Proportional Representation Bill [Passed]

[Sam Spade]

Proportional Representation Bill

1. Hereinafter Class B Senators shall be elected using the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (hereinafter ‘PR-STV’).

2. For the purposes of these elections the whole of Atlasia shall be treated as a single electoral constituency.

3. Sections 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14 of F.L. 14-2 Consolidated Electoral Reform Act shall also apply to PR-STV elections.

Rules on the counting of votes in PR-STV elections
4. After the close of polls, the ‘total valid poll’ shall be calculated, this being the total number of valid votes cast in the election.

5. The ‘quota’ (i.e. the number of votes required to be deemed elected) shall then be calculated as the whole number (disregarding any attached fraction) resulting from the following equation:
[Total Valid Poll/(Number of seats to be filled + 1)] + 1

6. A first count shall then be made quantifying the total number of first preferences each valid candidate did receive. Any candidates receiving more than the quota shall be deemed elected.

7. Where candidates are tied they shall be ranked by the total number of second preferences received and so on. Where this method proves indecisive and the tie must be broken to materially progress the count, a condorcet count between the tied candidates shall be decisive.

7. (a) Where candidates are tied at any stage in the count, they shall be graded according to their status on the preceding count and so on. Where candidates are tied at each such stage, they shall be graded according to their total number of second preferences.
(b) Where still tied, by a similar analysis of their third preferences and so on.
(c) Where this method proves indecisive and the tie must be broken to materially progress the count, a condorcet count between the tied candidates shall be decisive.

8. The order of priority for distribution of votes shall be as follows:
(a) candidate’s surpluses which may materially affect the progress of the count. (Where more than one such surpluses exist they shall be distributed in the order in which the candidate was deemed elected.);
(b) distribution of the votes of the candidate placed last in the last preceding count.

9. Where there exists such surpluses as that in total they could materially affect the progress of the count, but no individual surplus meets this requirement, the surpluses shall be distributed in order of magnitute even though no individual surplus may materially affect the progress of the count. The distribution of such surpluses shall continue until such time as the totality of the remaining surpluses shall not be capable of materially affecting the progress of the count.

10. A distribution shall be deemed to materially affect the progress of a count, when it is of such quantity as it would be sufficient to bring about the election of another candidate or would be sufficient to raise the lowest placed remaining candidate above the next lowest remaining candidate.

11. Where no candidate receives a number of votes equal or greater to the quota, the lowest polling candidate shall be eliminated and his votes distributed in according with his next preference for a remaining candidate. This process shall continue until such time as a count results in the election of a candidate or candidates.

12. Where an elimination is to be made, a double elimination may be made where the distribution of the lowest remaining candidate’s votes alone would not materially affect the progress of the count. Similarly, a triple elimination may be made where the distribution of the two lowest remaining candidate’s votes alone would not materially affect the progress of the count, and so on.

13. Where a surplus is to be distributed, the entirety of the votes of the elected candidate shall be transferred to the candidates still capable of election at a reduced value called the ‘transfer value’. This value is calculated by the following formula:
Number of candidate’s surplus votes/Candidate’s total votes

14. Where a candidate has a surplus to be distributed, any such votes contributing to his election which were gained at a reduced transfer value as described above in a previous count, such votes shall transfer at a re-reduced value which shall be equal to their standing transfer value multiplied by the new transfer value to be applied o all of the votes to be distributed.

15. Where an eliminated candidate’s votes are to be distributed, the votes shall not be reduced in value any further than they may have been during the process to that point.

16. Counting shall continue until such time as the number of candidates deemed elected equals the number of available seats or until such time as no further distributions which can materially affect the count exist, in which case the candidates not reaching the quota shall be deemed elected in the order in which they rank until such time as all of the available seats are filled.

17. At the discretion of the SoFA, transfer values and vote totals (where appropriate) may be rounded off to three decimal places for simplification or presentational purposes.

Vacancies
18. Where a single Class B Senate seat vacancy exists, the election to the seat shall be conducted on a nationwide basis and in accordance with F.L. 14-2 Consolidated Electoral Reform Act.

19. Where multiple vacancies of Class B Senate seats exist and by law the election to fill the vacancies fall is to occur on the same weekend, the election shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures outlined above.

Repeal of Census Legislation
20. Section 1 of F.L. 4-4 The Miscellany Act, mandating the conduct of censii, is hereby repealed.

Commencement Order
21. This Act shall not take effect until directed by an Executive Order of the President of Atlasia directing same.

(Sponsor: Ebowed)

[Sam Spade]

This bill is kind of complicated.  I'll have to read over it a couple of times before giving an opinion.

[Sam Spade]

Re section 20: The correct plural of census is censi.

This has been introduced as a friendly amendment.  Senators have 24 hours to object.

[Sam Spade]

The amendment has been passed as friendly without objection.

[Sam Spade]

We are now voting on the following amendment:

Sections 18 and 19 are replaced as

If a vacancy occurs then the "Countback" Method shall be used: the candidate whose seat has become vacant shall be removed from the ballot and the votes shall be recalculated.

And all following sections shall be renumbered appropriately.

Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.

[Sam Spade]

Aye on the amendment.

[Sam Spade]

With 4 votes in favor and 6 against, the amendment has failed.

[Sam Spade]

We are now voting on the following amendment:

Proposed Amendment:
That the following shall replace sections 18 and 19 of the bill and subsequent sections be re-numbered accordingly.

