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

[minionofmidas]

The write-ins do make a mockery of the system - and the right to write-in is not a "basic right". In fact, the write-in exists, as fas as I know, only in America, and is just a botched attempt at repairing the unfairness built into the system there by early filing deadlines and high thresholds to get onto the ballot. Better to scrap both than to have both.
I say we ban write-ins and put the filing deadline at 72 hours before the beginning of elections.

I used to be of the opinion that there was no harm in not forcing everybody to rank all the candidates, but the 2B senate race is making me reconsider my position.
Let's rehash that here: There was a far-left candidate, a leftwing candidate (well, center-left in Europe), and a rightwing candidate (far right in Europe - they were both Europeans). The vote was
right 5
left 3
far left 3
If all the preferences had been ranked, the far left guy would have been eliminated (right wing seconds would have been overwhelmingly for the more moderate opponent), then, with the far-left votes, the left winger would have won 6-5.
Now, the entire right wing boycotted the system, and so did one far left voter. The left wing voters did the right thing. As a result, their candidate was eliminated with 2 vs 3 second preferences, and the far left candidate "won" the second round of counting 6-5.
While I'm pleased with who won, this is obviously not how the system is supposed to work. I doubt all the Republicans saw no difference whatsoever between Umengus and Migrendel. I'd also be interested to know if - I'd have to look up who it was - knew that he was winning the election for Migrendel by refusing to put Umengus as second preference.
I say we should at least consider using the full Australian system.
Or, alternatively, we should elect our Senate by a proportional vote. That way, all the political parties would be fairly represented.

-EDIT- it's Hockeydude, and he obviously didn't know what he was doing - he doesn't seem to have understood anything about the election system, in fact. Take a look at page six of the election thread if you don't believe me-EDIT-

[minionofmidas]

Phil hasn't complained about his representation.
I guess he won't until he starts campaigning again, too.
Still, not using an election system because you disapprove of it is just plain dumb. Should I refuse to vote, in real life, because I disapprove of the 5% threshold? Or, in America, of fptp?

[minionofmidas]

Well if we pass Ernest's Act and you don't use preferential voting your vote won't count Phil.

Well let me now voice my opposition to that Act. What if there are three candidates and two of them are total jokes.

In that case, the third candidate would win overwhelmingly, so having to make that decision would be bothersome but irrelevant.