SENATE BILL: Election Do-Over Act (Vetoed, Not Overriden)

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I am so sorry for my little absence here. I'm usually able to post so often because I keep putting off my actual school work... obviously that strategy blows up when the work is due.

Basically, I'm completely aware that, as it stands, this bill probably wouldn't hold up under a constitutional challenge. However, I'm inclined to believe that we really need a way to make sure mistakes like the one our SoFE made can actually be fixed. This bill proposes one suggestion, but I'm very open to hearing others.

I know the president issued an executive order that would, in theory, prevent situations like this from happening again... but I don't believe it will be totally effective. Maybe he will enforce it under his administration, but there's no way to be sure that other presidents will. Punishment for violating an executive order is at the discretion of the president, and the most that can happen is getting fired. So if the SoFE refused to post an early ballot and made a mistake with the final version in the Voting Booth, there still wouldn't be a way to fix the problem.

That's why I think we need a reactionary response, not a preventative action. And if we do use a preventative action, I want it to be codified in law, not an executive order.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I didn't really get what you meant by the obligatory motion to table... Sorry, but I'm still not familiar with all these procedures.

Also, I'm waiting on some of Marokia's suggestions.

If I were to change this to an amendment, could it be done in the same thread? Also, can the title be amended, or would that imply scrapping the legislation altogether and starting from scratch (only because whatever changes we make might not even involve an election do-over)?

[HagridOfTheDeep]

The president never explained why he thought it was unconstitutional. My reading of the constitution leads me to believe that the senate does have the power to allow for do-overs:

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While earlier sections of the constitution do stipulate the date and time of elections, the constitution itself seems to negate those specifics in the above section. If "the exact time at which a given election or vote shall begin may be determined by the voting booth administrator subject to such restrictions as may be imposed by law," it seems to me that this bill would be a suitable restriction. I'd be interested in hearing the president's thoughts.

Sbane, I don't believe the executive order does enough: It is not legally binding. If homely didn't post the ballot ahead of time, the president could choose to fire homely over it or the president could do nothing at all. Napoleon would certainly take action, but a future president who's unfamiliar with his executive order might not, and then there'd still be no way of fixing the election error.

Do people not see the need for this bill?

Also, do y'all believe this really needs to become an amendment?

I kind of want to hear everyone out before I "amend it to an amendment," because the legislation will be significantly more difficult to pass in that state.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Well, no one is saying anything. And at this rate, I doubt we'd even get seven people in here to vote, let alone vote "aye." So making it an amendment seems futile.

When is the soonest this bill could be brought to a final vote in its current form? I still want something like this to pass, and if the Court finds it unconstitutional, so be it. It'll give them something to do. Or the bill just might not pass to begin with. Either way, I'd like to give it a chance.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

All right then. Consider it asked for.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Aye

[HagridOfTheDeep]

You failed to return to answer any of my questions, Justice Napoleon.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I won't be challenging the veto.

I'd like to apologize to JCL for the government's unwillingness to provide a procedural method to correct ballot mistakes.

[HagridOfTheDeep]