Confirmation of Candidate Eligibility

[Gracius Maximus]

I have reviewed the nominated, seconded and accepted candidates for the upcoming election and verify the following as the official ballot for the January 2009 TNP Election:

Delegate:
Tresville
Haor Chall
Flemingovia

Vice Delegate:
Sydia

Speaker:
Romanoffia
Eluvatar

CLO (3 seats):
FALKONCATS
Falconias
Namyeknom

I have opted to include both Romanoffia and Namyeknom on the ballot eventhough neither officially accepted their nominations. I did this because of the proximity of the closing of the nominations to two major holidays and the intermixed weekend reasoning that it is wholly possible that one or both parties are travelling and do not have current and timely internet access.

If either Romanoffia or Namyeknom log in prior to the election start on January 1, 2009 and request their removal I will accommodate said request.

 

[Haor Chall]

I would like to withdraw my candidacy.

 

[Flemingovia]

That is a real shame. I think the region needs a wide choice of candidate, and I was looking forward to running against as wide a field as possible.

 

[Grosseschnauzer]

I suspect one of the problems with responsiveness among the nominees is that, instead of starting the official nomination period on January 1, we're starting the voting on January 1, with very little notice to everyone who can vote or who could be nominatged.

This just underscores, once again, the need for an election law that specifically states the scheduled date for each event within the election cycle.

 

[Eluvatar]

I suspect one of the problems with responsiveness among the nominees is that, instead of starting the official nomination period on January 1, we're starting the voting on January 1, with very little notice to everyone who can vote or who could be nominatged.

This just underscores, once again, the need for an election law that specifically states the scheduled date for each event within the election cycle.

It would be nice if you and others didn't oppose every bill so far. Or made an alternative bill, at least.

 

[Grosseschnauzer]

It would be nice if you and others didn't oppose every bill so far. Or made an alternative bill, at least.

I had planned to do so, and had announced my plan to prepare a draft bill, but Sniffles decided to pre-empt that with his own biull.

The problem then became the inclusion of objectionable provisions that really weren't needed to set election procedure. I will be submitting a draft proposal as my time permits during the next week, that leaves out the problematic provisions.

(OOC: I have some personal end-of-year organizing to do, including a complete backup of all of my hard disk data files, and that takes a day or so since I burn a copy of those files onto DVDs -- I have files dating back to 1985. )

 

[Sydia]

Bit of a shame we didn't have more people running, really! Less of an election, more of a...er, I'm not sure what.

 

[Outer Kharkistania]

Plebiscite?

 

[Grosseschnauzer]

I auapect the lack of responsiveness is due to the lack of notice that the election caolendar was being accelerated, for no clear reason that I can discern.

Since many citizens are wfk through New Year's and the fact that this season, both Christmas and New Year's are four=day weekends, I suspect many of them won't be back online until the fourth or fifth of January. Why there's such a rush to have election voting end by then totally baffles me, and it might trigger an election challenge.

 

[Gracius Maximus]

Nothing was accelerated and nothing was unclear.

I made a statement clarifying when nominations would close and when the voting would begin over a week ago. This was almost a full week after nominations were opened by the Delegate on the 18th.

If a member of the RA can not be bothered to keep up with the goings on of the region at least once within a 2 week period then they should reconsider their involvement, in my opinion, and not seek to lay blame of their own incompetence upon others seeking to serve them.

Any "election challenge" that stems from this will be subject to the rules outlined for election by the Constitution. Since no such rules exist the default position falls to the Election Commission, which believes that the elections should be complete in the most timely fashion available without undue bias against any member of the Regional Assembly. Since no member of the RA posted that they would be specifically absent during this period of time outside those that were already on a declared leave of absence there is no reason whatsoever for the Commission to consider the possibility that a member of the RA has simply decided to be too busy to inquire as to the state of his represented region as sufficient reason to delay the election.

