OFFICIAL BOOTH - SOUTHEAST February 2007 Gubernatorial/Initiative Elections

[Sam Spade]

There is a election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor being held for a term of office ending April 22, 2007 at 11:59:59 PM CST. 

The Southeast Region uses approval voting for Governor and Lieutenant Governor elections. 

List all persons who you would approve of as Governor and Lieutenant Governor, with the order not mattering. 

In the event that multiple candidates should be tied for the most approvals, a runoff will be held on Tuesday, February 20, 2007, beginning at 12:00:00 AM CST and ending on Thursday, February 22, 2007 at 11:59:59 PM CST

The following people have requested that their names be placed upon this ballot, but you may write in the name of any Southeast resident in addition to or instead of these candidates:

Governor
Sam Spade (Texas)

Lieutenant Governor   
Bacon King (Georgia)
There are four initiatives up for a vote on this ballot, each proposed as per Article II, Section 1 of the Southeast Constitution. 

These initiatives are numbered #152 thru #155 and a brief summary of what each initiative does and a link to the full text of each initiative is given below.

Initiative #152
Judicial Overlord Title Amendment
This initiative changes the title of 'Southeast Magistrate' to 'Southeast Supreme Evil Overlord of the Courts', but does not create any new powers to the position.
Initiative #153
Return of the Right-to-Work Initiative
This initiative repeals the Right to Organize Initiative (147) and the amended Liberty of Contract Initiative (104) and replaces the law with the bulk of the text of the Right-to-Work Initiative (7) and the Amendments to the Right-to-Work Initiative (52).
Initiative #154
Repealing Useless or Superseded Amendments to the Southeast Constitution
This initiative repeals Amendments to the Southeast Constitution that have been superseded by other amendments or Amendments that the Governor believes are unnecessary (92, 108).
Initiative #155
Initiative to Request to Trade Puerto Rico to the Pacific in Exchange for New Mexico
This initiative formally makes an offer to the Pacific Region to trade the state of New Mexico for the state of Puerto Rico.
Voting shall start on Friday, February 16, at 9:30:00 AM (CST), and shall conclude on Sunday, February 18, at 11:59:59 PM (CST).

This election shall be conducted in strict accordance with Article VII of the Southeast Constitution, as amended by Initiative #112. 

You must be a registered voter of the Southeast Region during the entire time this ballot is open in order for your vote to be valid.   

Votes cast before the election has begun or after it has concluded will be declared invalid. 

Editing a ballot disqualifies it. 

All discussion of the election must be conducted in a separate thread.

If you have any questions about voting or this election in general, please do not hesitate to send the presiding elections officer (me) a Personal Message.

States in the Southeast: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas.
OFFICIAL BALLOT
Governor Election
List all candidates who you approve of:

Sam Spade (Texas)

Lieutenant Governor Election
List all candidates who you approve of:

Bacon King (Georgia)

Initiatives
Please vote either Yes, No, or Abstain on each initiative.  The use of other phrasing will not necessarily render the ballot invalid, but may subject it to interpretation.

Initiative #152 (Judicial Overlord Title Amendment):
Initiative #153 (Return of the Right-to-Work Initiative):
Initiative #154 (Repealing Useless or Superseded Amendments to the Southeast Constitution):
Initiative #155 (Initiative to Request to Trade Puerto Rico to the Pacific in Exchange for New Mexico):

[Sam Spade]

OFFICIAL BALLOT
Governor Election
List all candidates who you approve of:

Sam Spade (Texas)

Lieutenant Governor Election
List all candidates who you approve of:

Bacon King (Georgia)

Initiatives
Initiative #152 (Judicial Overlord Title Amendment): Aye. (why not)
Initiative #153 (Return of the Right-to-Work Initiative): Aye.
Initiative #154 (Repealing Useless or Superseded Amendments to the Southeast Constitution): Aye.
Initiative #155 (Initiative to Request to Trade Puerto Rico to the Pacific in Exchange for New Mexico): Aye.

[Brandon H]

OFFICIAL BALLOT
Governor Election
List all candidates who you approve of:

Sam Spade (Texas)

Lieutenant Governor Election
List all candidates who you approve of:

Bacon King (Georgia)

Initiatives
Please vote either Yes, No, or Abstain on each initiative.  The use of other phrasing will not necessarily render the ballot invalid, but may subject it to interpretation.

Initiative #152 (Judicial Overlord Title Amendment): Abstain
Initiative #153 (Return of the Right-to-Work Initiative): Aye
Initiative #154 (Repealing Useless or Superseded Amendments to the Southeast Constitution): Aye
Initiative #155 (Initiative to Request to Trade Puerto Rico to the Pacific in Exchange for New Mexico): Aye

[Reaganfan]

OFFICIAL BALLOT
Governor Election
List all candidates who you approve of:

Sam Spade (Texas)

Lieutenant Governor Election
List all candidates who you approve of:

Bacon King (Georgia)

Initiatives
Please vote either Yes, No, or Abstain on each initiative.  The use of other phrasing will not necessarily render the ballot invalid, but may subject it to interpretation.

