- TNP Nation
- PotatoFarmers
- Discord
- Freg#0420
This is a campaign thread, by somebody who is not running for any posts, and for somebody (if you count Re-open nominations as a person) who is always on the ballot, but largely ignored. And yes, it is strange I am doing this, but our circumstances are even stranger.
I understand this elections is likely going to be one of the most open races for quite a bit. We have 4 candidates for delegate: St George/Madjack, Dreadton, Comfed, and MTDemocracy. We have 3 for Vice Delegate: Blue Wolf, Lord Dominator/Lady Raven Wing, and Kasto. And just 1 for Speaker: Venicea. None of the incumbents are running to keep their positions. The Vice Delegate is going to get someone who hasn't sat on the Security Council in recent years. Which is why, all the more, it is important to ask question of the candidates. Find out more about the candidates. And most importantly, make sure they are the deserving candidate for the position.
I am not going to be here commenting on each of the candidates, and giving my analysis on who to pick. I am here, instead, to counter-propose an alternative, something which may be treated as a joke, or often misunderstood.
The candidate, standing under the name of "re-open nominations", has been on the ballot box for quite a long time. In fact, since we implemented the option as part of our elections. It has been on every election as an auto include, as something which people can vote yes to. Some view voting for this candidate as the "nuclear option". I see it as a way of expressing my honest viewpoint on the slate of candidates.
For a start, we can talk about the basics of this mechanism. The option to re-open nominations is separate from selecting the candidates. In many voting processes across NationStates, they might be included as an option alongside the candidate options. But not here in TNP. Come September 6th, when voting opens, everyone will be able to see the voting slip format. After selecting your options, you will see an additional question. "Would you like to reopen nominations?" And then, you have to answer yes or no to make your vote valid. Most people default to no. But should at least 50% of voters vote yes to that option, the nominations process is reopened, candidates can decide if they want to continue running, while other people may declare their candidacy. And this is decided separately from selecting a candidate. So if a majority voted candidate A to be Delegate, and more than 50% chose to reopen nominations, we are still going to open nominations. If we don't get to reopen nominations, your vote still counts.
How about Abstain, you may ask? I would say there are only 2 reasons to vote Abstain. One, you vote Abstain to say "I am indifferent to all the candidates". Whichever candidate is elected, you are happy they are elected. Or at least, feel the same. The other reason is because you are a candidate, and you want to show your neutrality.
A vote to reopen nominations (RoN), in my opinion, is different. And there are generally a few reasons for it.
1) You want to run, but you miss the candidacy declaration.
After looking at all the candidates, you think you will make a better candidate than all of them. So you decide to call on others to vote RoN, and hope nominations reopen so that you can put yourself in.
2) You want some other candidate to run.
Maybe there is a guy who belongs to 1. Or maybe, you are not satisfied with the slate of candidates. You want to wait for someone else that you think is a better fit.
3) You need more time to reconsider
It is an extension of 2, but you may not be looking for a new candidate. Honestly, I have done this quite a number of times before. The series of candidates are good, but sometimes, you are waiting for the answer that makes you say "That is the person I am looking for". Or makes you more convinced about his credentials. A reopen nominations extends the election period by another 5 days, so, why not try it?
4) Not satisified, but still acceptable
It is another extension from 2. Similar to 3, but in a different way. You would have made a firm choice for 1 or 2 particular candidates. But unlike 3, the responses thus far has been lacking. If a better candidate is here, you will definitely choose that candidate. But your current option is not too bad in your opinion, but you think he could do better. You hope that with a re-open message, you can signal the message that you want the elected candidate to consider/reconsider some concerns raised.
There are probably more reasons, but the 4 above are some of the reasons which I feel, explains why I may vote RoN when I do so. It doesn't have to be done when we disagree with all of the candidates. In fact, I would prefer certain candidates, and yet choose to reopen nominations at the same time. And I hope that this will give voters more awareness about reopening nominations. You should understand that it is a right you have. And you don't have to necessarily just submit 3 abstains and 0 reopen nominations, simply because you have not been satisfied with the slate of candidates.
I understand this elections is likely going to be one of the most open races for quite a bit. We have 4 candidates for delegate: St George/Madjack, Dreadton, Comfed, and MTDemocracy. We have 3 for Vice Delegate: Blue Wolf, Lord Dominator/Lady Raven Wing, and Kasto. And just 1 for Speaker: Venicea. None of the incumbents are running to keep their positions. The Vice Delegate is going to get someone who hasn't sat on the Security Council in recent years. Which is why, all the more, it is important to ask question of the candidates. Find out more about the candidates. And most importantly, make sure they are the deserving candidate for the position.
I am not going to be here commenting on each of the candidates, and giving my analysis on who to pick. I am here, instead, to counter-propose an alternative, something which may be treated as a joke, or often misunderstood.
The candidate, standing under the name of "re-open nominations", has been on the ballot box for quite a long time. In fact, since we implemented the option as part of our elections. It has been on every election as an auto include, as something which people can vote yes to. Some view voting for this candidate as the "nuclear option". I see it as a way of expressing my honest viewpoint on the slate of candidates.
For a start, we can talk about the basics of this mechanism. The option to re-open nominations is separate from selecting the candidates. In many voting processes across NationStates, they might be included as an option alongside the candidate options. But not here in TNP. Come September 6th, when voting opens, everyone will be able to see the voting slip format. After selecting your options, you will see an additional question. "Would you like to reopen nominations?" And then, you have to answer yes or no to make your vote valid. Most people default to no. But should at least 50% of voters vote yes to that option, the nominations process is reopened, candidates can decide if they want to continue running, while other people may declare their candidacy. And this is decided separately from selecting a candidate. So if a majority voted candidate A to be Delegate, and more than 50% chose to reopen nominations, we are still going to open nominations. If we don't get to reopen nominations, your vote still counts.
How about Abstain, you may ask? I would say there are only 2 reasons to vote Abstain. One, you vote Abstain to say "I am indifferent to all the candidates". Whichever candidate is elected, you are happy they are elected. Or at least, feel the same. The other reason is because you are a candidate, and you want to show your neutrality.
A vote to reopen nominations (RoN), in my opinion, is different. And there are generally a few reasons for it.
1) You want to run, but you miss the candidacy declaration.
After looking at all the candidates, you think you will make a better candidate than all of them. So you decide to call on others to vote RoN, and hope nominations reopen so that you can put yourself in.
2) You want some other candidate to run.
Maybe there is a guy who belongs to 1. Or maybe, you are not satisfied with the slate of candidates. You want to wait for someone else that you think is a better fit.
3) You need more time to reconsider
It is an extension of 2, but you may not be looking for a new candidate. Honestly, I have done this quite a number of times before. The series of candidates are good, but sometimes, you are waiting for the answer that makes you say "That is the person I am looking for". Or makes you more convinced about his credentials. A reopen nominations extends the election period by another 5 days, so, why not try it?
4) Not satisified, but still acceptable
It is another extension from 2. Similar to 3, but in a different way. You would have made a firm choice for 1 or 2 particular candidates. But unlike 3, the responses thus far has been lacking. If a better candidate is here, you will definitely choose that candidate. But your current option is not too bad in your opinion, but you think he could do better. You hope that with a re-open message, you can signal the message that you want the elected candidate to consider/reconsider some concerns raised.
There are probably more reasons, but the 4 above are some of the reasons which I feel, explains why I may vote RoN when I do so. It doesn't have to be done when we disagree with all of the candidates. In fact, I would prefer certain candidates, and yet choose to reopen nominations at the same time. And I hope that this will give voters more awareness about reopening nominations. You should understand that it is a right you have. And you don't have to necessarily just submit 3 abstains and 0 reopen nominations, simply because you have not been satisfied with the slate of candidates.
