Department of Federal Elections: Homelycooking, SoFE

[homelycooking]

The election for the seat vacated by Sen. Polnut will be held March 9-11. If Sen. 20RP12 resigns this week, there will be an election for those two seats. If he resigns on or after March 7, there will be a second special election from March 16-18.

[homelycooking]

Clarence and EarlAW: Are your candidacy declarations for this week's At-large Senate special election, or for the regular election in April? It is not clear from your posts in the candidacy declarations thread.

[homelycooking]

Please look over the ballot and notify me as soon as possible of any mistakes. Thanks

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[homelycooking]

The polls are now open. I apologize for the 113-second delay - I kept getting inexplicable error messages when I tried to open the polls.

[homelycooking]

I can recognize all of the write-in votes cast for candidates who declare their acceptance of write-ins in the Candidate Declaration thread before the end of the election.

[homelycooking]

This update counts all write-ins, though none of them are yet valid.

TOTAL VOTE = 39

First Count: QUOTA = 14

CLARENCE (Whig-FL) 14 (Pingvin, ZuWo, JCL, Franzl, BBF, MasterSanders, Clarence, TJ in Cleve, Junkie, Inks, Benconstine, A-Bob, Cathcon, Dereich) ELECTED

JBRASE (IB-TX) (write-in) 9 (Jbrase, Wormyguy, Dallasfan, Ghost_white, Scott, 20RP12, Yelnoc, PiT, Sanchez,  
OAKVALE (Lib-DE) (write-in) 7 (Napoleon, Oakvale, Ebowed, bgwah, Averroes, Reginald, Badger)
EARLAW (WSRP-NY) 7 (EarlAW, Seatown, Antonio V, AndrewCT, Fritz, Hawkeye, Dr Cynic)
OTHER (write-in) 2 (Lewis T, homelycooking)

Second Count: Redistribution of other write-ins

JBRASE (IB-TX) (write-in) 9 (Jbrase, Wormyguy, Dallasfan, Ghost_white, Scott, 20RP12, Yelnoc, PiT, Sanchez,  
OAKVALE (Lib-DE) (write-in) 8 (Napoleon, Oakvale, Ebowed, bgwah, Averroes, Reginald, Badger, Homely) - 7 second preferences
EARLAW (WSRP-NY) 8 (EarlAW, Seatown, Antonio V, AndrewCT, Fritz, Hawkeye, Dr Cynic, Lewis T) - 4 second preferences

Third Count: Redistribution of EarlAW's votes

OAKVALE (Lib-DE) (write-in) 12 (Napoleon, Oakvale, Ebowed, bgwah, Averroes, Reginald, Badger, Homely, Hawkeye, Fritz, Antonio V, Seatown) ELECTED

JBRASE (IB-TX) (write-in) 9 (Jbrase, Wormyguy, Dallasfan, Ghost_white, Scott, 20RP12, Yelnoc, PiT, Sanchez)  
EXHAUSTED 4 (Dr Cynic, EarlAW, Lewis T, AndrewPA)

[homelycooking]

I would ask the Senate to clarify this language, from the CESRA:

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Is there any court case or law that defines "formal acceptance"? If this included writing oneself in, the language specifying "before the end of voting" would be redundant.

If someone can show me an amendment or a court decision that allows me to count votes for "undeclared but self-supporting" write-ins, I will happily do so - I'm the one who voted for Cincinnatus in the first place!

[homelycooking]

State of the race as of 10:00 PM, Sunday March 11

TOTAL VOTE = 65

First Count: QUOTA = 22

CLARENCE (Whig-FL) 18 (Pingvin, ZuWo, JCL, Franzl, BBF, MasterSanders, Clarence, TJ in Cleve, Junkie, Inks, Benconstine, A-Bob, Cathcon, Dereich, Jerseyrules, NCYankee, Simfan, Miles)
OAKVALE (Lib-DE) (write-in) 15 (Napoleon, Oakvale, Ebowed, bgwah, Averroes, Reginald, Badger, MOPolitico, Cincinnatus, Polnut, sbane, Pyrofox, Peeperkorn, DemHawk, Fuzzy)
EARLAW (WSRP-NY) 15 (EarlAW, Seatown, Antonio V, AndrewCT, Fritz, Hawkeye, Dr Cynic, Snowstalker, Nathan, Lief, Smash, Sewer, Redalgo, nclib, RodPresident)
JBRASE (IB-TX) (write-in) 13 (Jbrase, Wormyguy, Dallasfan, Ghost_white, Scott, 20RP12, Yelnoc, PiT, Sanchez, Shua, Giovanni, Winfield, Brandon H)
OTHER (write-in) 3 (Lewis T, homelycooking, tmthforu94)
INVALID 1 (Republitarian)

