Department of Federal Elections

[bgwah]

Hello,

As JCP Chairman, it is my duty to inform you that the JCP has endorsed HappyWarrior for ME Senator and NCYankee for SE Senator, and both candidates may appear on our ballot line.

[bgwah]

What are the time deadlines for the fusion thingy? I tried to get it in on time, though I don't know whether or not the endorsed candidates accepted in time. Not that anyone really cares, I'm just curious.

[bgwah]

cough

[bgwah]

Just for clarification, why is Ben on the ballot but not BRTD? I checked the Constitution, and it says the deadline is 24 hours before the earliest possible start of the election. Was Thursday at 12:00am not the earliest possible start, making Wednesday at 12:00am the deadline? It would appear as if he is 13 hours late.

[bgwah]

I strongly object. I will challenge this in court if necessary. Ben shouldn't be on the ballot.

[bgwah]

I see three main options here:

1) Ben is kept on the ballot, BRTD added
2) Ben is removed from the ballot.
3) I will seriously consider having the results invalidated in court.

I hope you don't decide to go with the last option, it sounds like a bunch of unnecessary drama.

[bgwah]

I meant to say the CESRA, not the Constitution.

https://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/CESRA#Section_8:_Candidacy_Declarations

The candidacy declaration deadline for regular elections to the Senate shall be twenty-four hours before the earliest possible commencement of the election and for special elections to the Senate shall be twenty-four hours before the commencement of the election.

[bgwah]

Thank you for the consistency.

[bgwah]

According to what law?

[bgwah]

Hmm, that's interesting. The wording doesn't quite seem right since it obviously wasn't written with the Proportional Representation Act in mind. How would you count it? Since it just says "greatest number of highest preferences" does that mean it would basically be Ben vs. Shua among everyone's votes?

[bgwah]

My understanding, by the use of the word next, means Ben.

Well that's the problem is, that's not how the STV elections work. I don't know who has more highest preferences, but that doesn't sound like the same thing as just re-counting the election without Homely in it.

[bgwah]

Well either way I think this is something that needs to be fixed for future elections. I'm considering introducing an amendment to the PRA that will deal with this type of situation. Perhaps using the election results to perform another count excluding candidates that already won and/or dropped out for however many seats have been conceded.

[bgwah]

Well either way I think this is something that needs to be fixed for future elections. I'm considering introducing an amendment to the PRA that will deal with this type of situation. Perhaps using the election results to perform another count excluding candidates that already won and/or dropped out for however many seats have been conceded.

I'd prefer giving the candidate the ability to concede any time between the results and their swearing in, with the SoFE recounting the entire election as if that candidate had never run in the first place.

I'll of course enforce any law that is determined.

^ My problem with that is it may result in a candidate winning under original count but not the new one---thus why I think anyone who wins in the original count should win,period.

[bgwah]

The JCP endorsed Shua and NCYankee for ME & SE Senate, so they have our permission to appear on the ballot as JCP if they and their party wish.

[bgwah]

I think you accidentally put JCP for the Winfield/Jbrase ticket.

[bgwah]

If/when the Senate informs me of a vacancy, there indeed will be.

I suppose this is my job now that I'm PPT again? Well there is indeed a vacancy for Snowguy's old seat.

[bgwah]

The first preference tie-breaker should be used. I suppose it's possible I'm biased () but I'm fairly confident that is the correct solution.

[bgwah]

Yeah I'm a tiny bit confused. The voting booth even says:

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This implies the elections arts in about 24 hours, not now.

[bgwah]

Yeah it's legal for it to start now. Homely will need to fix the specific times, though.

[bgwah]

The new constitution says this about when Presidential elections start:

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That'd mean the earliest possible commencement is 00:00 on Thursday, February 9th, unless an amendment changed that.

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

It's Feb 16th.