MA: Second Amendment to The Mideast Consolidated Elections Statute (Statute)

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

Second Amendment to The Mideast Consolidated Elections Statute

Section 2.2 of The Mideast Elections Consolidation Statute shall be amended to read:

2. If two or more candidates are tied in the proper votes needed for election, the following procedure shall be used:
 a. If the race shall be for the office of Governor, a run-off election shall be held.
 b. If the race shall be for Assembly candidates with the greatest number of highest first, second, third, and/or fourth preference votes, the two candidates who received the same number of votes, and that has not already been elected, shall both be elected.  To fill any seats that may remain open, the votes shall be counted based on the preference value from the last round of counting plus one.
c. If the race shall be for Assembly candidates with the greatest number of highest first, second, third, fourth, and fifth preference votes, and that has not already been elected, a run-off election shall be held.

Sponsor: Inks.LWC

[Swedish Cheese]

This seems reasonable enough.

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

I think the wording makes it what we wanted.  It takes what we have now, but turns it into something that doesn't require 500 words to explain what happens if position 1 ties, 2 ties, 3 ties, etc.  I was gonna do it that way, but then I realized that if we had ties at 2 positions, it'd throw it off, and then we'd have a 1000+ bill for just tie breakers.

So, I think this gets the principle across that if we have a tie in 1st, both are elected and the 3rd seat is elected by using 1st plus 2nd preference votes, and the 4th seat with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, etc.

If anybody sees any errors or loopholes, let me know.

[The Artist Formerly Known As and Now Again Known As Ogis]

b. If the race shall be for Assembly candidates with the greatest number of highest first, second, third, and/or fourth preference votes, the two candidates who received the same number of votes, and that has not already been elected, shall both be elected.  To fill any seats that may remain open, the votes shall be counted based on the preference value from the last round of counting plus one.

Shouldn't that be "two?" Forgive me if I am interpreting this wrong, but let's look at this situation:

Candidates A, B, C, D, E, F, and so forth are running for the 5 spots. Candidates A and B get elected after the first and second rounds of counting, respectively. Then, C and D are in a tie in the 3rd round. Both are elected. However, the next round, as per the law as currently written, only counts preferences 1-4 for the 5th assembly spot (since the last round counted was the 3rd and the law dictates that the next round is n+1). One round of counting should be skipped in the place of a tie.



Also, a three-way tie in the 4th round of counting would not be covered by this law explicitly, and it could cause some confusion because it is a fourth-preference count that would require a runoff, but the bill would actually just put in office all 3 candidates.

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

As for your first question, no it should be one.  Under the current law, if we have a tie for first, the third spot is filled by looking at 1st + 2nd preference votes.  We do NOT skip to 1st, second, and third preference votes.

If you guys want this changed, we can.  My bill simply extended the current law so that it's applicable to all elections.

As for the 3-way tie at 4th place (or a 4-way tie at 3rd place, etc), I'll need to think of a way to word that.

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

OK, how's this:

Second Amendment to The Mideast Consolidated Elections Statute

Section 2.2 of The Mideast Elections Consolidation Statute shall be amended to read:

2. If two or more candidates are tied in the proper votes needed for election, the following procedure shall be used:
 a. If the race shall be for the office of Governor, a run-off election shall be held.
 b. If the race shall be for Assembly, candidates with the greatest number of highest first, second, third, and/or fourth preference votes, the two candidates who received the same number of votes, and that has not already been elected, shall both be elected.  To fill any seats that may remain open, the votes shall be counted based on the preference value from the last round of counting plus one.
c. If the race shall be for Assembly, and the number of candidates tied, and that have not already been elected, exceeds the number of seats still open, a run-off election shall be held.

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

Voting is now open on the following bill.  This will be a 24 hour vote:

Second Amendment to The Mideast Consolidated Elections Statute

Section 2.2 of The Mideast Elections Consolidation Statute shall be amended to read:

2. If two or more candidates are tied in the proper votes needed for election, the following procedure shall be used:
 a. If the race shall be for the office of Governor, a run-off election shall be held.
 b. If the race shall be for Assembly, candidates with the greatest number of highest first, second, third, and/or fourth preference votes, the two candidates who received the same number of votes, and that has not already been elected, shall both be elected.  To fill any seats that may remain open, the votes shall be counted based on the preference value from the last round of counting plus one.
c. If the race shall be for Assembly, and the number of candidates tied, and that have not already been elected, exceeds the number of seats still open, a run-off election shall be held.

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

AYE

[The Artist Formerly Known As and Now Again Known As Ogis]

Aye

[Swedish Cheese]

  Aye

[afleitch]

Aye

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

Voting is now closed.  The AYEs are 4, and the NAYs are 0, with one seat vacant.  The AYEs have it, and the bill is passed.  The bill is now passed on to the governor for his signature or veto.