Democratic Alliance Bylaws
Article 1. Membership and Voting
Section 1. RegistrationAll voters registered under “Democratic Alliance” or “Democratic Alliance Party” shall be considered full members of this party.
Section 2. VotingAll voters registered under “Democratic Alliance” or “Democratic Alliance Party” shall have any vote cast of theirs in the convention counted.
Section 3. Instant-runoff VotingIn votes using instant-runoff voting, an “X” shall count as the highest and only preference, and ties shall be broken through either which ballot choice got the most first preferences, or through a runoff in the event of tied first preferences, unless in the case of a leadership election, if one candidate concedes by posting in the convention thread.
Section 4. Vote AbstentionsAbstain votes are not counted in the vote totals or percentage requirement for any election.
Article 2. Conventions
Section 1. ScheduleThe Democratic Alliance Convention shall take place in the months of February, April, June, August, October, and December, beginning on the first day of such month, and closed on the last day of the month following such month.
Section 2. LocationThe Democratic Alliance Convention shall take place in a nominated city in the Region of Fremont in the months of February and August, the Region of Lincoln in the months of April and October, and the Region of the South in the months of June and December.
Section 3. BusinessEach Democratic Alliance Convention shall have the following business: voting on party bylaws and platform amendments, voting on party endorsements, nominating the city for the next convention, and electing party officers.
Section 4. Location Nomination ProcessThe city for the next Democratic Alliance Convention shall be nominated during the last week of the convention as follows: party members shall have 48 hours to nominate one or more cities of their choice, all nominated cities located in the region as determined in Article 1, Section 2 shall be put on a ballot, and party members shall have 48 hours to vote to determine the nominated city through instant-runoff voting.
Article 3. Officers
Section 1. Officer StructureThe Democratic Alliance Convention shall have an elected Chair and Vice Chair, with other roles appointed at the discretion of the Chair.
Section 2. Officer ElectionsThe Democratic Alliance Convention shall hold an election for Chair and Vice Chair during the second to last week of the conventions that start in the months of April, August, and December as follows: party members shall have 48 hours to nominate one or more members of their choice for either of the positions, all nominated members shall be put on a ballot, and party members shall have 48 hours to vote to elect the Chair and Vice Chair through instant-runoff voting.
Section 3. Chair PowersThe Democratic Alliance Convention Chair shall be the official leader of the party, manage the convention and any votes that take place, and create additional positions as they see fit and appoint party members to them.
Section 4. Vice Chair PowersThe Democratic Alliance Convention Vice Chair shall temporarily assume the powers of the Chair in the case of the Chair’s absence for 48 hours during party business, a leave of absence, or resignation, until they return; the Vice Chair shall become the Chair if the current Chair is absent for more than 168 hours during party business without a posted leave of absence, or if the Chair resigns.
Article 4. Endorsements
Section 1. Automatic EndorsementsA Democratic Alliance candidate/ticket running for an office shall be automatically endorsed, unless there is an objection raised by a party member against such endorsement, if they are the only candidate/ticket running in a single-seat election, or if the number of Democratic Alliance candidates running is equal to or less than the number of seats needed to hold a majority in such legislature in a multi-seat election.
Section 2. Endorsements of Candidates From Other PartiesA candidate who is not a member of Democratic Alliance may request an endorsement for an upcoming election that is taking place no more than 30 days later.
Section 3. Endorsement Vote ScheduleAll endorsement votes shall begin 3 weeks before such election is scheduled to take place; in the case no Democratic Alliance candidate/ticket running for an office, the endorsement vote for such office shall be held 1 week before such election is scheduled to take place.
Section 4. Endorsement Vote ProcessIf two or more Democratic Alliance candidates/tickets running in the same single-seat election, if the number of Democratic Alliance candidates running greater than the number of seats needed to hold a majority in such legislature in a multi-seat election, or if an objection was raised by a party member against an automatic endorsement of a Democratic Alliance candidate/ticket, a primary hall be held as follows: the applicable candidates for each office should each be put on a ballot, and party members shall have 48 hours to vote to determine which candidate or candidates shall receive full support in the election from the party through instant-runoff voting; a Democratic Alliance candidate/ticket needs a simple majority of support, and a non-party candidate needs a 60% majority of support to be endorsed, unless there is no Democratic Alliance candidate/ticket running for such office, where in such case a non-party candidate only needs a simple majority of support to be endorsed.
Article 5. Platform and Amendments
Section 1. Platform AdoptionDemocratic Alliance shall adopt a platform at the beginning of each convention with input from party members, using the amendment process described in Section 3 of this Article.
Section 2. Amendment ProposalsAny party member may propose an amendment to the party bylaws or platform.
Section 3. Amendment ProcessAmendments to the party bylaws or platform shall happen as follows: party members shall have 24 hours to object to a proposed amendment; if there are no objections, the amendment shall be adopted; otherwise, if there is an objection, a vote lasting 48 hours shall be held on whether to adopt or reject the amendment, requiring a simple majority to pass.
