Talk Elections

Sponsor: Senator Haslam.

This Bill will make sure that every Citizen of Atlasia has the opportunity to Vote on Election Days, regardless of Region.  I will be happily supporting this Bill.

This will help to ensure everyone gets a chance to vote and as someone who believes everyone should have the chance to vote, this is a good bill.

I will gladly support this.

Sponsor, any words?

Right, while Haslam shows up I'll express a concern of mine. Do we really need this? Don't get me wrong, the idea of making it easier for people to vote is a laudable one, but it's not like elections are simulated in Atlasia with a voting public of millions, it's just the players themselves that vote.

Then we have to account for the fact that a Federal Holiday or a regional one has an economic cost in terms of money (possibly hundreds of millions depending on the estimate) and productivity. And this would mean at least six days a year in federal terms, and a few more when it comes to the regions.

Long story short, I can't help but to think this the unintended consequence of this will be economic self-harm without there being an actual necessity for this (for it doesn't have a practical effect on players).

I support the idea, but I am concerned with the federal government determining when Regional holidays are. (That being said, Id be fine introducing a bill in the southern chamber making it a holiday).

Still waiting on Haslam here to provide some extra context. As it stands and because of my unanswered economic concern, I don't think I can vote for this.

Where do we stand from this? I'd really like to hear from the sponsor, otherwise I may consider a motion to table this particular bill.

I haven't heard from the sponsor in 18 days, so I file a motion to table. Do I have a seconder?

(If Halsam does explain his bill I'll withdraw the motion, but I feel it's important that sponsors show up)

As with the Wasted Funding act, I'd like to assume sponsorship of the bill if possible, since Haslam appears to be absent, if I can't I oppose the motion to Table.

For the time being, I withdraw my motion to table.

Sorry, I should have taken a leave of abscense but stuff is okay now. I think this bill could and should help a lot. If Election Day was a federal holiday, imagine the good it could do for turnout and for our nation. Regional laws would also be good for this, but I think this is a good policy.

On the wiki in the statute page, listed under the 5th Congress there is F.L. 5-9 Federal Electoral Holiday Act.
https://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/Federal_Electoral_Holiday_Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/Federal_Electoral_Holiday_Act)

Part of this act does this:

There is no link on the wiki page to the legislative debate or presidential signature to verify if it was truly passed but I gather if it's on that page it is. 

That’s rather interesting, I may present a new amendment then.

Does the sponsor accept this amendment as friendly?

Sponsor, thoughts on the Amendment?

I accept, I approve of this

Cool. In 24 hrs if there are no objections to the amendment I will motion for unanimous consent to proceed to a vote.

Maybe if the regional holiday is unconstitutional the bill could recommend to regional government to enact a regional holiday.

Amendment adopted. I'll consider Reactionary's post a motion for a final vote (I realize it's probably a conceptual difference rather than us meaning something different), so there's a few hours left for objections to that.

Senators, a final vote has started on this bill. Please vote AYE, NAY or ABSTAIN:

Nay.

Aye

Aye.

Aye

This has enough votes to pass. Senators have 24 hours to change their votes.

With 4 votes in favor this Bill passes the Atlasian Senate: