I think it would be a good idea to standardise our nominations, campaigning, and voting periods across elections.
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I’m thinking of three-day nominations (and campaigns), a six-day campaign (only), and a five-day voting period for all forum-based elections - then:
From there, a one-week transition for PM and CoA (for disputes to be settled and ceremonies, perhaps).
From there, a three-day vote on the RMB for Delegate and the Delegacy transition after that (variable).
That way, the Election Commissioner only runs two elections at a time, both timed the same.
2 week elections are too long. We could do 4 day nomination/campaigns, and 3 day voting, and be fine, I think.
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Apologies if proposing yet another timeline just adds confusion, but I was thinking about how we might best standardize the timelines of every election. It seems to me that if we want to keep elections starting on the 15th and new terms starting on the 1st, then a five day period for each campaigning and voting period for each position gets us pretty close to standardized. If I have the dates right, it would produce the following schedule. Thoughts?
Prime Minister January
- Nomination / campaign start: 1/15
- Voting period start: 1/20
- Voting period end: 1/25
- New term start: 2/1 (6 day transition)
Prime Minister April
- Nomination / campaign start: 4/15
- Voting period start: 4/20
- Voting period end: 4/25
- New term start: 5/1 (5 day transition)
Prime Minister July
- Nomination / campaign start: 7/15
- Voting period start: 7/20
- Voting period end: 7/25
- New term start: 8/1 (6 day transition)
Prime Minister October
- Nomination / campaign start: 10/15
- Voting period start: 10/20
- Voting period end: 10/25
- New term start: 11/1 (6 day transition)
Chair April
- Nomination / campaign start: 4/15
- Voting period start: 4/20
- Voting period end: 4/25
- New term start: 5/1 (5 day transition)
Chair October
- Nomination / campaign start: 10/15
- Voting period start: 10/20
- Voting period end: 10/25
- New term start: 11/1 (6 day transition)
Delegate January
- Nomination / campaign start: 1/15
- Forum voting period start: 1/20
- Forum voting period end: 1/25
- Gameside voting period start: 1/26
- Gameside voting period end: 1/31
- Gameside transition start: 2/1
Delegate July
- Nomination / campaign start: 7/15
- Forum voting period start: 7/20
- Forum voting period end: 7/25
- Gameside voting period start: 7/26
- Gameside voting period end: 7/31
- Gameside transition start: 8/1
I’m supportive of this. It’s simple and reasonable.
I agree entirely with this.
I recall, in the past, some concern that there should be a period for campaigning where candidates can’t declare for office. In that case, we could do 3 days nominations, 2 days campaigning but no nominations, and 3 days voting. Either way, going longer than 8 or 9 days is just absurd
I’ve realized that Henn’s draft would make elections around 16 days before the end of each February (and May for Chair elections but nobody else 
), rather than before the start of each February as they’re currently set. If there’s appetite for greater reform, I don’t mind, but in the interests of having actually consistent and predictable election dates instead of doing the whole “figure out if it’s 30 or 31 days and subtract 16” thing, I’d like to propose the following simple modification to Henn’s last draft:
Seeing no further discussion, I motion for a vote.
Second.
Are we not considering a broader discussion on the Elections Act in another thread? I would think that the other discussion and deliberations will result in this amendment being included within the broader package?
Considering how long this discussion has taken, I’d rather not let great be the enemy of good.
We are now at a vote!
Let’s try this one out. Also changed “Assembly” to “citizens” for Delegate and PM elections, since that’s what the current Elections Act says.
I move the above draft be brought to a vote.
Seconded