First C.E.S [draft] Recommendation: Banning of Write In Candidates

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The Electorate of Atlasia is very small, and is comprised entirely of hyper-partisan politico's, almost all with large ego's.
As a result of this, political parties tend to splinter into smaller parties, and in an attempt to stop the vote splitting that resulted from this, the Senate passed a law introducing a form of preferential voting.
However the ability to write in a candidate on the ballot paper remains in place.
The justification for the existence of write in candidates

The Commision finds that there is no need for write in candidates as:

a) Atlasia has a multi-party system with almost every viewpoint represented by a political party.
b) The existence of write in candidates makes a mockery of the filing process
c) The system is abused by almost everyone for two reasons:

i) Personal grudges
ii) Partisanship

Both happend in the Mid Term elections.

d) It has reached the point where there is no real difference between write-in candidates and candidates who filed on time

The C.E.S recommends that Write-In candidacies are banned.

[King]

I encourage all Senators to vote NAY...the write-in is a symbol of Democracy...

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I encourage all Senators to vote NAY...the write-in is a symbol of Democracy...

Explain that statement

[Nation]

The UAC candidate in District 1 missed the deadline by THIS much -- he should still be able to run.

However, I agree with you that voting along party lines is pretty bad this election -- of course, I voted for the UAC candidate in D1, but there are clearly a lot of questionable candidates this time around, who are extremely partisan and, in my opinion, don't add much to the forum or senate.

Personal grudges are another problem.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The UAC candidate in District 1 missed the deadline by THIS much -- he should still be able to run.

There should probably be a filing window after the deadline of 24 hours.
After that: nothing. If they didn't file before the window, tough.

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True

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Why don't candidates have to get a certain number of signatures in order to file on the ballot?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Why don't candidates have to get a certain number of signatures in order to file on the ballot?

Interesting idea... hmm... I'll have to think about it, but it might work...

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

It's what happens in real life... it doesn't have to be onerous... maybe something like 3 registered voters in the district/region?

[Akno21]

How about voters may only list for one write-in candidate. That would prevent voters from doing what Hughento did, which, while technically legal, definitly contained personal grudges.

[Jake]

Vote Nay senators, protect the write-in.

[Keystone Phil]

I wonder if Al supports Preferential voting. Remember how that was supposed to help the little guy? Well doesn't write in voting help the little guy? I find the support for pref. voting and the disapproval of write in voting very odd.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Since when can people cannot vote based on personal grudges?

How about voters may only list for one write-in candidate. That would prevent voters from doing what Hughento did, which, while technically legal, definitly contained personal grudges.

[Justin]

I abstain on this issue. I'll think more about the merits of both issues before I conclude to support a side.

[Fritz]

Personally, I have mixed feelings.  I agree with Al that the existence of write-in candidates has made a mockery of the filing process.  I also agree that banning write-in votes would be an infringement of voters rights.

Like Justin, I abstain.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

This is only a draft remember

[Akno21]

Since when can people cannot vote based on personal grudges?

How about voters may only list for one write-in candidate. That would prevent voters from doing what Hughento did, which, while technically legal, definitly contained personal grudges.

They can. I am split on this issue. I will probably be against it, since it is an infringment on voters rights.

[The Dowager Mod]

Doing away with write-ins would be wrong.
just make it harder.

[King]

I like HTMLDon's idea...in most states you can only vote for filled write-in candidates...I say 3 signatures 10 days or more before the vote to get on the ballot and 3 signatures within 9 days of the election for write-in status...

[Nation]

I will propose a piece of legislation that would essentially:

*Allow forum members who miss the deadline to register as a write-in candidate. However, the deadline to register as a write-in will only be extended 36 hours past the original deadline.

*Anyone can write-in anyone on election day, but only those who are registered write-ins will have theirs counted. This still allows for "protest" votes.

*If any candidate drops out, whatever political party he is a member of will be given 24 hours to nominate another candidate in his place. This rule does not apply to Independent candidates.

Al, if you're interested, I can clean up this legislation a bit and introduce it in the next session of the Senate.

[Akno21]

If we put write-in votes on the ballot and have them registered, they aren't really write-in candidates anymore. I think registering as a write-in candidate defeats the purpose of being a write-in candidate.

[Nation]

If we put write-in votes on the ballot and have them registered, they aren't really write-in candidates anymore. I think registering as a write-in candidate defeats the purpose of being a write-in candidate.

They would still be write-ins, their names would just not be on the ballot.

In our current system, it's too easy for a person 1 day in advance of an election to declare himself a write-in candidate, then win easily, without doing any campaigning or anything. The point of the fun in running for fantasy office is campaigning.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I will propose a piece of legislation that would essentially:

*Allow forum members who miss the deadline to register as a write-in candidate. However, the deadline to register as a write-in will only be extended 36 hours past the original deadline.

*Anyone can write-in anyone on election day, but only those who are registered write-ins will have theirs counted. This still allows for "protest" votes.

*If any candidate drops out, whatever political party he is a member of will be given 24 hours to nominate another candidate in his place. This rule does not apply to Independent candidates.

Al, if you're interested, I can clean up this legislation a bit and introduce it in the next session of the Senate.

I like it
The Commision gets it's first result!

[Akno21]

If we put write-in votes on the ballot and have them registered, they aren't really write-in candidates anymore. I think registering as a write-in candidate defeats the purpose of being a write-in candidate.

They would still be write-ins, their names would just not be on the ballot.

In our current system, it's too easy for a person 1 day in advance of an election to declare himself a write-in candidate, then win easily, without doing any campaigning or anything. The point of the fun in running for fantasy office is campaigning.

True. Offical write-in candidates should have a time limit to announce their write-in candidacies.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

In Tennessee, you have to register to be a write-in candidate  within a number of days before the election but well after the regular filing deadline.  No signatures are required, a form just has to be filled out by the candidate.

If we put write-in votes on the ballot and have them registered, they aren't really write-in candidates anymore. I think registering as a write-in candidate defeats the purpose of being a write-in candidate.

[Akno21]

In Tennessee, you have to register to be a write-in candidate  within a number of days before the election but well after the regular filing deadline.  No signatures are required, a form just has to be filled out by the candidate.

If we put write-in votes on the ballot and have them registered, they aren't really write-in candidates anymore. I think registering as a write-in candidate defeats the purpose of being a write-in candidate.

Our goal is not to model the USA, it is to be better than the USA.