Second Count: Redistribution of other write-ins

CLARENCE (Whig-FL) 19 (Pingvin, ZuWo, JCL, Franzl, BBF, MasterSanders, Clarence, TJ in Cleve, Junkie, Inks, Benconstine, A-Bob, Cathcon, Dereich, Jerseyrules, NCYankee, Simfan, Miles, tmthforu94)
OAKVALE (Lib-DE) (write-in) 16 (Napoleon, Oakvale, Ebowed, bgwah, Averroes, Reginald, Badger, MOPolitico, Cincinnatus, Polnut, sbane, Pyrofox, Peeperkorn, DemHawk, Fuzzy, Homely)
EARLAW (WSRP-NY) 16 (EarlAW, Seatown, Antonio V, AndrewCT, Fritz, Hawkeye, Dr Cynic, Snowstalker, Nathan, Lief, Smash, Sewer, Redalgo, nclib, RodPresident, Lewis T)
JBRASE (IB-TX) (write-in) 13 (Jbrase, Wormyguy, Dallasfan, Ghost_white, Scott, 20RP12, Yelnoc, PiT, Sanchez, Shua, Giovanni, Winfield, Brandon H)
INVALID 1 (Republitarian)

Second Count: Redistribution of Jbrase's votes

CLARENCE (Whig-FL) 25 (Pingvin, ZuWo, JCL, Franzl, BBF, MasterSanders, Clarence, TJ in Cleve, Junkie, Inks, Benconstine, A-Bob, Cathcon, Dereich, Jerseyrules, NCYankee, Simfan, Miles, tmthforu94, Brandon H, Shua, Sanchez, Yelnoc, PiT, Jbrase) ELECTED

OAKVALE (Lib-DE) (write-in) 17 (Napoleon, Oakvale, Ebowed, bgwah, Averroes, Reginald, Badger, MOPolitico, Cincinnatus, Polnut, sbane, Pyrofox, Peeperkorn, DemHawk, Fuzzy, Homely, 20RP12)
EARLAW (WSRP-NY) 17 (EarlAW, Seatown, Antonio V, AndrewCT, Fritz, Hawkeye, Dr Cynic, Snowstalker, Nathan, Lief, Smash, Sewer, Redalgo, nclib, RodPresident, Lewis T, Scott)
EXHAUSTED 5 (wormyguy, Dallasfan, Ghost_white, Winfield, Giovanni)
INVALID 1 (Republitarian)

Third Count: Redistribution of Clarence's surplus

OAKVALE (Lib-DE) (write-in) 17.84 (Napoleon, Oakvale, Ebowed, bgwah, Averroes, Reginald, Badger, MOPolitico, Cincinnatus, Polnut, sbane, Pyrofox, Peeperkorn, DemHawk, Fuzzy, Homely, 20RP12, Shua, tmthforu94, Franzl, Jerseyrules, NCYankee, Benconstine, Junkie) ELECTED WITHOUT QUOTA

EARLAW (WSRP-NY) 17.48 (EarlAW, Seatown, Antonio V, AndrewCT, Fritz, Hawkeye, Dr Cynic, Snowstalker, Nathan, Lief, Smash, Sewer, Redalgo, nclib, RodPresident, Lewis T, Scott, Jbrase, Clarence, ZuWo, Pingvin)
EXHAUSTED 6.56 (wormyguy, Dallasfan, Ghost_white, Winfield, Giovanni, Sanchez, PiT, Yelnoc, Brandon H, Simfan, Inks, A-Bob, Cathcon, Dereich, JCL, BBF, Sanders, TJ)
INVALID 1 (Republitarian)

[homelycooking]

OFFICIAL RESULTS

AT-LARGE SENATE - Seats vacated by Polnut and 20RP12

QUOTA: 22

FIRST BALLOT

CLARENCE 18 (Pingvin, ZuWo, JCL, Franzl, BBF, MasterSanders, Clarence, TJ in Cleve, Junkie, Inks, Benconstine, A-Bob, Cathcon, Dereich, Jerseyrules, NCYankee, Simfan, Miles)
OAKVALE (write-in) 15 (Napoleon, Oakvale, Ebowed, bgwah, Averroes, Reginald, Badger, MOPolitico, Cincinnatus, Polnut, sbane, Pyrofox, Peeperkorn, DemHawk, Fuzzy)
EARLAW 15 (EarlAW, Seatown, Antonio V, AndrewCT, Fritz, Hawkeye, Dr Cynic, Snowstalker, Nathan, Lief, Smash, Sewer, Redalgo, nclib, RodPresident)
JBRASE (write-in) 13 (Jbrase, Wormyguy, Dallasfan, Ghost_white, Scott, 20RP12, Yelnoc, PiT, Sanchez, Shua, Giovanni, Winfield, Brandon H)
CINCINNATUS (write-in) 1 (Homelycooking)
OTHER (write-in) 2 (Lewis T, tmthforu94)
INVALID 1 (Republitarian)

