1020 - Federal Electoral Act

[Poirot]

I have made observations about this bill in the Senate.
https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=241474.0

Without repeating everything, the short version is:

section 15: don't see date for House elections. I think Senate elections are determined by region. Date for taking office depending if it's put in the constitution or not.

section 6: refers to clause in old constitution

section 9: review the notice of elections, what and where the SoFE needs to post (maybe consult with him)

And I had suggestion for section 14, make it 8 posts (1 per week) and section 6 make it possible for advance voting before the deadline for candidacies for those who know they will not be availbale election weekend.

[Poirot]

On the date for taking office, there was a proposed constitutional amendment dealing with this that was different. Maybe you have to debate it.

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=242116.0

For the House it proposed taking office the Friday following the election (not the first Friday of the following month like for Presidential)

And for Senate I don't know if it needs to be determined by federal law or regional law (would need to check regional constitutions if this was determined).

[Poirot]

I don't see in the proposed North constitution a date for Senators to take office so maybe a federal law should state when Senator's term begins.

The wording is candidate elected in federal elections

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and to me it's not clear if Senators are covered by that. I think since regions decide how to elect Senators, regions will run that election? So is it considered a federal election or not...

[Poirot]

If the day to take office covers only the Presidential and House, does it mean regions will have to pass a bill or amend their constitution to set a date specifying when Senators have to swear in or is it covered already somewhere else?

[Poirot]

If the day to take office covers only the Presidential and House, does it mean regions will have to pass a bill or amend their constitution to set a date specifying when Senators have to swear in or is it covered already somewhere else?

It isn't covered elsewhere, it is something we need to decide. I tend to agree with you that perhaps everyone should swear in the Friday after each federal election. So this means regions would need to have their elections either before federal or concurrent, having it after would make their senators swear in a week late. Would you agree?

Yes, regions could not hold elections let's say the last weekend of the month. I don't know if a region is planning to have Senate election after the federal election but you made me realise regions have the power to decide when in the month to hold the Senate elections since the federal constitution only specifies the month and let regions organize them. In theory there could be a problem for Senators to take office in the same month of their elections since the election could be scheduled very late in the month by a region. I guess changes from the status quo for commencement of term can be studied by the constitutional committee so there is more time to study impact of changes and consult people and get this electoral bill adopted soon.

Rgions have not adopted legislation on commencement of term for Senators and it should be standard for all regions so I would add Senate in section 15.3

[Poirot]

In section 9 administration of voting booths:

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Item 4 and 5 require public notice in both Fantasy Elections Forum and the Voting Booth

If I understand this there is a public notice in the Voting Booth? I don't think we have ever done that.

It is specified in Item 4 for regular House elections. Shouldn't it be also for Presidential elections ?
In item 5 it's for special House elections. Perhaps here there is no Presidential special elections because it doesn't happen.

Also there doesn't seem to be interest to let voters cast an advanced ballot earlier than candidacy deadline but maybe there is no demand for it.
I wanted to make the required number of posts to be eligible voter to one post per week so 8. There are ballots that are invalid because they miss a few posts. There have been period when I didn't post but read what was happening and I would not accept the label of zombie voter.   

[Poirot]

I already stated my reasoning on the advanced ballot issue and also the number of required posts. Even if we cut it at 8, there will still be people who will be invalid because they miss it for a few posts. I think 10 keeps it at a reasonable number to ensure we don't have people who only vote on the site and do nothing else. I would be more open to raising it than lowering it, honestly. Both of these items were given to the House to debate but no one else seems to understand how important election regulations are.

My two suggestions was to make easier for people. The number of posts is based on personal experience since I don't post much outside Atlasia and if I am not running or holding an office and stay quiet I could have very few posts.