Amendment to the Election Administration Act

Post by **Lord Ravenclaw** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 7:05 am

Election Administration Act (Amendment) Preamble: An amendment to Electoral Procedure.

Section 2: Election Procedure of the Election Administration Act will be amended to include the following:

4. In the event that only one candidate stands for a vacant office, voting shall commence with the option of that candidate or Re-Open Nominations. In the event that Re-Open Nominations attains a majority, then nominations shall be re-opened for the length of time as specified in Section 2, Clause 1.

5. In the event that Section 2, Clause 4 comes into effect and the second Nominations Period finishes without any other candidates, the only candidate shall win by default.

Schedule: This shall take effect on the next cycle of elections.

Proposed changes to section 2, additions in dark green:

Spoiler

Section 2: Election Procedure

1. The election period for any elected office will begin with a three day period for submission of candidacy, followed by a two day period for additional campaigning, followed by a three day period for voting. Candidates may campaign throughout an election period.

2. An election period will begin eight days before the expiration of an elected official's term or as soon as practical after an elected office is vacated. Should an election period for any reason be delayed, the incumbent official will continue to hold office until conclusion of the election period.

3. In any election, members of the Deshret may vote for one eligible candidate who has submitted candidacy or may vote abstain/present. Votes of abstain/present will count only toward participation in the vote for the purpose of retaining membership in the Deshret.

4. In the event that only one candidate stands for a vacant office, voting shall commence with the option of that candidate or Re-Open Nominations. In the event that Re-Open Nominations attains a majority, then nominations shall be re-opened for the length of time as specified in Section 2, Clause 1.

5. In the event that Section 2, Clause 4 comes into effect and the second Nominations Period finishes without any other candidates, the only candidate shall win by default.

- Just something I thought up this morning based on what Koth, Zao and Jakker mentioned. Could go a fair ways to preventing this situation in the future.

Post by **Festavo** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 7:11 am

I would support this. I have nothing against Tim or Ainocra, but it seems a little unsettling that the election administrator can just declare the Pharaoh, even in a situation like this.

Post by **Jakker** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 8:44 am

I believe this is needed for several reasons. I would like to see campaigning mandatory for any candidate, but I'm not sure how people feel about that. At least with this, if only one candidate is running, they don't really have the incentive to post a campaign, but how can the Deshret be expected to vote (or in this case not vote) for someone who hasn't outlined what their plans are?

Perhaps I am just sensitive to this whole situation because of Osiris' past and witnessing corruption first hand, but I would prefer a situation like this not happening again.

With all that said, I support the amendment.

Post by **Lord Ravenclaw** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 9:32 am

I think that if someone doesn't post a campaign, then it'll show that for the most part, they aren't serious about the election and the Deshret will see that. I know in Tim's case he's been supremely busy in RL and he did mention he was working on a campaign, so it's understandable a little bit.

Post by **Jakker** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 9:40 am

Lord Ravenclaw wrote:Mon Mar 30, 2015 2:32 pmI think that if someone doesn't post a campaign, then it'll show that for the most part, they aren't serious about the election and the Deshret will see that. I know in Tim's case he's been supremely busy in RL and he did mention he was working on a campaign, so it's understandable a little bit.

Right I totally understand about that. But then if someone is too busy to post a campaign that tells me they will also be too busy to really thrive as pharaoh. Posting a campaign (or not doing so) is a big indicator of how their potential term as pharaoh will be.

Post by **Lord Ravenclaw** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 10:31 am

*nods* I do see where you're coming from here.

Ainocra · Post by **Ainocra** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 1:13 pm

I was thinking about this last night, I was thinking of adding an amendment along these lines

The act as it's currently written only allows a vote of Aye for a particular candidate or present. So even if everyone votes present then I as the administrator would be legally bound to cast a tie breaking vote, and the only vote I (or anyone else administering the election) could legally cast would be aye.

In the event that only one candidate stands for an election the Deshret will hold a confidence vote for that candidate.
In a confidence vote councilors may vote Aye, or Nay on the candidate.

In the event that the candidate fails to obtain a majority of the vote then the office shall be declared vacant.

Since we already have a procedure for a vacant office I think this would solve it nicely

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 2:06 pm

I support

Post by **Tim Stark** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 2:24 pm

Full support.

Also... *cough*

Edward Windsor · Post by **Edward Windsor** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 11:48 am

I'm a little iffy on this part

the incumbent, or only candidate shall win by default.

. If there is an incumbent person and a candidate, which one wins by default if the incumbent is not running again? I think we should clarify this part or maybe i've gotten the wrong end of the stick, which is probably it.