SECOND BALLOT: Redistribution of other write-ins and Cincinnatus' vote

CLARENCE 19 (Pingvin, ZuWo, JCL, Franzl, BBF, MasterSanders, Clarence, TJ in Cleve, Junkie, Inks, Benconstine, A-Bob, Cathcon, Dereich, Jerseyrules, NCYankee, Simfan, Miles, tmthforu94)
OAKVALE (write-in) 16 (Napoleon, Oakvale, Ebowed, bgwah, Averroes, Reginald, Badger, MOPolitico, Cincinnatus, Polnut, sbane, Pyrofox, Peeperkorn, DemHawk, Fuzzy, Homely)
EARLAW 16 (EarlAW, Seatown, Antonio V, AndrewCT, Fritz, Hawkeye, Dr Cynic, Snowstalker, Nathan, Lief, Smash, Sewer, Redalgo, nclib, RodPresident, Lewis T)
JBRASE (write-in) 13 (Jbrase, Wormyguy, Dallasfan, Ghost_white, Scott, 20RP12, Yelnoc, PiT, Sanchez, Shua, Giovanni, Winfield, Brandon H)
INVALID 1 (Republitarian)

THIRD BALLOT: Redistribution of Jbrase's votes

CLARENCE 25 (Pingvin, ZuWo, JCL, Franzl, BBF, MasterSanders, Clarence, TJ in Cleve, Junkie, Inks, Benconstine, A-Bob, Cathcon, Dereich, Jerseyrules, NCYankee, Simfan, Miles, tmthforu94, Brandon H, Shua, Sanchez, Yelnoc, PiT, Jbrase) ELECTED

OAKVALE (write-in) 17 (Napoleon, Oakvale, Ebowed, bgwah, Averroes, Reginald, Badger, MOPolitico, Cincinnatus, Polnut, sbane, Pyrofox, Peeperkorn, DemHawk, Fuzzy, Homely, 20RP12)
EARLAW 17 (EarlAW, Seatown, Antonio V, AndrewCT, Fritz, Hawkeye, Dr Cynic, Snowstalker, Nathan, Lief, Smash, Sewer, Redalgo, nclib, RodPresident, Lewis T, Scott)
EXHAUSTED 5 (wormyguy, Dallasfan, Ghost_white, Winfield, Giovanni)
INVALID 1 (Republitarian)

FOURTH BALLOT: Redistribution of Clarence's surplus

OAKVALE (write-in) 17.84 (Napoleon, Oakvale, Ebowed, bgwah, Averroes, Reginald, Badger, MOPolitico, Cincinnatus, Polnut, sbane, Pyrofox, Peeperkorn, DemHawk, Fuzzy, Homely, 20RP12, Shua, tmthforu94, Franzl, Jerseyrules, NCYankee, Benconstine, Junkie) ELECTED WITHOUT QUOTA

EARLAW 17.48 (EarlAW, Seatown, Antonio V, AndrewCT, Fritz, Hawkeye, Dr Cynic, Snowstalker, Nathan, Lief, Smash, Sewer, Redalgo, nclib, RodPresident, Lewis T, Scott, Jbrase, Clarence, ZuWo, Pingvin)
EXHAUSTED 6.68 (wormyguy, Dallasfan, Ghost_white, Winfield, Giovanni, Sanchez, PiT, Yelnoc, Brandon H, Simfan, Inks, A-Bob, Cathcon, Dereich, JCL, BBF, Sanders, TJ, Miles)
INVALID 1 (Republitarian)

CLARENCE and OAKVALE are duly elected At-large Senators.

There was a total turnout of 65 votes, with 1 ballot paper being rejected.

I, Homelycooking, Secretary of Federal Elections, declare the above results to be a complete and accurate summary of the votes cast.

