Elections Act

[frattastan]

To ensure that elected officials of The Rejected Realms are always elected by a majority of voters, The Rejected Realms favours plurality block voting (PBV) and instant-runoff voting (IRV) over the first-past-the-post (FPTP) method.

1. The Speaker must supply voters with a list of all candidates running in an election in the opening post of the voting thread.

2. Voters must rank all candidates from their most to least preferred. If a voter ranks all candidates except one, the unranked candidate is taken to have been ranked last.

3. After the voting period, the Speaker must ascertain the elected candidates by the following process:

a. Ascertain the total number of valid votes and vacancies. For a vote to be valid it must rank all candidates and be cast by a person who is a citizen at the end of the voting period. Vacancies are the number of positions to be filled at the election.

b. Count the first preference votes given to each candidate.

c. At each subsequent stage of the count, apply either paragraph d or e. A candidate is elected at a stage of the count if the candidate has over one-half of the number of valid votes.

d. If a candidate was not elected at the previous stage of the count - the candidate with the lowest number of votes must be eliminated and each vote for that candidate must be transferred to the voter's next most preferred candidate who has not been eliminated or elected. Candidates must be eliminated in this way until a candidate is elected.

e. If at a candidate was elected at the previous stage of the count - all non-elected candidates (including candidates who had previously been eliminated) revert to their first-preference votes, and elected candidates' votes are then transferred to the voter's most preferred candidate who has not been elected.

f. This process must be repeated until all vacancies have been filled.

g. If a candidate is to be eliminated, and there is a tie between two or more candidates with the fewest number of votes - the candidate with the lowest Borda count must be eliminated. To calculate a Borda count, each candidate receives one point for each last place vote received, two points for each second-to-last place vote received, three points for each third-to-last place vote received, and so and so forth.

h. In the event that any candidates tie with the same number of votes and an equal Borda count, the tie shall be broken by reference to the Delegate's vote. If the Delegate has not cast a vote, the tie shall be broken by reference to any incumbent officers' votes. If no incumbent Officers have voted, or the vote is still tied, the tie shall be broken by reference to the Speaker's vote. If the Speaker has not voted, the tie shall be broken in favor of the candidate with the longest continuous citizenship.

4. In exercising their powers under this Act, the Speaker must give effect to the reasonably ascertainable intent of a voter.

[Catalyse]

Original Version of the Elections Act as passed on the 20th of October, 2014. ~ Vote ~ Discussion

To ensure that executives of The Rejected Realms are always elected by a majority of candidates, The Rejected Realms favours plurality block voting (PBV) and instant-runoff voting (IRV) over the first-past-the-post (FPTP) method.

Article 1 - Officer Elections

1. Ballots should include all candidates running in an election - allowing voters to rank each candidate preferentially from one (most favored candidate) to their least favored candidates.

2. Voters must rank all candidates.

3. The first preferences of all voters should be counted.

4. If a candidate holds a majority (50%+) over said votes, that candidate has been elected as an Officer.

5. If no candidate holds a majority over said votes, then the candidate with the least amount of votes shall be eliminated and any voters who voted for this candidate shall have their vote transferred to their next preferred candidate (as indicated by their ballot). This process shall be repeated until a candidate holds a majority.

6. After an officer has been elected, the voters who voted for this candidate shall have their vote transferred to the next preferred candidate - even to those candidates who had been previously considered "eliminated". This process shall be repeated until all vacancies have been filled.

7. In the event that any candidates tie for votes - the candidate with the lower borda count shall be eliminated. To calculate a borda count, each candidate amasses one point for each last place vote received, two points for each second-to-last place vote received, three points for each third-to-last place vote received and so and so forth.

8. In the event that any candidates tie with the same number of votes and an equal borda count, then the candidate who joined the regional forums earlier shall be favored.

Article 2 - Delegate Elections

1. For delegate elections, the aforementioned process, detailed through Article 1.1-8, shall be repeated until a single candidate holds a majority. That candidate has been elected as the delegate.

[Dyl]

Amended Version of the Elections Act as passed on the 3rd of November, 2014. ~ Vote ~ Discussion (None)

To ensure that executives of The Rejected Realms are always elected by a majority of candidates voters, The Rejected Realms favours plurality preferential block voting (PBV) and instant-runoff voting (IRV) over the first-past-the-post (FPTP) method.

Article 1 - Officer Elections

1. Ballots should include all candidates running in an election - allowing voters to rank each candidate preferentially from one (most favored candidate) to their least favored candidates.

