Federal Activity Requirements Statute

[Gabu]

As introduced by Sen. Colin Wixted:

Federal Activity Requirements Statute

The Senate notes that:

1. The present activity requirement requires 25 posts between elections in order for a voter to be defined as active, without specifying whether such requirements apply for general elections only, or includes special elections.

2. That special elections can occur as soon as one week after a general election, thus potentially disenfranchising many legitimate voters.

Clauses:

1. All those persons who have posted at least 25 times in the 8 weeks (56 days) prior to the commencement of an election shall be defined as active for the purposes of that election.

2. Those persons considered inactive (defined as not active) shall not be qualified to vote in a particular election.

3. Section 5 of the Election Procedures, Certification and Challenges Act is repealed

4. The Amendment to the Statute of Election Procedures, Certification, and Challenges Act is repealed.

I hereby open debate on this legislation.

[MasterJedi]

I see nothing wrong with this so far. I'll watch the debate but nothing should come up and surprise me.

[Gabu]

I hadn't considered special elections when I wrote what I did, and I think that this is a very good way to deal with them, so I'm in support of this.

[Sam Spade]

I have no problems with this.  None whatsoever. 

[Bono]

Now, where have I seen this before?

[jokerman]

This is nesecary reform.  I support it.

[King]

Needed reforms and I support it, but I also want to add this to avoid a court battle in a really close race:

5.  In the accurance of a voter casting a ballot with a questionable activity record, the post in which the ballot was cast shall not be counted in the 25 post requirement by the election administrator.


So, I introduce the amendment above.

[MasterJedi]

Needed reforms and I support it, but I also want to add this to avoid a court battle in a really close race:

5.  In the accurance of a voter casting a ballot with a questionable activity record, the post in which the ballot was cast shall not be counted in the 25 post requirement by the election administrator.

I support this change it will help cut down on the court battles like King said.

[Gabu]

Needed reforms and I support it, but I also want to add this to avoid a court battle in a really close race:

5.  In the accurance of a voter casting a ballot with a questionable activity record, the post in which the ballot was cast shall not be counted in the 25 post requirement by the election administrator.


So, I introduce the amendment above.

I'm not sure if this is necessary, as clause 1 requires that the 25 posts occur "prior to the commencement of an election".  The post containing the ballot obviously would not have occurred prior to the commencement of the election.

[Sam Spade]

I agree with Gabu on this. 

The intent of the legislation is to say that when the election starts, your posts no longer count towards voting requirements. 

Couldn't be much clearer to me and this makes King's amendment rather unnecessary.

A more interesting question has to do with how this would deal with absentee voters, if need be.

[Gabu]

A more interesting question has to do with how this would deal with absentee voters, if need be.

How about something like this:

5.  Anyone who has cast an absentee ballot shall be regarded as an active voter provided he or she fulfills the definition, by the time the election commences for which the ballot was cast, of an "active voter"; however, the post containing the ballot shall not count towards the total number of required posts.

[Sam Spade]

A more interesting question has to do with how this would deal with absentee voters, if need be.

How about something like this:

5.  Anyone who has cast an absentee ballot shall be regarded as an active voter provided he or she fulfills the definition of an "active voter" for the purposes of the election for which the ballot was cast; however, the post containing the ballot shall not count towards the total number of required posts.

Sounds good to me.

[Gabu]

A more interesting question has to do with how this would deal with absentee voters, if need be.

How about something like this:

5.  Anyone who has cast an absentee ballot shall be regarded as an active voter provided he or she fulfills the definition of an "active voter" for the purposes of the election for which the ballot was cast; however, the post containing the ballot shall not count towards the total number of required posts.

Sounds good to me.

I edited it slightly just to make it blatantly obvious what it's saying, but no major changes.

I'll leave this up for a little bit to see if anyone else has anything to say.

[Sam Spade]

Just a little nitpicking.  We can vote on this amendment, at the same time as the other one.

6.  This legislation shall take effect immediately upon its passage into law.

To make sure it is in effect for the upcoming federal election, or any special elections that could potentially happen before then.

[Gabu]

Just a little nitpicking.  We can vote on this amendment, at the same time as the other one.

6.  This legislation shall take effect immediately upon its passage into law.

To make sure it is in effect for the upcoming federal election, or any special elections that could potentially happen before then.

Good idea, okay.

We still need to wait to see if King still wants to have his amendment up for voting, though; that's up to him.

[King]

I withdraw my amendment.

[Gabu]

Well, there don't seem to be any comments, so I hereby open voting on these two amendments:

5.  Anyone who has cast an absentee ballot shall be regarded as an active voter provided he or she fulfills the definition, by the time the election commences for which the ballot was cast, of an "active voter"; however, the post containing the ballot shall not count towards the total number of required posts.

and

6.  This legislation shall take effect immediately upon its passage into law.

All senators in favor, vote "aye"; all against, vote "nay".

---

Aye, aye.

[King]

We need a provision for Absentee Ballots...

Oh and Aye, Aye.

[Colin]

Aye, aye.

[MasterJedi]

Aye and Aye

[MAS117]

Aye, aye

[Sam Spade]

Aye, Aye.

[Gabu]

We need a provision for Absentee Ballots...

Isn't that what the proposed clause 5 does?

[Sam Spade]

We need a provision for Absentee Ballots...

Isn't that what the proposed clause 5 does?

Maybe King was just saying this in support of the amendment, as in...

"We need a provision for absentee ballots...", therefore I vote for it. (or I'm at least guessing)

Anyway, these two amendments have passed now and this bill is much better.

[Gabu]

Yes, just to make it official...

With six votes in favor to none against, these two amendments have passed.