Vacancies
18. Where a single Class B Senate seat vacancy exists, it shall be filled by 'Countback', wherein the results of the election which filled the seat shall be re-calculated ignoring all preferences cast for the candidate whose position is being filled. The best placed candidate of the re-calculation (hereinafter 'the winner') shall be deemable elected to the vacant seat.

19. The winner on countback must give notice to the Department of Forum Affairs that he will accept the seat within 72 hours of the certification of the result of the above countback method.

20. Should the winner not accept, the votes will be calculated once more per above, ignoring also the votes cast for the winner on countback. The new best placed candidate not elected originally shall now be entitiled to hold the seat on the same conditions as set out above.

21. Wherein no further persons are found to be eligible or wanting of the vacant seat on countback, a by-election for the seat shall be held on a nationwide basis and in accordance with the terms outlined within F.L. 14-2 Consolidated Electoral Reform Act.

Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.


Nay.

[Sam Spade]

I would strongly urge those who broadly support the move to PR-STV to vote in favour of the amendment.

Nay.

Dare I ask, why the Nay vote here but the Aye vote on the previous version?

Since I have been accused of being predictable in my voting, so much so that others can make assumptions about my beliefs, I am now introducing a certain amount of randomness in voting patterns on issues I don't care about.

[Sam Spade]

I would strongly urge those who broadly support the move to PR-STV to vote in favour of the amendment.

Nay.

Dare I ask, why the Nay vote here but the Aye vote on the previous version?

Since I have been accused of being predictable in my voting, so much so that others can make assumptions about my beliefs, I am now introducing a certain amount of randomness in voting patterns on issues I don't care about.

I must say that, if that's serious, it greatly reduces my opinion of you as a Senator.

Such is life - you can't please everyone.  Actually, I doubt I can please many people on the forum these days even if I tried - and I'm too stubborn to try.

Needless to say, I will be opposing this bill, regardless of what form it appears in - largely for the departing Senator Keystone Phil's reasons...

[Sam Spade]

I have additional reasons why I'm opposed to this, but I'm going to wait posting them until this weekend, when I actually have time to discuss it.

Also, the vote on the amendment is 1-4, with 1 Senate seat vacant.

[Sam Spade]

Present vote: 1-5

[Sam Spade]

With 1 vote in favor, 6 against, and 3 not voting, the amendment has failed.

[Sam Spade]

I'm satisfied with Jas's amendment and will sponsor if needed.

Is this a legit "I sponsor"?  If so, we'll vote on this soon.

[Sam Spade]

Aye.

[Sam Spade]

Vote is 3-4-1, with Rob and DWTL not voting on this amendment.

[Sam Spade]

We are now voting on the following amendment:

Introducing (an Jas' behalf, but I'm ready to vote for this) the following amendment:

That Sections 18 & 19 of the bill be replaced with the following and subsequent sections be renumbered accordingly:

Vacancies
18. In the event of a vacancy arising for whatever reason, where the concerned ex-Senator is a member of a major party (i.e. one having 5 or more members) at the time the vacancy arises, the same party shall be responsible for filling the vacancy by whatever means they deem fit.
19. The party shall have 10 days from the arising of the vacancy within which to give official notice to the Department of Forum Affairs of who they nominate to take up the vacant seat.
20. Where:
(i) the ex-Senator is not a member of a major party at the time the vacancy arises;
or (ii) the party fails to comply with section 19;
a by-election for the seat shall be held on a nationwide basis and in accordance with the terms outlined within F.L. 14-2 Consolidated Electoral Reform Act.
21. Where there exists any doubt as to party affiliation; major party status; or time of vacancy arising, it shall be the responsibility of the Department of Forum Affairs to clarify these matters upon request by any citizen.
22. Any decision of the Department under section 21 may be appealed to the Supreme Court, which may in its discretion suspend any relevant time periods applicable under this Act or under F.L. 14-2 Consolidated Electoral Reform Act until the Court reaches a decision.

Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.


Nay.

[Sam Spade]

Aye.

[Sam Spade]

bump for those who may have missed ongoing amendment vote.

[Sam Spade]

This vote is open until 1:09:19 PM tomorrow (for you Rob).

[Sam Spade]

This vote is open until 1:09:19 PM tomorrow (for you Rob).

Has Rob even voted once in the past month? If he has he couldn't have voted more than 2 or 3 times.

By my count, he's voted 15 times since August 19 (arbitrary date). Sam Spade, for comparison, has voted 30 times since then. Rob's not offered one shred of debate in that time, all of his posts are one word votes.

Although Rob has been inconsistent with his voting, there is nothing in the Senate rules that can force me to declare a person absent, and quite frankly I am loath to do so without such grants.  In order for the seat to become vacant, Rob must not vote or post on this board for 21 days.  He is far from meeting that measure.  An expulsion motion could be brought, but I doubt it has enough votes to pass.

It is, for lack of a better phrase, up to the voters of the Pacific to decide whether Rob's inconsistent voting warrants his return to the Senate.  That is, unless his absence reaches 21 days or an expulsion motion gains steam.

[Sam Spade]

With 3 votes in favor, 3 votes against, 3 abstentions and 1 not voting, the VP gets to do his duty.

[Sam Spade]

One more vote needed to reach cloture here.

[Sam Spade]

The motion for cloture has passed.  Unfortunately, I can't start the final vote as I have to leave right this minute.  Either Jas can start it, or I'll do it this evening.

[Sam Spade]

Nay.