Notice of Amendment
OB-2023-55 | Formatting Amendments Omnibus Passed
The Delegate Elections Act was amended by the 59th Magisterium on 2023-12-16T07:36:00Z following Delegate sign-off.
Reformatted Act
Delegate Elections Act
SECTION I. CITATION
…1.1. This Act shall be known and cited as the “Delegate Elections Act”.
SECTION II. DEFINITIONS
…2.1. For the purposes of this Act, the following are defined as:
…2.1.1. “Write-In” - A vote cast for anyone who does not qualify for candidacy as defined by 2.1.3.
…2.1.2. “Nominee” - A Citizen who has been nominated, either by themselves, or by another Resident, as defined by the procedures of this Act and is yet to confirm their candidacy, or receive a necessary second.
…2.1.3. “Candidate” - A Citizen who has accepted a nomination or has had a seconded self-nomination the procedures of this Act and is therefore running for the position of Delegate in the present Delegate election.
…2.1.4. “Regular Election” - An election taking place to elect a Delegate following the four-month term.
…2.1.5. “Electioneering” - The act of campaigning outside of the platforms and events approved by the Magisterium…
…2.1.6. “Election impropriety” - Any inappropriate behavior performed during elections, which can include but is not limited to flaming, slandering, or liking posts containing votes.
…2.1.7. “Voter Fraud” - Any action attempting to gain a candidate more votes in an unlawful manner by holding unlawful Citizenships.
…2.1.8. “Vote Stacking” - The deliberate coordination of multiple Residents to obtain Citizenship for the sole purpose of voting for a particular candidate in an election.
SECTION III. GENERAL PROCEDURES
…3.1. The East Pacific Election Commission (“The Commission”) shall be the body responsible for conducting all Delegate elections. Any aspects of its organization and procedure not explicitly prescribed by regional law or not pertaining to the process of Delegate elections are to be determined by the Viceroy.
…3.2. A Delegate election shall consist of two periods: a) a nomination period and b) a voting period.
…3.3. Nominations of candidates for a Regular Election shall begin two weeks before the end of a Delegate’s four-month term, and shall last for a period of one week.
…3.3.1. Nominations for Delegate elections must be held in a designated forum thread created by the Viceroy.
…3.4. Any Resident may nominate a Citizen to run as a candidate for the following elections for that nomination period. Any Citizen may nominate themselves, as well.
…3.4.1. Self-nominations require a second nomination by another Resident for the self-nominee to be considered a candidate.
…3.5. Voting shall begin the moment nominations are closed and last for a period of one week.
…3.5.1. Voting shall be conducted in a designated forum thread created by the Viceroy (that is separate from the nomination forum thread).
…3.6. Only Resident who have verified Citizenship following relevant law may vote during the voting period.
…3.7. Results of a voting period shall be released within three days after the closure of the vote.
…3.7.1. Write-ins will not be counted. Any votes containing a write-in will be considered an abstention unless said votes contain a vote for an approved candidate in which case only the vote for any approved candidates will be counted.
…3.8. The first post within the nomination and voting forum threads shall host nomination and voting instructions, respectively. Other information deemed relevant by the Commission may be added to the threads as necessary.
…3.9. Within 24 hours of the start of the nomination period and the voting period, the Commission shall send out a regional telegram detailing instructions for nominating candidates and voting, respectively. Other information deemed relevant by the Commission may be added as necessary.
SECTION IV. VOTING PROCEDURES
…4.1. Instant-Run Off Voting shall be the voting method used for all Delegate Elections in the East Pacific in which there are three or more candidates.
…4.2. Ballots in The East Pacific shall include any approved candidates running in an election.
…4.2.1. Voters shall rank each candidate preferentially from their most favored candidate to their least favored candidate.
…4.3. Voters may choose to not rank any number of candidates.
…4.4. The first preferences of all voters should be counted.
…4.5. If a candidate holds a majority, or greater than half, of said votes, that candidate has won the election.
…4.6. 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).
…4.6.1. Following this, the votes shall be recounted.
…4.6.2. This process shall be repeated until a candidate holds a majority.
…4.7. In the event that two or more candidates tie with having the least amount of votes, all of said candidates will be eliminated.
…4.8. In the event that all remaining candidates tie with the same amount of votes, the following shall be done:
…4.8.1. The remaining candidate with the least amount of votes, in the last round in which there was a difference between all remaining candidates’s amount of votes, shall be eliminated.
…4.9. For any vote counting issues not covered by this legislation, the Viceroy of the Conclave shall determine how to proceed.
…4.10. Vote results shall be announced within the voting thread and by in-game regional telegram 24 hours after forum announcement
SECTION V. CAMPAIGNING
…5.1. Wherever the record of the current version of this Act is stored, therein shall lie directly beneath an Annex titled “Annex I: Designated Campaign Platforms”. Said Annex shall contain all campaign events and platforms explicitly allowed for delegate election campaigning.
…5.1.1. The Delegate Election subforum shall be included as a campaign platforms in the Annex.
…5.1.2. All campaigning must remain within the platforms and events as stated in the Annex and, if applicable, the regulations stated by this law.
…5.2. Anytime that is not within two weeks of nominations or during elections, the Viceroy may propose additional platforms and events to be included the Annex or changes (including specifications) to already existing platforms and events. The Magisterium must approve said updates via majority vote for said updates to take effect. Removal of such additional items shall follow the same process.
…5.3. For forum campaigning, every candidate may make one campaign thread in which to post their campaign. Residents may ask questions within each candidate’s respective thread. This thread shall be made in the subforums designated in the Annex.
…5.3.1. Only candidates may create a campaign thread. All non-candidate campaign threads will be archived.
…5.4. Within the voting instructions sent in the regional telegram and the voting instructions on the forum, the Viceroy shall link to the forum campaign thread of each candidate, if one exists.
SECTION VI. INFRACTIONS
…6.1. Instances of electioneering and/or election impropriety shall be dealt with by the Viceroy with the recommendation by the Commission, upon the referral of a complaint.
…6.1.1. A first offense of electioneering and/or election impropriety shall result in a warning.
…6.1.2. A second offense shall consist of the removal of voting privileges for the election during which the complaint was filed in, along with the next delegate election.
…6.1.3. Any further offenses shall consist of the removal of voting privileges and the ability to run as a candidate for one year.
…6.2. Instances of vote stacking or voter fraud shall result in permanent banishment from the East Pacific, pending trial by the Conclave.
SECTION VII. FAILURE TO CONDUCT PROCEDURE
…7.1. If at any point in this process the Commission is at least 48 hours late to deliver an action prescribed by this law, the responsibility for conducting Delegate Elections will be immediately transferred to the Viziers. The Viziers will choose from among themselves by consensus which Vizier(s) will see the election cycle completed in a timely fashion. No unforeseen delay(s) will shorten the amount of time allotted to a subsequent part of the process (see 3.3, 3.5, and 3.7).
…7.2. Should the Viceroy, or the official designated by the Viceroy to conduct elections, fail to follow the procedures laid out in the above sections, they shall be charged with Failure to Conduct Procedure, and they shall be unable to conduct elections and referendums for a period of one year if indicted by a majority vote of the Viziers.
…7.2.1. Should the Viceroy be indicted and found guilty of Failure to Conduct Procedure, the Viceroy Designee shall serve in the stead of the Viceroy in opening and closing elections and referendums until the indicted Viceroy resigns from their role.