 

[Grosseschnauzer]

In the history of constitutional government in The North Pacific, including past elections under this Constitution, voting periods have always been seven days, including the judicial election at which you were elected to the Court.

While you stated when you would start ekections, you never indicated until you opened the vote, that you would only hold a vote for five days. Given the traditions of seven day voting periods, reducing that period constitutes a deprivation of the equal protection of the right to vote under the Bill of Rights, and an avuse of your authority as an Election Commissioner.

The law governing Election Dates specifies that the election cycle is to be held in the month of January. There is nothing in that law that allows any part of the "election cycle" to take place before the designated month. And the debate at the time the law was enacted made clear that nominations and voting were part of the "election cycle." RA Debate on Law 26

As to activity or inactivity, while the law requires officeholders to log in within 2 weeks, the requirement for RA members is one month. This process that has been followed in the past ten days has the making of a putsch, an attempt to deprive the majority of the Regional Assembly from participation in these elections by nominations or by voting.

The election cycle for the 4-month terms of The Delegate, The Speaker of the Assembly, and CLO members, shall begin on the first day of the months of January, May, and September.

2. Assembly members who fail to indicate their activity on the forum by posting for over 30 days shall be removed from membership automatically by the Speaker.

10. Each Nation entitled to a vote in any manner under the fundamental laws of the region is entitled to the equal treatment and protection of that Nation's right to vote.

5. All Nations of The North Pacific have the right to be protected against the abuse of powers by any official of a government authority of the region. Any Nation of The North Pacific has the right to request the recall of any official of a government authority of the region in accordance with this Constitution, that is deemed to have participated in such acts.

 

[Tresville]

Quick post to clarify. I will be on for a few hours tonight to take care of a few matters here.

First, I am considering pulling out of the race so that Flemingovia can be delegate. I actually wish HC hadn't removed himself as it would have been nice to have him be active. Why? My concern is the region and what is best for it. If either flem and HC were to be delegate they would gain influence and I could step back and concentrate on MOFA and other gov areas. Which means we would have an active delegate and another active minister. Also, flem and HC would have to reduce their level of activity "elsewhere"....so that's a plus too.

In regards to elections.....the campaign period was lenghty, the region was alerted with plenty of time so no one can say they didn't know.

I gave the election commissioners the authority to enforce deadlines and I will not interfere with what they have set as long as it does not contradict the constitution.

I would like to "ask" this....could the commish please add the 2 days due to this election beginning on a holiday. I think this is something that should be considered for january elections only and should be added to election bylaws.

I would also like to "ask" the Speaker to pm the RA and remind them of the election.

Happy New Year to everyone.....good luck to all the candidates and kudos to those that are vigilant and concerned with gov matters....I would prefer that over citizens who never voice their concern or opinion.

 

[Flemingovia]

CiscO, I hope you reconsider withdrawing. I really really do not like one horse races .... or two horse races for that matter. I would like people to have a choice.

oh...

Also, flem and HC would have to reduce their level of activity "elsewhere"....so that's a plus too.

Don't bank on it. LOL

 

[Haor Chall]

Also, flem and HC would have to reduce their level of activity "elsewhere"....so that's a plus too.

Heh. I'm not any more active anywhere else than I am here tbh. And though I could have found the time to spend online needed to be delegate, actually, I'm quite content not to.

And considering how long election nominations have been open, and with the news in the ticker, etc, I don't see the problem.

 

[Gracius Maximus]

At the request of the sitting Delegate, the Election Commission will extend the voting deadline to January 7th, 2009 at noon EST.

As to the rest of the comments regarding the election cycle and the supposed abridged rights of the citizenry, if it is not codified as law then speculation on intentions, especially in regards to something as arbitrary as poll opening and closing dates and times, is pointless in the face of open and clear designations from an impartial Election Committee that has no inherent value in seeing any specific party elected to any specific position.

Also, if I were so inclined to putsch the government here then I would be running for Delegate and not running the election.