2. Voters must rank all candidates.

3. The first preferences of all voters should be counted.

4. If a candidate holds a majority (50%+) over said votes, that candidate has been elected as an Officer.

5. If no candidate holds a majority over said votes, then the candidate with the least amount of votes shall be eliminated and any voters who voted for this candidate shall have their vote transferred to their next preferred candidate (as indicated by their ballot). This process shall be repeated until a candidate holds a majority.

6. After an officer has been elected, the voters who voted for this candidate shall have their vote transferred to the next preferred candidate - even to those candidates who had been previously considered "eliminated". This process shall be repeated until all vacancies have been filled.

7. In the event that any candidates tie for votes - the candidate with the lower borda count shall be eliminated. To calculate a borda count, each candidate amasses one point for each last place vote received, two points for each second-to-last place vote received, three points for each third-to-last place vote received and so and so forth.

8. In the event that any candidates tie with the same number of votes and an equal borda count, then the candidate who joined the regional forums earlier shall be favored.

Article 2 - Delegate Elections

1. For delegate elections, the aforementioned process, detailed through Article 1.1-8, shall be repeated until a single candidate holds a majority. That candidate has been elected as the delegate.

[Dyl]

Amended Version of the Elections Act as passed on the 26th of February, 2016. ~ Vote ~ Discussion

To ensure that executives of The Rejected Realms are always elected by a majority of voters, The Rejected Realms favours preferential block voting (PBV) and instant-runoff voting (IRV) over the first-past-the-post (FPTP) method.

Article 1 - Officer Elections

1. Ballots should include all candidates running in an election - allowing voters to rank each candidate preferentially from one (most favored candidate) to their least favored candidates.

2. Voters must rank all candidates.

3. The first preferences of all voters should be counted.

4. If a candidate holds a majority (50%+) over said votes, that candidate has been elected as an Officer.

5. If no candidate holds a majority over said votes, then the candidate with the least amount of votes shall be eliminated and any voters who voted for this candidate shall have their vote transferred to their next preferred candidate (as indicated by their ballot). This process shall be repeated until a candidate holds a majority.

6. After an officer has been elected, the voters who voted for this candidate shall have their vote transferred to the next preferred candidate - even to those candidates who had been previously considered "eliminated". This process shall be repeated until all vacancies have been filled.

7. In the event that any candidates tie for votes - the candidate with the lower borda count shall be eliminated. To calculate a borda count, each candidate amasses one point for each last place vote received, two points for each second-to-last place vote received, three points for each third-to-last place vote received and so and so forth.

8. In the event that any candidates tie with the same number of votes and an equal borda count, then the candidate who joined the regional forums earlier shall be favored the tie shall be broken by reference to the Delegate's vote. If the Delegate has not cast a vote, the tie shall be broken by reference to the votes of any incumbent Officers. If no incumbent Officers have voted, or the vote is still tied, the tie shall be broken by reference to the Speaker's vote. If the Speaker has not voted, the tie shall be broken in favor of the candidate with the longer continuous citizenship.

Article 2 - Delegate Elections

1. For delegate elections, the aforementioned process, detailed through Article 1.1-8, shall be repeated until a single candidate holds a majority. That candidate has been elected as the delegate.

[Dyl]

Amended Version of the Elections Act as passed on the 23rd of April, 2019. ~ Vote ~ Discussion

To ensure that executives of The Rejected Realms are always elected by a majority of candidates, The Rejected Realms favours plurality block voting (PBV) and instant-runoff voting (IRV) over the first-past-the-post (FPTP) method.

Article 1 - Officer Elections

1. Ballots should include The Speaker must supply voters with a list of all candidates running in an election - allowing voters to rank each candidate preferentially from one (most favored candidate) to their least favored candidates. in the opening post of the voting thread.

2. Voters must rank all candidates from 1 (their most preferred candidate) to their least preferred candidate.

3. At the conclusion of the voting period, the Speaker must ascertain the elected candidates by the following process:

a. Ascertain the total number of valid votes and vacancies. For a vote to be valid it must rank all candidates and be cast by a person who is a citizen at the conclusion of the voting period. Vacancies are the number of positions to be filled at the election.

3. b. The first preferences of all voters should be counted. Count the first preference votes given to each candidate.

4. c. If a candidate holds a majority (50%+) over said votes, that candidate has been elected as an Officer. has over one-half of the number of valid votes, that candidate is elected. All non-elected candidates (including previously eliminated candidates) revert to their first-preference votes, and the elected candidate's votes are transferred to the next preferred candidate who has not been elected.

