62nd Election of the PPT

[windjammer]

Senators, it's time to elect your PPT.

PPT OFFICIAL BALLOT

[  ]   Senator North Carolina Yankee

[windjammer]

The thing with this is that when the declaration thread was opened TNF was under LOA. I'm not sure if there are absentee allowances or permissible extensions or not, but thus far I've not found anything. I do know that write-in votes have been allowed before (as recently as Matt), so it may be a discretionary matter. IDK as yet.

Precedent certainly allows for Write-In votes. I don't think the LOA removes your capacities as a Senator (nor do you need to be a Senator to be PPT, technically), so I don't think there's an issue there.

Tthe fact that precedent allows for Write-in voted doesn't mean  write in votes are simply allowed.

An another example of precedent, every VP since DemPGH (I think, and probably the VPs before) has not closed the "nomination thread" and then started an another thread for the vote. And this is clearly stated in the rules that the VP has to do that:

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PS: My post shall not be interpreted as a critic of the previous VPs. I just want to say that something that has been made in the past doesn't mean that's legal.

[windjammer]

What I mean is. . . If you're not physically present to accept a nomination, what happens?

It's admittedly out of the ordinary but probably should be considered carefully. 

What happens?
I believe that means you're not the nominee.
That's disgusting, but that's the rules...

That's why I believe some reforms about the PPT election should be made during the 62nd senate.

[windjammer]

Senators,
You have until tomorrow to change your vote or not. (until July 13,2014, 10:15:23 am exactly)
Best regards,
VP Windjammer

[windjammer]

Well, I'm embarrassed by this election. Why?

Firstly, I have to refuse the candidacy of TNF because he failed to declare his candidacy in time.
And now, I will have to invalid the 5 write in votes. Yep, after careful consideration, I consider the rules don't allow the write in vote for these reasons:
1) This is mentioned nowhere that write in votes are allowed
2)

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And unfortunately, since TNF failed to declare his candidacy in the PPT candidate declaration thread, he's not a candidate. There is just a candidate, this is Yankee.
When you write in someone, you write in for someone who isn't a candidate. That's why I believe write ins aren't allowed in this election. All senators could have voted write in: TNF, Yankee would have still been elected. (the candidate with the highest number of votes).


It saddens me to have to invalidate 5 VOTES (and these votes are all from my party), especially because TNF failed declare his candidacy in time by only 14 min,  but I have no choice.As the current President of the Senate, that is my duty to respect the rules. If I don't respect the rules, even for good relations, any legislation, any vote risk to be invalidated because of that. The consequences would be terrible.

So, since Yankee is the candidate having received the highest number of votes, Yankee is elected President Pro Tempore.

Since TNF is the longest serving senator that is not the PPT, he's now the Dean of the Senate.

I, Windjammer, president of the senate, certify these results are accurate.

[windjammer]

I wonder if write ins are one way to establish candidacy? I know in the Pacific you can be a "candidate by write in" if you write yourself in, and I wonder if that concept would apply here? It has in the past.

The problem is that there is not this principle in the rules.

[windjammer]

Do write-ins not count as votes? This is vilely undemocratic and goes against basic Atlasian precedent to boot. You can't invalidate half the votes in an election because one guy didn't have Internet for a specific period to boot, and furthermore writing oneself in has always been treated as a de facto declaration of candidacy.

You speak as if I have the choice. I DON'T.

As the President of the  Senate, I have to respect the Senate rules. I do all I can to respect them.

I take my job very seriously. And for the write ins vote, I simply believe the PPT election doesn't allow that. I can't have feelings, I have to respect the rules. Remember that.

In case I'm wrong and that the Supreme Court believes write ins should be allowed, fine, I would respect this decision.

 

[windjammer]

Do write-ins not count as votes? This is vilely undemocratic and goes against basic Atlasian precedent to boot. You can't invalidate half the votes in an election because one guy didn't have Internet for a specific period to boot, and furthermore writing oneself in has always been treated as a de facto declaration of candidacy.

You speak as if I have the choice. I DON'T.

As the President of the  Senate, I have to respect the Senate rules. I do all I can to respect them.

I take my job very seriously. And for the write ins vote, I simply believe the PPT election doesn't allow that. I can't have feelings, I have to respect the rules. Remember that.

In case I'm wrong and that the Supreme Court believes write ins should be allowed, fine, I would respect this decision.

I respect your dedication to professionalism, Mr. Vice President, but I believe that write-in votes are votes, no?

Senator Alfred,
write in votes are obviously "votes", I'm not contesting that. Ii contest the fact that they are allowed and that they are valid.

[windjammer]

Do write-ins not count as votes? This is vilely undemocratic and goes against basic Atlasian precedent to boot. You can't invalidate half the votes in an election because one guy didn't have Internet for a specific period to boot, and furthermore writing oneself in has always been treated as a de facto declaration of candidacy.

You speak as if I have the choice. I DON'T.

As the President of the  Senate, I have to respect the Senate rules. I do all I can to respect them.

I take my job very seriously. And for the write ins vote, I simply believe the PPT election doesn't allow that. I can't have feelings, I have to respect the rules. Remember that.

In case I'm wrong and that the Supreme Court believes write ins should be allowed, fine, I would respect this decision.

I respect your dedication to professionalism, Mr. Vice President, but I believe that write-in votes are votes, no?

Senator Alfred,
write in votes are obviously "votes", I'm not contesting that. Ii contest the fact that they are allowed and that they are valid.

Democracy now! *burns flag*

Your argument is invalid for two reasons:
1) the PPT elections aren't specifically stated to be "democratic".
2) write in votes aren't an obligation in a democracy. In France for instance, you can only vote for the declared candidates for the presidential election. Every write in vote is counted as invalid.

And France is (globally) a democracy.

[windjammer]

I accept write ins for TNF.

The results of the vote:
5 vote for North Carolina Yankee.
5 vote for TNF.

As President of the Senate, I shall break the tie.
I break the tie for TNF.

TNF is confirmed as PPT.

I, Windjammer, President of the Senate, certify these results are accurate.