SB 104-02: Senate Terms Amendment (Tabled)

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Giving this a second look (I assumed it would get rid of midterms alltogether like transit did), I think that what you've proposed may actually work well without reducing activity. However Yankee makes the good point that activity may still go down. After all, 2 of 3 regional senators were elected without opposition on the ballot.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Proposing the following changes since I agree that 2 month terms for all are better.

AN AMENDMENT
To extend term lengths of At-Large Senators equalize the term lengths of all Senators and modify the calendar for the elections of Regional and Subregional Senators.


Be it enacted by two-thirds of the Senate and of the Regions concurrently

Section 1. Title

This legislation may be cited as the Senate Terms Amendment or the Nebraska Amendment.

Section 2. Amendment to the Fifth Constitution

1. Section 2 of the Constitution is hereby amended:

Section 2. Elections to the Senate.

1. The manner of election for at-large Senators shall be as follows:

i. The nine at-large Senators shall be elected for a term of two months by the eligible voters of the Republic according to a method of proportional representation prescribed by the Senate. Elections for the seats shall be held in the months of February, April, June, August, October, and December.
ii. If no other method of proportional representation is prescribed by law, at-large Senate elections shall operate on single transferable vote.
iii. At-large Senate vacancies shall be filled through appointment by the executive of the former Senator’s Party; but should a vacancy occur as the result of the death, expulsion, or resignation of an at-large Senator not being a member of a major Party, then a special election shall be held within twenty days of the vacancy to choose a replacement to serve the remainder of the existing term.

2. The manner of election for Regional Senators shall be as follows:

i. Each region shall elect a Senator for a term of four two months by popular election of the region’s residents administered by the regional government in a manner prescribed by the legislature thereof. Regional Senate elections shall be held in the months of February, April, June, August, October, and December.
ii. Regional Senate vacancies occurring more than thirty days prior to the end of the term shall be filled by special election of the region’s residents administered by the regional government within twenty days of the vacancy.
iii. Regional Senate vacancies occurring within thirty days of the end of the term, as well as the interim between a vacancy and a prescribed special election, may be filled in accordance with the laws of the region in question; should no such law exist then the region’s executive shall have the power to make such an appointment.

3. The manner of election for Subregional Senators shall be as follows:
i. Each subregion shall elect a Senator for a term of four two months by popular election of the subregion’s residents administered by its constituent regional government in a manner prescribed by the legislature thereof. Subegional Senate elections shall be held in the months of February, April, June, August, October, and December.
ii. Subregional Senate vacancies occurring more than thirty days prior to the end of the term shall be filled by a special election of the subregion’s residents administered by its constituent regional government within twenty days of the vacancy.
iii. Subregional Senate vacancies occurring within thirty days of the end of the term shall be filled by the subregional Senator elected for the following term immediately upon conclusion of their election.

Section 3. Referendum Date

1. Each region shall vote on this change concurrently with the elections of August 2021.

Amendment Explanation: This amendment extends at-large terms by two months and changes the calendar for the election of regional senators to coincide with those of subregional senators. changes the terms of regional and subregional Senators to two months and changes the calendar for the election of regional and subregional Senators to coincide with those of at-large senators.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Aye

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

I'd rather keep what we have now than have all 4 month terms. We saw just last election that regional or subregional races can be quite uncompetitive.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

yeah, I'm having reservations about this too.

Motioning to table.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Aye