Electoral System Reform Bill

[WMS]

I think Ebowed',s idea makes sense (well, not the 60% part, which I'm not sure of, but the idea of only making the voting reform be subject to a public vote), since that part is the only part that really would be a fundamental change.

I agree

'Hawk'

As do I

[Democratic Hawk]

I'll await a few more responses from Senators yet to express an opinion on the President's suggestion before making any appropriate changes to my proposed amendment

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

I assume all Senators who wished to speak on this have done so. While I didn't specify a time limit, 24 hours have passed since I referred this matter for further consideration; therefore, I'm working on a new amendment to replace the one I introduced previously

Basically, given that the consensus is that only the part of the Bill relating to the reform of the voting system (i.e. whether to replace IRV with Senator Gabu's FPTP-variant) should be subject to a public vote I will introduce a new amendment stating that only Sections 1 to 3, which pertain to this, be subject to public approval; however, I will propose that a 50% plus 1 simple majority is required to change the voting system rather than the 60% suggested by the President

If the amendment, once introduced, is approved by the Senate then it will be for the people to decide whether to approve it or not. If it is approved, then the final Bill will be approved by the Senate; however, if not, I assume that Sections 1 to 3 will be stricken from the Bill and replaced with Section 1 to 3 of the Unified Electoral Code Act (i.e. those which pertain to the existing IRV voting system), which will be incorporated into the Final Bill. That way the other reforms (Sections 4-15) will remain intact, as the President suggested. Unless of course, any of you have any alternative ideas

'Hawk'

[Gabu]

I assume all Senators who wished to speak on this have done so. While I didn't specify a time limit, 24 hours have passed since I referred this matter for further consideration; therefore, I'm working on a new amendment to replace the one I introduced previously

Basically, given that the consensus is that only the part of the Bill relating to the reform of the voting system (i.e. whether to replace IRV with Senator Gabu's FPTP-variant) should be subject to a public vote I will introduce a new amendment stating that only Sections 1 to 3, which pertain to this, be subject to public approval; however, I will propose that a 50% plus 1 simple majority is required to change the voting system rather than the 60% suggested by the President

If the amendment, once introduced, is approved by the Senate then it will be for the people to decide whether to approve it or not. If it is approved, then the final Bill will be approved by the Senate; however, if not, I assume that Sections 1 to 3 will be stricken from the Bill and replaced with Section 1 to 3 of the Unified Electoral Code Act (i.e. those which pertain to the existing IRV voting system), which will be incorporated into the Final Bill. That way the other reforms (Sections 4-15) will remain intact, as the President suggested. Unless of course, any of you have any alternative ideas

'Hawk'

That sounds reasonable to me.

[Democratic Hawk]

I'd like to amend my previous amendment as follows (changes in green):

The following text shall be inserted as "Section 16: Public Vote for Implementation":

1) "After passage in the Senate, Sections 1-3 of this Bill shall not be put into place unless a majority of 50 % plus one of registered voters shall vote in favor of its enactment in a national public poll administered by either the Vice President or President Pro Tempore"
2) Should Sections 1-3 be approved by public vote then they will be incorporated into this Act; however, should they not Sections 1-3 of the Unified Electoral Code Act will be incorporated into this Act
 
Section 16: Repealed Legislation shall be renumbered as section 17.

'Hawk'

[MasterJedi]

Since there has already been a lot of debate on this I will open the vote at 4pm CST if there is no further debate.

[MasterJedi]

I hereby open up the vote on this amendment. Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.

The following text shall be inserted as "Section 16: Public Vote for Implementation":

1) "After passage in the Senate, Sections 1-3 of this Bill shall not be put into place unless a majority of 50 % plus one of registered voters shall vote in favor of its enactment in a national public poll administered by either the Vice President or President Pro Tempore"
2) Should Sections 1-3 be approved by public vote then they will be incorporated into this Act; however, should they not Sections 1-3 of the Unified Electoral Code Act will be incorporated into this Act
 
Section 16: Repealed Legislation shall be renumbered as section 17.

[Gabu]

Aye.

[MasterJedi]

Aye

[Democratic Hawk]

Aye

'Hawk'

[Bacon King]

Aye.

[Yates]

Aye.

[Gabu]

I hope we can finally get this thing to a vote before the end of this Senate session, as it's been rather a long time since it was first brought to the floor.

[WMS]

Aye.

[MasterJedi]

This amendment has passed.

Now if there is no debate until tomorrow at 4pm CST I'll open up the final vote.

[MasterJedi]

I hereby open up the final vote on this bill. Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.


The final version of the bill can be seen here: https://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/User:Pete_bell/Electoral_reform

With Hawk's amendment here (it's Section 16 and the section 16 on there is 17):

1) "After passage in the Senate, Sections 1-3 of this Bill shall not be put into place unless a majority of 50 % plus one of registered voters shall vote in favor of its enactment in a national public poll administered by either the Vice President or President Pro Tempore"
2) Should Sections 1-3 be approved by public vote then they will be incorporated into this Act; however, should they not Sections 1-3 of the Unified Electoral Code Act will be incorporated into this Act.

[MasterJedi]

Aye

[Democratic Hawk]

Aye

'Hawk'

[Bacon King]

Aye

[Gabu]

Aye.

[Yates]

Aye.

[Hatman 🍁]

Abstain

[MasterJedi]

This bill has enough votes to pass. Senators now have 24 hours to change thier votes.

[Peter]

Does NOBODY actually read the amendments that they vote on with anything approaching a critical viewpoint?

I didn't think so.

The amendment you just approved in your (as ever) infinitesimal wisdom requires that Sections 1 through 3 shall not have effect unless "50 % plus one of registered voters shall vote in favor of its enactment in a national public poll". It places no time limits on the national public poll.

One can thus only assume that the poll lasts until literally we have a majority one way or the other. The present count has us at 106 citizens. Good luck getting 54 people to vote one way or the other in this.

I would also like to use this rant to point out that it should be Sections 1 through 4 of this Act, but that really is a footnote to the other problems.

Given that this bill potentially leaves the entire electoral system in long term limbo, I must vote:

Nay

[WMS]

Aye.