2016-012: Federal Electoral Act (Passed Senate)

[tmthforu94]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

-continued-

[tmthforu94]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Sponsor: Tmthforu94

72 hours initially for debate.

[tmthforu94]

One of the last key necessary steps we have as a body is to establish the proceedings for future election. This is an amended version of the consolidating election rules that Atlasia used to operate by, with slight changes for the House of Representatives and also the inclusion of several provisions that were in the old constitution but the new one left for Congress to decide.

Most of this is fairly non-controversial - I would encourage all senators to read Section 14 in particular, as that deals with the activity requirements, among other things. Some items that have been hot topics in the past:
- how long you should be registered for being able to vote
- how many posts are required for registering

The only thing I believe I changed from current policy is how often you can move states within a region - from 24 hours to 72 hours, mainly because I think it is unnecessary to need to move that often and just creates more hassle for the RG.

This is an important bill that deserves debate, please read through it and bring up any issues you might have. I have already reached out to Truman and RPryor for their thoughts as well - we don't want to create loopholes.

[tmthforu94]

Offering an amendment:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

24 hours for objections.

[tmthforu94]

The amendment has been adopted.

A little concerning that no one has weighed in on a bill that will determine how elections are conducted in Atlasia. I'll give it until tonight/tomorrow morning and then open a final vote.

[Blair]

Out of interest- it says that new posters need 15 posts, wasn't it 10 under the old system?

[tmthforu94]

Out of interest- it says that new posters need 15 posts, wasn't it 10 under the old system?

It was 18 posts before - the logic behind it was that it is the RL voting age in America, though I feel like leaving it on a multiple of 5 is simpler so rounded down. If there is an interest to raise it up to 20 or keep it at 18, that's fine. I don't really care either way.

[This account no longer in use.]

Can't truly think of any problems.

[tmthforu94]

We are now moving to a final vote. Senators, please vote AYE, NAY or ABSTAIN.


Aye

[Goldwater]

AYE

[Poirot]

Suggestion and question on the Federal electoral Act.

Section 14:
Voter needs to post 10 times in the 8 weeks prior to the election.
We could make it 8 times, equivalent to once a week. Less votes would be thrown out because of number of posts.

Voter is deregistered after missing three federal elections. Are federal elections Presidential and House and Senate considered regional?

Section 6 on absentee voting
It doesn't give much time for a voter to vote by absentee ballot if a voter is gone all weekend. Vote can only occur after there is an official ballot (I think candidates can declare for House 1 day before the election. Maybe a voter who knows will be gone could not have to wait for the official ballot and send his ranking of candidates to the Secretary of Elections before the end of candidate declaration. 

[tmthforu94]

Suggestion and question on the Federal electoral Act.

Section 14:
Voter needs to post 10 times in the 8 weeks prior to the election.
We could make it 8 times, equivalent to once a week. Less votes would be thrown out because of number of posts.

Voter is deregistered after missing three federal elections. Are federal elections Presidential and House and Senate considered regional?

Section 6 on absentee voting
It doesn't give much time for a voter to vote by absentee ballot if a voter is gone all weekend. Vote can only occur after there is an official ballot (I think candidates can declare for House 1 day before the election. Maybe a voter who knows will be gone could not have to wait for the official ballot and send his ranking of candidates to the Secretary of Elections before the end of candidate declaration. 

Thank you for bringing up these concerns.

In terms of absentee voting, I don't think there is much that can be done unless we want to let people vote before the candidate declaration deadline. There have only be a handful of times in all of my time in Atlasia that someone has requested an absentee ballot, so I'm hesitant to create stricter candidacy deadlines that can limit the number of individuals on the ballot. Since we have already begun a final vote, I would encourage this body to go ahead and pass these guidelines, then a discussion can be had in the House over whether or not the candidacy deadline should be pushed forward.

The House may also take up on whether or not they want to reduce the requirements to vote - it doesn't make a huge difference either way, though usually if someone has only made 8-10 posts in two months, they're probably not an active Atlasian and are a "zombie voter." If this passes in the Senate, I will ensure that these issues are brought up in the House.

[Poirot]

Issue with section 15 Determination of election dates

I presume the wording for Presidential election gives the right day but the next item is Senate elections.

Is it in the federal election law to determine the Senate election dates? I thought it was left to the regions to decided how to elect Senators.

I don't see dates specified for House elections.
 

[Poirot]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I have not found a Deputy Secratary of Federal Elections office. Don't know if we will have in the future.

In the executive order the Predisent can name an Interim.

I imagine this law stays on the books while executive order may not, so future Presidents will be able to pick a replacement without confirmation from legislators in the House or Senate.   

[tmthforu94]

The House will have to friendly that line in Section 15 from "Senate" to "House of Representatives." Same with changing Deputy to Interim.

Thank you Poirot for reading through this before it was signed, not after. I'm not perfect, I make mistakes, so it is important to have several people critically reading through these things before passing them.

[Poirot]

It is a very long bill. Lots of possibilities for mistakes. Someone should verify the descritpions for election dates, those descriptions always confuse me.

I think I found something to change or edit. Section 6 on absentee voting refers to the old constitution, not the new one.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Perhaps also look at section 9, Administration of voting booths for what is asked of the administrator of the election.

For instance, give public notice to registered voters seven days in advance on the fantasy election forum and the voting booth.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Don't know why it says "registered"voters. Maybe ask for public notice 7 days in advance in fantasy election but also the voting booth? I've never seen a public notice in the voting booth. The booth was used for voting only. (or I don't know what this text means)

[Prince of Salem]

Aye

We should definitely address Poirot's concerns later though.

[Blair]

Abstain

[Pingvin]

Aye

[tmthforu94]

The maximum amount of time allotted has expired. The bill has passed with 4 Ayes and 1 Abstaining.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

When will this be brought to the floor in the House?

[Lumine]

Sorry, I've been busy. Here is the version passed by the House:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Lumine]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[tmthforu94]

This is an immediate vote - I encourage the Senate to quickly pass this so I can present it to Leinad for his signature by tomorrow evening.


Aye

[Goldwater]

AYE