SO 2017-52 Amendments to SO#2016-18 ("Parliamentary Elections Act 2017") Voting

Noting that the current election system can independents without a seat despite receiving as many votes as the candidates with a seat, and we believe that a more democratic system can be implemented;
Be it enacted with the consent of Parliament as follows:-

Article I
Guidelines 7 and 8 of SO#2016-18 shall have their numbers changed to 8 and 9 respectively.  

Article II
Section A:
The following text shall be added to SO#2016-18 as Article III, Guideline 7, Point A:
Whenever a number of independents have equal votes, and are competing for a smaller number of seats than the number of candidates concerned, a runoff election will be called between the drawn candidates.  

Section B:
The following text shall be added to SO#2016-18 as Article III, Guideline 7, Point B:
When such an election is called, the founder will announce on the regional message board that the election will occur in a day and that should anyone wish to withdraw they must send the founder a telegram.  Once a day has passed since the announcement the founder will create a poll for the runoff election with a time of two days.  If the election finishes in a draw between one of more candidates, then the seats are awarded to the nation with longest permanent residency.  Once the election has finished the founder will announce the results on the regional message board.

Section C:
The following text shall be added SO#2016-18 as Article III, Guidelines 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19:
10) When one or more seats fall open through the resignation or removal from office of an incumbent within two days from one another, a by-election shall be called by the Founder for the number of seats that have fallen open within those two days after they have passed, and the nominations will last three days; anyone may declare their intention to form an electoral list, alone or with specified others.
11) If there are more than one seats to be filled in the by-election, the Founder will follow Article III, Guidelines 2), 3), 12) and 13) of this Act in that order.
12) The Founder will then enter the Number of Seats as the number of seats that are to be filled in the election, set the Percent Hurdle to “0”, and put the number of votes for the electoral list with the most votes in the Party 1 section, the number of votes for the electoral list with the next most votes in the Party 2 section, et cetera, before clicking on calculate.
13) Thereafter, the Founder will follow Article III, Guidelines 5), 6), 7), 8 ) and 9) of this Act, unless there are only two single candidates running, in which case he will not follow Article III, Guideline 7 of this Act, and if the election finishes in a draw between the two candidates, then the seats are awarded to the nation with longest permanent residency.
14) If there is only one seat to be filled in the by-election, the Founder will follow Article III, Guidelines 15), 16), 17), 18), and 19) of this Act in that order.
15) After the candidatures are closed, the first round of voting will begin. The Founder will post a three-day poll on the regional page with the name of each candidate and their (optional) political affiliations.
16) If, in the first round of voting, a candidate secures a majority (half plus one) of the votes cast, they are elected to the vacant seat.
17) If, in the first round of voting, no candidate secures a majority (half plus one) of the votes cast, then a second round of voting will be held. The Founder will post another three-day poll on the regional page with the name of the two candidates with the first and second highest number of votes in the first round and their (optional) political affiliations.
18) The candidate with the most votes in this second round is elected to the vacant seat.
19) If at any point in this process there is a relevant tie of votes, the candidate with the longest permanent residency in the region is favored.

July 12, 2017
The Hon. Netherking Land, MP
The Rt. Hon. Minister without Portfolio Thomolia, MP
The Rt. Hon. Minister of Jurisprudence Libertarian Democracy, MP LSM GSM
The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Abdoa, MP LSM GSM

Debate scheduled July 15-17, 2017
Amendment tabled by Senator Abdoa July 15, 2017
Motion to Pass to a Vote made July 15, 2017
Amendments voted on July 17-18, 2017, 1 amendment adopted
Vote scheduled July 18-20, 2017

The vote will be open until Thursday July 20, 2017.

Abdoa votes in favor.

Lhistonia votes in favor.

Netherking Land votes in favor

Aralunya votes in favor.

LibDem votes in favor.

Hashkin votes in favor

The vote is closed and the results are as follows:

Voting: 6 (Senators Abdoa, Lhistonia, Netherking Land, Aralunya, Libertarian Democracy and Hashkin)
Absent: 3 (Senators Sepharich and Thomolia; there was 1 vacant seat due to the resignation of Laguna-Rizal effective July 11, 2017)
Majority: 6 votes in favor required to pass

In favor: 5 6 (Senators Abdoa, Lhistonia, Netherking Land, Aralunya, Libertarian Democracy and Hashkin)
In opposition: 0
In abstention: 0

The bill has PASSED and is sent to the President for assent or veto.

Edit: to reflect that the majority was a requirement for 6 votes not 5

NASSAU-WINDSOR, LSM, of the Parliamentary Union of Nations and of all Our other Realms and Territories President.

TO Our trusty and well-beloved Members of Parliament and to other Members of Our Region whatsoever to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting!

FORASMUCH as in Our said Parliament this Act has been agreed upon by you Our trusty and well-beloved Members of the Eleventh Session of Parliament, in accordance with the provisions of the Law, and have presented it to Us for Our Presidential Assent;

THE title of which reads as follows: “Parliamentary Elections Amendment Act 2017”;

BUT the said Act is not of force and effect in the law without Our Presidential Assent, noting also that Our Presidential Desk is the accustomed place for giving Our Presidential Assent to such Acts as have been agreed upon by you said Members of Parliament;

WE have therefore caused these Our Letters Patent to be made and have signed them and by them do give Our Presidential Assent to the said Act;

WILLING that the said Act shall be of the same strength, force and effect as if We had been personally present in the Voting Chamber of Parliament and had there publicly and in the presence of you all assented to the same;

COMMANDING that these Our Presents do hereby declare this Our Presidential Assent endorse the said Act in Our name as is requisite and to record these our Letters Patent and the said Act in manner accustomed;

AND FINALLY WE do declare that after this Our Presidential Assent given and declared as is aforesaid then and immediately the said Act shall be taken and accepted as good and perfect Act of Parliament and be put in due execution accordingly.

IN WITNESS whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent.
WITNESS Ourself at Our Presidential Desk the sixteenth day of May in the year of two-thousand and seventeen.


The Right Honourable Nassau-Windsor LSM
President of the Parliamentary Union of Nations
Member of Parliament
King-of-Arms