5. d. If no candidate holds a majority over said votes is elected, then the candidate with the least amount of votes shall lowest number of votes must be eliminated and any voters who voted for this candidate shall have their vote transferred to their next preferred candidate (as indicated by their ballot) votes for that candidate must be transferred to the next most preferred candidate who has not been eliminated or elected. This process shall be repeated Candidates must be eliminated until a candidate holds a majority is elected.

6. e. After an Officer has been elected, the voters who voted for this candidate shall have their vote must be transferred to the next preferred candidate - even to those candidates who had been previously considered "eliminated". This process shall must be repeated until all vacancies have been filled.

7. f. In the event that any candidates tie for votes If a candidate is to be eliminated, and there is a tie between two or more candidates with the fewest number of votes - the candidate with the lower lowest Borda count shall must be eliminated. To calculate a borda count, each candidate amasses receives one point for each last place vote received, two points for each second-to-last place vote received, three points for each third-to-last place vote received and so and so forth.

8. g. In the event that any candidates tie with the same number of votes and an equal borda count, the tie shall be broken by reference to the Delegate's vote. If the Delegate has not cast a vote, the tie shall be broken by reference to the votes of any incumbent Officers. If no incumbent Officers have voted, or the vote is still tied, the tie shall be broken by reference to the Speaker's vote. If the Speaker has not voted, the tie shall be broken in favor of the candidate with the longer continuous citizenship.

Article 2 - Delegate Elections

1. For delegate elections, the aforementioned process, detailed through Article 1.1-8, shall be repeated until a single candidate holds a majority. That candidate has been elected as the delegate.

[Chef Big Dog]

Amended version of the Elections Act passed on 4 August 2023. ~ Vote ~ Discussion

To ensure that executives elected officials of The Rejected Realms are always elected by a majority of candidates voters, The Rejected Realms favours plurality block voting (PBV) and instant-runoff voting (IRV) over the first-past-the-post (FPTP) method.

1. The Speaker must supply voters with a list of all candidates running in an election in the opening post of the voting thread.

2. Voters must rank all candidates from 1 (their most preferred candidate) to their least preferred candidate their most to least preferred. If a voter ranks all candidates except one, the unranked candidate is taken to have been ranked last.

3. After the voting period, the Speaker must ascertain the elected candidates by the following process:

a. Ascertain the total number of valid votes and vacancies. For a vote to be valid it must rank all candidates and be cast by a person who is a citizen at the end of the voting period. Vacancies are the number of positions to be filled at the election.

b. Count the first preference votes given to each candidate.

c. At each subsequent stage of the count, apply either paragraph d or e. A candidate is elected at a stage of the count if the candidate has over one-half of the number of valid votes.

d. If a candidate was not elected at the previous stage of the count - the candidate with the lowest number of votes must be eliminated and each vote for that candidate must be transferred to the voter's next most preferred candidate who has not been eliminated or elected. Candidates must be eliminated in this way until a candidate is elected.

e. If at a candidate was elected at the previous stage of the count - all non-elected candidates (including candidates who had previously been eliminated) revert to their first-preference votes, and elected candidates' votes are then transferred to the voter's most preferred candidate who has not been elected.

c. If a candidate has over one-half of the number of valid votes, that candidate is elected. All non-elected candidates (including previously eliminated candidates) revert to their first-preference votes, and the elected candidate's votes are transferred to the next preferred candidate who has not been elected.

d. If no candidate is elected, then the candidate with the lowest number of votes must be eliminated and any votes for that candidate must be transferred to the next most preferred candidate who has not been eliminated or elected. Candidates must be eliminated until a candidate is elected.

f. This process must be repeated until all vacancies have been filled.

g. If a candidate is to be eliminated, and there is a tie between two or more candidates with the fewest number of votes - the candidate with the lowest Borda count must be eliminated. To calculate a Borda count, each candidate receives one point for each last place vote received, two points for each second-to-last place vote received, three points for each third-to-last place vote received, and so and so forth.

h. In the event that any candidates tie with the same number of votes and an equal Borda count, the tie shall be broken by reference to the Delegate's vote. If the Delegate has not cast a vote, the tie shall be broken by reference to any incumbent officers' votes. If no incumbent Officers have voted, or the vote is still tied, the tie shall be broken by reference to the Speaker's vote. If the Speaker has not voted, the tie shall be broken in favor of the candidate with the longest continuous citizenship.

4. In exercising their powers under this Act, the Speaker must give effect to the reasonably ascertainable intent of a voter.