.  It's an issue of the federal government giving the regions a helping hand in enforcing their laws when someone in said regions denies the voters their right to be heard as prescribed by federal or regional law.

Everyone knows I'm a proponent of regional rights yet I support this very much.  If you are'nt a totally idiot regionalists you will invalidate your vote or vote aye.

The bolded part of the post was illegal.

     Ebowed voted against it. Pacific is now at 3-2.

"There is a higher law than the Constitution." William Henry Seward

     Now Xahar voted for it. 4-2 in the Pacific. I must say though that if this amendment is encountering this much opposition, Trondheim's amendment probably doesn't have a prayer at passing.

https://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/Campaigning_for_Invalidation_of_Votes_Act

Ahh.  Never seen that before :-D

     Ignorance of the law is not a defense. I'm not going to sue you though. ;)

Nor will I.

What a very silly law

There was reasoning behind it.

Explain

Colin, the Pacific Region used the text at the top of the thread rather than the passed text (which appears below), and other regions may have gone down the same path.

Amendment to the Atlasian Constitution to  Preserve and Protect a Republican form of government for the Regions of Atlasia:

Be it resolved that:

The constitution of Atlasia be amended by insertion of the following text as Article IV, Section 1, Clause 5.

"The President is empowered to direct the Secretary of Forum Affairs  (i) to conduct elections within the regions of Atlasia in such instances where  the regional authority responsible for doing so fails to open a voting booth to conduct such elections within 72 hours after the earliest legally specified time for doing so, and (ii) in instances where such a regional voting booth has been opened,  to close such voting booth and/or certify any such election if such regional authority fails to so act as otherwise required by law."

I don't recall. Ask Sensei, Colin, or any of the other Senators who voted aye.

Damn it, thanks for catching this. I guess I couldn't assume that the governors would look for the newest version of the bill.


This is the correct form and I urge all Governors to vote on this version of the amendment.

So every single Governor, except for ILV, put up the wrong version of the amendment. Excellent. Governors have to remember I'm only legally liable for telling you that an amendment has passed, it's expected of you that you put the right version of the amendment up for a vote.

:D  Victory!

For the record, I would like to state that I'd prefer a friendly PM over a a forcible takeover if I neglect my duties as Governor :P

Perhaps the AG should file charges on the charge of campaigning to invalidate votes. :) Not really.

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Has anyone voted one way on this amendment after reading the text of the voting booth, and then after seeing the corrected version realize that they would have voted differently?

Well, it appears that the measure will easily fail in the Southeast :), but pass everywhere else :(

I'm glad that I put the effort in to whip the Midwest vote.

And now you're stuck with us! ;D *hughughug*