Anthologica Universe Atlas / Forums / Department of Creativity / Elections and Stuff / Elections and Stuff
So, partly because of the circuses that are the US primary elections and various other elections going on (like in Ireland), it got me to thinking about political systems and how elections operate in your conworlds, who's elected, and the like (if, of course, they even have elections).
Out of the two countries I have that are the most developed, Ilia's political system is the best-thought, so I figured I'd start by sharing that.
Elections are held on the national level for the National Assembly (Yljámácỹmaqãtmaclýs) and the President (Cĩmoqõtdómjõlmótíct); local elections are held for municipal councils. Additionally, amendments to the Constitution are subject to mandatory referendum. Most elections are held on Mondays.
The National Assembly of Ilia consists of roughly 275 members:
The qualification to stand for a local seat in the assembly is that one must be enrolled on the electoral register (which requires one to be both an Ilian citizen and at least 19 years old), be in full possession of their civil rights (i.e. not imprisoned), and either submit a deposit of YJD 10000 (USD 400) or a petition signed by at least two hundred voters resident in the district in which one seeks election. To appear on an electoral list, one must meed the same rules as for a local seat (enrolled on the electoral register; full possession of civil rights), but the difference is that the party must compile an ordered list of the 150 potential candidates and submit that along with either a deposit of YJD 150000 (USD 6000) or a petition containing a number of signatures from voters equal to at least 1% of the number of voters who voted at the previous parliamentary election. Deposits are refunded to local candidates who receive at least 3% of the first-preference vote and electoral lists which receive at least 3% or who/which otherwise enter the Assembly.
The maximum term of the National Assembly is four years starting from the date the assembly first meets, though, in practice, elections are normally held well before the expiration of the parliamentary term; the Assembly can be dissolved by the President, normally on the advice of the Prime Minister (but the President can refuse a dissolution in their discretion, and that has happened), but only after the Assembly has sat for at least six months. When the Assembly is dissolved, a writ of election must be issued by the President within ten days and an election is to be held between 30 and 45 calendar days after the issuance of the writ. After an election, the Assembly convenes on the first Monday that occurs after the certification of results, and results are normally certified the Monday after an election.
This is a sample of a National Assembly election ballot (which is always pink) from a constituency that has two "local seats":
The President is directly elected by popular vote to serve a five-year term through an IRV (instant run-off voting) system. The president may be re-elected, but only one time and cannot serve more than two terms (full or partial) as president within a 20-year period. If the president resigns, dies in office, or is removed by impeachment, the Speaker of the National Assembly serves as interim president with new elections required within 60 days of the vacancy. The next presidential election is due in April 2016.
The eligibility criteria are that a candidate for president must be enrolled on the electoral register and have been enrolled for at least three years; must be in full possession of their civil rights; must not have an additional citizenship; and must either present a nomination petition signed by at least 1% of the total number of voters at the previous presidential election, by 10% of the number of voting members of the National Assembly (currently 28), or by fifteen mayors/chiefs of municipalities.
Ballots at presidential elections are yellow.
Municipal council elections are similar to National Assembly elections, the difference being the term of office for a municipal council is normally three years and the head of a municipality is elected by the council. Ballots at municipal elections are white.
Referenda on constitutional amendments are required in order for an amendment to become law; the amendment bill must first pass the Assembly by a 60% supermajority before being submitted for referendum within 90 days. To pass at a referendum, an amendment bill must receive a number of yes votes equal to at least 25% of the electorate that voted at the last presidential election and a majority of yes votes in the vote itself. Referendum ballots are blue.
Out of the two countries I have that are the most developed, Ilia's political system is the best-thought, so I figured I'd start by sharing that.
Ilia
Elections are held on the national level for the National Assembly (Yljámácỹmaqãtmaclýs) and the President (Cĩmoqõtdómjõlmótíct); local elections are held for municipal councils. Additionally, amendments to the Constitution are subject to mandatory referendum. Most elections are held on Mondays.
National Assembly
The National Assembly of Ilia consists of roughly 275 members:
- 120 members elected in 2-3 member constitutencies by a single-transferrable vote system (referred to as "local seats", or kãtanelqãsjecát)
- 150 members elected by closed lists submitted by parties with a quota of 6% for seat allocation* (referred to as "list seats", or zécteqãsjecát)
- 5 members elected as representatives of Ilians abroad (grouped together with the "local seats"; these seats form a single constituency)
- Former Presidents of Ilia can serve as non-voting members, of which there are currently two (they can participate in debates, but have no voting power)
The qualification to stand for a local seat in the assembly is that one must be enrolled on the electoral register (which requires one to be both an Ilian citizen and at least 19 years old), be in full possession of their civil rights (i.e. not imprisoned), and either submit a deposit of YJD 10000 (USD 400) or a petition signed by at least two hundred voters resident in the district in which one seeks election. To appear on an electoral list, one must meed the same rules as for a local seat (enrolled on the electoral register; full possession of civil rights), but the difference is that the party must compile an ordered list of the 150 potential candidates and submit that along with either a deposit of YJD 150000 (USD 6000) or a petition containing a number of signatures from voters equal to at least 1% of the number of voters who voted at the previous parliamentary election. Deposits are refunded to local candidates who receive at least 3% of the first-preference vote and electoral lists which receive at least 3% or who/which otherwise enter the Assembly.
The maximum term of the National Assembly is four years starting from the date the assembly first meets, though, in practice, elections are normally held well before the expiration of the parliamentary term; the Assembly can be dissolved by the President, normally on the advice of the Prime Minister (but the President can refuse a dissolution in their discretion, and that has happened), but only after the Assembly has sat for at least six months. When the Assembly is dissolved, a writ of election must be issued by the President within ten days and an election is to be held between 30 and 45 calendar days after the issuance of the writ. After an election, the Assembly convenes on the first Monday that occurs after the certification of results, and results are normally certified the Monday after an election.
This is a sample of a National Assembly election ballot (which is always pink) from a constituency that has two "local seats":
The President
The President is directly elected by popular vote to serve a five-year term through an IRV (instant run-off voting) system. The president may be re-elected, but only one time and cannot serve more than two terms (full or partial) as president within a 20-year period. If the president resigns, dies in office, or is removed by impeachment, the Speaker of the National Assembly serves as interim president with new elections required within 60 days of the vacancy. The next presidential election is due in April 2016.
The eligibility criteria are that a candidate for president must be enrolled on the electoral register and have been enrolled for at least three years; must be in full possession of their civil rights; must not have an additional citizenship; and must either present a nomination petition signed by at least 1% of the total number of voters at the previous presidential election, by 10% of the number of voting members of the National Assembly (currently 28), or by fifteen mayors/chiefs of municipalities.
Ballots at presidential elections are yellow.
Other Elections
Municipal council elections are similar to National Assembly elections, the difference being the term of office for a municipal council is normally three years and the head of a municipality is elected by the council. Ballots at municipal elections are white.
Referenda on constitutional amendments are required in order for an amendment to become law; the amendment bill must first pass the Assembly by a 60% supermajority before being submitted for referendum within 90 days. To pass at a referendum, an amendment bill must receive a number of yes votes equal to at least 25% of the electorate that voted at the last presidential election and a majority of yes votes in the vote itself. Referendum ballots are blue.