NE1: Patchwork Amendment

[cinyc]

Specifying Eastern Standard Time technically means that our elections start at 1AM EDT in the summer.  That hasn't been what we've been actually doing, but probably is what we should have been doing.

The proponent of the amendment needs to offer a statement in support that is subject to debate.  Representatives in opposition can offer a statement in opposition.  These statements are subject to debate, and will be put in the Constitutional Amendment Explanation Thread before the Amendment is voted on by the voters.

I may have something substantive to say about the proposed amendment.  I have to check the federal constitution, but I think they use the Thursday preceding the penultimate Friday language you are deleting.

[cinyc]

I may have something substantive to say about the proposed amendment.  I have to check the federal constitution, but I think they use the Thursday preceding the penultimate Friday language you are deleting.

regional elections don't necessarily have to be at the exact same time as federal elections

and i think it's better to have a single specific time rather than a time period of over a day tbh

We in the Northeast made a conscious decisions years ago to hold our elections at the same time as the Federal elections in order to maximize turnout.  There is no reason to change that.

The problem with using 12:00:00AM EST Friday is that it is potentially ambiguous.  Which is the correct 12:00AM?  The one that starts Friday or the one that ends Friday.  The time period in the current constitution clarifies that it is the one that starts Friday.  I see no reason to change it.

I also think you're making a substantive change to how federal amendments are voted upon.  Instead of putting them to the voters ASAP, your amendment to Article VIII arguably causes them to be placed before the voters only once a month.  Why?

[cinyc]

Again, under the SOAP, this amendment needs a statement in favor explaining the amendment by the sponsor, which is subject to debate, and must be restated by the Speaker at the time of the vote.