Electoral Reform Amendment (Passed)

[Senator Cris]

I like this.

[Senator Cris]

This is a terrible, terrible idea.

This is awful, and I will not vote for it under any circumstances.

Why?

[Senator Cris]

I think that the Windjammer's idea is a very good idea. Only the Secretary of Federal Elections should work on the districts.
Considered that the idea is of Windjammer, I think he should present it.

[Senator Cris]

Sorry for the confusion:
I think homely should be a member, not the only member

In the original text, homely is a member.

[Senator Cris]

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I suppose that "becoming valid at the August elections" is referred only to 2015, considered that At-Large elections are held in April, August and December.
So, considered that it is referred to all the elections, I think we should remove the part "becoming valid at the August elections" and insert this part in another point.

[Senator Cris]

This is my amendment:

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Article V, Section II, Subsection VI is hereby amended to read:

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[/quote]

Changes:

"representatives of the five Governors" --> "five Governors"
I removed "becoming valid at August election".
At the part on the equality of districts in population, I added "or with a difference of a maximum of 1 voter." because an equality can be impossible.
I added a new point, 4., in case that the Senate rejects the commission's plan.

I know that these changes can't be enough for some of you, but we need to work to improve this and I hope that my amendment will pass.

[Senator Cris]

I object to the amendment.

Why?

[Senator Cris]

Aye

[Senator Cris]

Aye

[Senator Cris]

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I think it should be changed, in order to have contiguos districts. As pointed out by Senator Windjammer, it would be strange to have a district with New York and Colorado (for example), because only in this way there would be an equality in population.
And so the difference should be increased to a maximum of 3 voters. What do you think?

[Senator Cris]

I don't know if it's a mistake, but in your amendment districts are still not contiguos and IIRC you want to have contiguos districts.

[Senator Cris]

I'm ok with the difference of 3 voters, but at the same time I think that with that difference we can have contiguos districts.

[Senator Cris]

Aye

[Senator Cris]

Bump.

[Senator Cris]

The members of the commission are 6 (Governors and SoFE). So, with the Bore's amendment, it would need 5 votes to pass.

I'm ok with it.

[Senator Cris]

I'm ok with it.

[Senator Cris]

Yes. I'll support the amendement proposed by Senator Windjammer.
As said time ago, I think that districts should be contiguous.

[Senator Cris]

Aye

[Senator Cris]

Amendment offered:

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[Senator Cris]

I'm withdrawing my amendment.

[Senator Cris]

Nay

Senators, what do you think of establish August as the beginning of the new system?

[Senator Cris]

Nay

I don't think that the party should still be able to hold the seat because we are speaking of district elections and a citizen can vote for a candidate regardless of his party affiliation. District elections are about the candidate, not only the party...

[Senator Cris]

Or what if we just had a vote among the senators who are chosen by the district system? The first time around would have to be a little different, but it could work once we've got the ball rolling. I do agree that getting the whole senate involved might be unnecessary, but surely these senators (and the people they represent) have a stake in how the maps shape up.

In this case, we should insert a new clause to the text, considered that districts should be approved for the first time first of the August election and first of that election, senators who are chosen by districts don't exist.

[Senator Cris]

Cranberry sponsored it.

[Senator Cris]

My amendment:

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Article V, Section II, Subsection VI is hereby amended to read:

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[/quote]

Changes are in green.

The members of the commission that will select the Districts are 6 (5 Governors + SoFE) and the Governor seat can't be vacant. The required majority is of 4/5 and 4/5 of 6 is 5. I think we should clarify it and that's why I inserted this in my amendment.

About the special elections: I think the date for stopping special elections should be two weeks before the election date and so I inserted fourteen days instead of thirty-five.