[homelycooking]

Senatorial Preferences by Party

Party	Clarence	Oakvale	EarlAW	Jbrase	Other	Total	Turnout %
Liberal Party		10	1	1		12	54.5%
Labor Party		2	9			11	61.1%
Whig Party	12					12	85.7%
Popular Liberty Party	1			7		8	66.7%
Imperial Bloc	2			2		4	50.0%
Moderate Party	1				1	3	50.0%
Ind./Other	2	3	5	3	2	15	26.8%
Total	18	15	15	13	3	65	47.8%

[homelycooking]

Senatorial Preferences by Region

Party	Clarence	Oakvale	EarlAW	Jbrase	Other	Total	Turnout %
Northeast Region	3	7	6	7	1	25	56.8%
Southeast Region	6	1		5		12	48.0%
Mideast Region	9	2	1	1	1	14	58.3%
Midwest Region		1	6		1	8	34.8%
Pacific Region		4	2			6	30.0%
Total	18	15	15	13	3	65	47.8%

[homelycooking]

Luckily it did not cause a problem in this election, but in all subsequent elections, I will accept as valid all votes cast for write-in candidates who write their own names, unless the Senate passes a law otherwise. That should clear up any problems we might have in the future.

[homelycooking]

NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION

A special election to the Senate will be held from April 6 to April 8 to fill the vacancies created by the resignations of At-large Senators Oakvale and Junkie and Midwest Senator Marokai Blue.

[homelycooking]

Since when are regional SEnators replaced by Special Elections?

If you can show me a law that states that the Midwest has some special procedure for regional senate vacancies, I'll gladly cancel that specific election. I've been looking for a while now and I can't find one. No one from the Midwest seems to be particularly active or interested in filling that vacancy in any case.

I thought it better to have a special election scheduled for that seat which can be disregarded if it turns out that it was not the proper procedure.

[homelycooking]

From what I remember, the Governor appoints someone to the seat unless the region has specified otherwise.

Here's the problem: how do I definitively confirm the absence of a law? Should I presume that no law has been passed?

For at-large seats, if there are less than six weeks left in the term, then the party may appoint a replacement.

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This is Article I, Section 4, Subsection 5. I can't find any amendments to this language, which specifies a cutoff of three, not six, weeks.

[homelycooking]

"Presumption" shouldn't enter into the equation at all. If such exists, there must be someone who knows about it.

That is true. But there is no way to prove that a such a law does not exist.

I can prove that there is a thimble in my house by picking one up and showing it to you. But how do I prove to you that there is not a thimble in my house? Do you get what I mean?

EDIT: I'm being a dick. Sorry. I suppose if I get word from Kal or Hawkeye, that will suffice.

[homelycooking]

I sent out the PMs just a little while ago.

Maybe you just want to hold a special election regardless of whether it is necessary or not, hmm?

Well, if it is ever unclear whether it is the proper procedure or not to leave it up to a regional executive to select the Senator, I would prefer to err on the side of democracy. The results of a special election can be nullified if they're not legal, but I can't go back in time if I fail to hold an election when I should have.

Frankly, your standard is a bit ridiculous. If a law exists, somebody had to pass it. Hawkeye has been Prime Verin for ages and thus if it passed since the relevant Constitutional Amendment allowing such was passed, then it would have had to pass through his glance at some point.  The Constitutional Amendment was passed only last year if I believe and therefore there isn't a very long window for such a change in regional polices to have been enacted.

No, you're quite right. My concern is more of a philosophical one: how do you prove non-existence?

[homelycooking]

By rulling out the possibility that such was created. For someting to exist, it must have materialized at some point. If you prove such a process didn't occur, you can prove non-existence.

Aha, but how does one do this? Maybe we should continue this discussion in the Philosophy board.

Kal informed me that he remembered a few cases of gubernatorial appointments, but could not give me any specifics or certainties. Will wait to hear back from Hawkeye.

[homelycooking]

The previously scheduled special election for the Midwest Senate seat is cancelled. It will be up to that region's officials to appoint a replacement to Marokai Blue.

The special elections to fill the vacancies left by Oakvale and Junkie will proceed as planned, starting Friday April 6.

[homelycooking]

The candidates in tomorrow's elections will be as follows:

Alfred F. Jones (Labor-NY)
Pingvin (Whig-TX)
Snowstalker (Labor-PA)

[homelycooking]

The candidates in tomorrow's elections will be as follows:

Alfred F. Jones (Labor-NY)
Pingvin (Whig-TX)

Snowstalker has informed me that he will seek election in two weeks when the regular election occurs. The other two candidates will be placed on the ballot.

[homelycooking]

We could be sworn in now, technically. There are two candidates and two seats, so both of us are running unopposed.

You (or Pingvin) could be defeated by a write in candidate.

[homelycooking]

Please look over the ballot and notify me as soon as possible of any mistakes. Thanks

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[/quote]

[homelycooking]

The polls are now open.

Also, get a look at the time at which I posted the voting booth topic.

[homelycooking]

Are there any declared candidates for Midwest Senator for the regular election?

The June regular election? It's still two and a half months away, so there aren't.