SB 19-12: None of the Above Act (Passed)

[Esteemed Jimmy]

None of the Above Act

House Bill

To ensure fair elections.

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia assembled,

Section 1. Short title

This Act shall be cited as the “None of the Above Act”.

Section 2. Requiring a None of the Above option on all federal ballots

(a) In general. -

(1) F.L. 1-9 § 1(6) is amended to read as follows:

Except as otherwise provided in this Act, every federal ballot shall have a "None of the Above" option listed on the ballot, as if it was a candidate, below all other declared candidates. All candidates who are ranked under the "None of the Above" option will not receive those preferences during the counting of the votes.

(2) F.L. 1-9 § 5 is amended to read as follows:

(1) If "None of the Above" wins more votes than the candidate with the highest number of first preferences, the election shall be declared null and void. (2) A special election for the seat(s) shall be held two weeks from the date the voided election began.

(b) Exceptions. -

F.L. 1-9 § 3(3) is amended to read as follows:

Those candidates who have tied shall be automatically entered onto the ballot. No other candidacies shall be allowed; nor shall a "None of the Above" option be listed on the ballot.

Section 3. Implementation

This Act shall take effect immediately after passage.

Passed in the House of Representatives 8-0-0-1



Passed in the Senate 6-0-0-0

Sponsor: Devout Centrist
House Designation: SB 19-12

[Esteemed Jimmy]

This needs a sponsor.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

I fully support this bill, considering I rewrote it in this form with an amendment.

[Former President tack50]

I have grown a bit more comfortable with the idea after looking at this rewrite. Don't we already have a "none of the above" option at least for House?

Also, I still think write-ins are the way to go for people who don't really like any of the options. It's more fun and can lead to someone being elected

[Devout Centrist]

I'll sponsor

[Esteemed Jimmy]

I'll sponsor

Senators have 24 hours for objections.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The one thing that matters most is that there is a good process in place for if NOTA were to win an election and that appears to be the case.

[Devout Centrist]

This bill would add a 'None of the Above' option to all Federal ballots. If NOTA has the most votes at the end of an election, that election will be nullified; a new election will be held two weeks subsequent from the time of the nullified election.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Devout Centrist is recognized as sponsor.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I motion for a Final Vote, Senators have 24 hours to object.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

I motion for a Final Vote, Senators have 24 hours to object.

Senators have 24 hours for objections.

[Poirot]

Comment frpm citizen:

As I said when it was debated in the House I'm not convinced this is a good move. We had this in the past and it was dropped. Returning to the past. We're going backwards.

This will add clutter to the already long ballot. Not sure how this will  be used: to show you hate all candidates, that would would prefer more candidates or indicate you are very partisan by ranking your party's candidate then NOTA above the other party candidates.

I understand how NOTA will work for Presidential ticket because there is one winner. Maybe when there is only one ticket running people will vote NOTA but really if there is only one ticket interested why stop it.

For the House election, what happens if NOTA finishes fourth. Do people under fourth are not elected ? Or does NOTA need to run a good campaign and finish first to win. There is often a mischievous group with cunning plans, so they could gather 20 votes for NOTA, finish first and derail the House election.

I prefer that candidates who indicate they want the office by declaring and being on the ballot get the job rather than people trying to deny others holding the office. If it's a general election there is ample time to declare interest before the election and run yourself if you are not happy with the choices and think can do better.

[Former President tack50]

Comment frpm citizen:

As I said when it was debated in the House I'm not convinced this is a good move. We had this in the past and it was dropped. Returning to the past. We're going backwards.

This will add clutter to the already long ballot. Not sure how this will  be used: to show you hate all candidates, that would would prefer more candidates or indicate you are very partisan by ranking your party's candidate then NOTA above the other party candidates.

I understand how NOTA will work for Presidential ticket because there is one winner. Maybe when there is only one ticket running people will vote NOTA but really if there is only one ticket interested why stop it.

For the House election, what happens if NOTA finishes fourth. Do people under fourth are not elected ? Or does NOTA need to run a good campaign and finish first to win. There is often a mischievous group with cunning plans, so they could gather 20 votes for NOTA, finish first and derail the House election.

I prefer that candidates who indicate they want the office by declaring and being on the ballot get the job rather than people trying to deny others holding the office. If it's a general election there is ample time to declare interest before the election and run yourself if you are not happy with the choices and think can do better.

Ironically, we already have House NOTA, but not for presidential elections. Not sure how it works as of now, but it is already implemented (though possibly not enforced by Peebs?)

Also, under this bill for NOTA to win, they would have to place in first, getting more first preferences than each of the 9 other candidates. I imagine if NOTA were to actually win, parties would concentrate their first preferences more. 

[Esteemed Jimmy]

A final vote has begun on this bill. Please vote AYE, NAY, or ABSTAIN.

None of the Above Act

House Bill

To ensure fair elections.

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia assembled,

Section 1. Short title

This Act shall be cited as the “None of the Above Act”.

Section 2. Requiring a None of the Above option on all federal ballots

(a) In general. -

(1) F.L. 1-9 § 1(6) is amended to read as follows:

Except as otherwise provided in this Act, every federal ballot shall have a "None of the Above" option listed on the ballot, as if it was a candidate, below all other declared candidates. All candidates who are ranked under the "None of the Above" option will not receive those preferences during the counting of the votes.

(2) F.L. 1-9 § 5 is amended to read as follows:

(1) If "None of the Above" wins more votes than the candidate with the highest number of first preferences, the election shall be declared null and void. (2) A special election for the seat(s) shall be held two weeks from the date the voided election began.

(b) Exceptions. -

F.L. 1-9 § 3(3) is amended to read as follows:

Those candidates who have tied shall be automatically entered onto the ballot. No other candidacies shall be allowed; nor shall a "None of the Above" option be listed on the ballot.

Section 3. Implementation

This Act shall take effect immediately after passage.

[Devout Centrist]

Aye

[ON Progressive]

Aye

[Former President tack50]

Aye

I don't find Poirot's arguments strong enough for me to oppose this bill and the changes done make it a bill I can actually support.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

AYE

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

[Vern]

Aye

[Esteemed Jimmy]

With a majority of senators voting to pass this bill, the vote will close in 24 hours or when all senators have voted, whichever is sooner, and any Senator who wishes to change his or her vote must do so during that interval.

[Comrade Funk]

Aye

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

This can be ended

[Esteemed Jimmy]

SB 19-12 has passed by a vote of 6-0.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

None of the Above Act

House Bill

To ensure fair elections.

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia assembled,

Section 1. Short title

This Act shall be cited as the “None of the Above Act”.

Section 2. Requiring a None of the Above option on all federal ballots

(a) In general. -

(1) F.L. 1-9 § 1(6) is amended to read as follows:

Except as otherwise provided in this Act, every federal ballot shall have a "None of the Above" option listed on the ballot, as if it was a candidate, below all other declared candidates. All candidates who are ranked under the "None of the Above" option will not receive those preferences during the counting of the votes.

(2) F.L. 1-9 § 5 is amended to read as follows:

(1) If "None of the Above" wins more votes than the candidate with the highest number of first preferences, the election shall be declared null and void. (2) A special election for the seat(s) shall be held two weeks from the date the voided election began.

(b) Exceptions. -

F.L. 1-9 § 3(3) is amended to read as follows:

Those candidates who have tied shall be automatically entered onto the ballot. No other candidacies shall be allowed; nor shall a "None of the Above" option be listed on the ballot.

Section 3. Implementation

This Act shall take effect immediately after passage.

Passed in the House of Representatives 8-0-0-1



Passed in the Senate 6-0-0-0