Initiative #152 (Judicial Overlord Title Amendment): NAY
Initiative #153 (Return of the Right-to-Work Initiative): ABSTAIN
Initiative #154 (Repealing Useless or Superseded Amendments to the Southeast Constitution): NAY
Initiative #155 (Initiative to Request to Trade Puerto Rico to the Pacific in Exchange for New Mexico): AYE

[John Dibble]

OFFICIAL BALLOT
Governor Election
List all candidates who you approve of:

Sam Spade (Texas)

Lieutenant Governor Election
List all candidates who you approve of:

Bacon King (Georgia)

Initiatives
Initiative #152 (Judicial Overlord Title Amendment): Aye.
Initiative #153 (Return of the Right-to-Work Initiative): Abstain
Initiative #154 (Repealing Useless or Superseded Amendments to the Southeast Constitution): Aye.
Initiative #155 (Initiative to Request to Trade Puerto Rico to the Pacific in Exchange for New Mexico): Aye.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Approve both, aye to all.

Thanks for your votes people.

[Jake]

Spade
Bacon King
Aye to all four

[DWPerry]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[TomC]

OFFICIAL BALLOT
Governor Election
List all candidates who you approve of:

Sam Spade (Texas)

Lieutenant Governor Election
List all candidates who you approve of:

Bacon King (Georgia)

Initiatives
Initiative #152 (Judicial Overlord Title Amendment): Nay
Initiative #153 (Return of the Right-to-Work Initiative): Aye
Initiative #154 (Repealing Useless or Superseded Amendments to the Southeast Constitution): Aye
Initiative #155 (Initiative to Request to Trade Puerto Rico to the Pacific in Exchange for New Mexico): Nay

[Democratic Hawk]

OFFICIAL BALLOT
Governor Election
List all candidates who you approve of:

Sam Spade (Texas)

Lieutenant Governor Election
List all candidates who you approve of:

Bacon King (Georgia)

Initiatives
Initiative #152 (Judicial Overlord Title Amendment): Nay
Initiative #153 (Return of the Right-to-Work Initiative): Aye
Initiative #154 (Repealing Useless or Superseded Amendments to the Southeast Constitution): Aye
Initiative #155 (Initiative to Request to Trade Puerto Rico to the Pacific in Exchange for New Mexico): Nay

[Sam Spade]

The voting booth is now closed.

Both Jake and TN2024's ballots will need to be examined under Article VII of the Constitution to determine their validity.  The relevant provision in my determination is Article VII, Section 4, Clause (a-4) which states:

(a) A voter's ballot is valid only if the voter - (4) clearly identifies the contest in which a vote is intended to be applied.

In Jake's case, it is indeterminable whether the "Sam Spade" and "Bacon King" on Jake's ballot are intended to be applied to the Governor's race or the Lt. Governor's race.  Thus, I find that Jake's ballot does not clearly identify a Governor or Lt. Governor choice.  On the other hand, I find that "Aye to all four" refers to the four Initiatives on the ballot, and that this part of the ballot counts.

In TN2024's case, there is less information to form an inference.  "Approve both" could refer to any Southeast citizen or any person in Atlasia.  Thus, I find that TN2024's ballot does not clearly identify a Governor or Lt. Governor choice.  Similarly, the language "Aye to all" not only lacks the key term that Jake's ballot did, but could also refer to the Governor or Lt. Governor ballot.  Thus, TN2024's ballot is completely spoiled and rendered invalid.

If anyone wishes to challenge my ruling in court, feel free to.  Judicial interference is a good thing, not a bad thing.

OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION

Governor
Sam Spade - 7
Invalid - 2

Sam Spade is re-elected Governor.

Lieutenant Governor
Bacon King - 7
Invalid - 2

Bacon King is re-elected Lieutenant Governor.

Initiatives
Initiative 152:  3 votes in favor, 4 against and 1 abstention. 1 vote is invalid.
FAILS

Initiative 153:  6 votes in favor and 2 abstentions. 1 vote is invalid.
PASSES

Initiative 154: 6 votes in favor and 2 against. 1 vote is invalid.
PASSES

Initiative 155: 6 votes in favor and 2 against. 1 vote is invalid.
PASSES
See y'all in next month's voting booth adventure.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

OH boy.....

You all know what I meant, it's ok though it didn't make much difference, and  understand the ruling.

[Sam Spade]

OH boy.....

You all know what I meant, it's ok though it didn't make much difference, and  understand the ruling.

I tend to interpret the rule strictly, as the person who wrote it did (Ernest), showing the importance of being first at something. 

Depending on the success or failure of the Third Constitution, I will slightly rewrite the rules and take them out of the Constitution, placing them in a statute.  Because the Constitution is hard to amend and election rules always seem to need amending, this seems to be the best option, although I will have to make sure nothing runs afoul of the Bill of Rights.