Fusion Voting Bill [At Final Vote]

[Marokai Backbeat]

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Sponsor: Hashemite

[Marokai Backbeat]

I don't really like this, mainly because as parties, all Atlasians really like to throw token endorsements around alot. SPC got several votes in our August convention for a 5th preference endorsement even though not alot of us really like him all that much and we only did it because we didn't know what to do for that spot.

Can any of you imagine SPC on the ballot with JCP by his name?

With the amount of endorsements thrown around for five positions in At-Large elections, we could be looking at every candidate having a ton of different party tags near their name. I don't see the use of that and I think it would needlessly complicating things.

People should spend their time campaigning and trying to get people's votes instead of trying to either deceive voters, or just baffle the voters with a ton of extra party tags. (And yes, I really do think that's why Hamilton likes the idea, it would screw things up.)

[Marokai Backbeat]

Friendly amendment offered:

1. Any declared candidate for the offices of President, Governor, Regional Senator and Lt. Governor in the Republic of Atlasia may opt to appear on the ballot for all major parties offering the candidate an official endorsement.
2. Official endorsements by parties must be certified by the chairman of the party giving the endorsement.
3. The SoFA must be notified of the endorsement at least 5 days in advance by the declared candidate receiving a cross-endorsement.
4. This legislation also applies to special elections for at-large Senators.

I will let this amendment go through unobjected to on my part and be accepted as friendly as it's the sponsor bringing the amendment forward.

However, I still see no point to this bill. There's absolutely no point to it and it will do nothing but muck and muddy things up. Why do we need multiple party tags to appear by people on the ballot, what is the point of this? Endorsements for uninteresting seats usually doesn't make a bit of difference, and who would endorse another member for president instead of running someone on their own?

I'm still entirely opposed to this legislation. A party's candidate is a party's candidate. If someone wants to use an endorsement they should do it in more meaningful ways than cluttering the ballot.

[Marokai Backbeat]

In many races, a party neglects to run a candidate. Marokai, you might remember quite well your special election race to replace DWTL. The DA did not run a [legitimate] candidate. In July, DWTL was essentially the RPP/DA candidate against Fritz (who ironically was a former DA member and much closer to their membership ideologically than DWTL). The same could be said for numerous regional races. Why shouldn't Mechaman be able to wear JCP under his name against Vepres if the JCP endorses him? That is the whole point of endorsements, otherwise it is simply a way for people to reveal how they will vote earlier than the election, which is pointless.

The Democratic Alliance didn't run a strong candidate in my special election race, but why on earth would the party endorse me over him anyway? Many parties give automatic preferences to their party's candidates, the only time this makes a difference is when a major party, for some strange reason, doesn't put up a candidate and endorses someone else.

But that does not happen very much at all in single-position races. Things like the Fritz-DWTL race only happen because they're special elections and not at all common.

Endorsements are, I'm sorry to break it to everyone, just a piece of feel good procedure we go through that doesn't matter at all. Besides, why do it for some races and not others? Picking and choosing races we apply these procedures to is silly, in my opinion, it's all or nothing in my mind.

This legislation, despite how this may sound, just strikes me as an effort to change the ballots around to confuse "zombies" into voting for different candidates. I don't believe this is a useful change nor do I believe that it's made genuinely.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Further, like I said before, parties in Atlasia make endorsements because everyone likes to think we need to endorse someone for every single office, so people make endorsements even if they don't like them. If the JCP endorsed Inks or something, that doesn't mean we actually like Inks' positions, it means we didn't have anyone else to endorse so we just endorsed him.

Endorsements in Atlasia are made out of obligation, not careful thinking. I don't want to throw in something like this that would be tacked onto every candidate that got a "what the hell" endorsement.

[Marokai Backbeat]

You've made a good, and shockingly mature, case for it. I'll give it more thought, but I'm still hesitant.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Has anyone bothered to PM the SoFA and get his opinion on this?

In what the SoFA opinion is relevant? It is not like it is a new work load for him.

Anyways, I'll vote against any reconfirmation for him. He is always away and fails to upgrade voter rolls (last upgrade is October 15).

And he has some ethics problem like selling his vote for President against a promise of being reappointed.

You don't actually get to vote on reconfirmation.

But where is Earl? I miss him.

Well, Earl was sort of 'reconfirmed' after Lief came to power in June.

[Marokai Backbeat]

We could impeach him, of course, but that would be terribly difficult.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Nay

[Marokai Backbeat]

I am open to changing my votes both ways at this moment, ftr.

Hamilton incoming in 3.. 2.. 1..

[Marokai Backbeat]

But why does it really matter, honestly? I voted nay on this before I resigned as Senator because I didn't see why it was necessary or all that useful. The only way it would influence votes is by influencing people who vote purely by party tags.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Against, mister VP! Vote against!