Election Rules - An Official Clarification

[HalflingPrincess 411]

 

It has been brought to the attention of the new Council of Elders that several of the rules provided by the constitution were vague and thus resulted in a some amount of confusion for the outgoing Elders as they counted the votes for our recent election. The Elders of Bramblebury, in order to clarify the rules of elections, and to ensure smooth and peaceful transfers of power in the future, hereby present the following revisions:

I. Concerning Misleading Language
It was recently brought to Elder Greta Goodbarrel's attention that a certain passage within the constitution implies that a candidate may not run for Elder if they have family currently serving as Elders. This was not what was intended, and hereby clarifies with the support of Elders James Peregrin and Jordan Applebottom that a candidate cannot run for Elder only if they have immediately family also running in the same election (or, of course, if they do not meet other requirements.)
 

II. Concerning Voting Requirements
As with every previous election, the note on the ballot box specifically stated that "If you do not have a home in Bramblebury, you may not vote." The Council of Elders wishes to clarify for future reference that a "home in Bramblebury" is defined as a tavern room, an inn room, or a burrow. The Council also wishes to diffuse the popular misconception that one must have dwelt within the village for a certain period of time to be allowed to vote. Provided they meet all other requirements, the amount of time one has lived in Bramblebury is irrelevant to whether or not they can vote. This only applies to running in elections.

III. Concerning Election Time Limits
The outgoing Elders raised questions regarding the legality of providing an extension to the election. Though the constitution provides for two pumpkin days of voting, it does not prohibit an extension to the length of an election. Halflings are not infallible creatures; it is ultimately up to the outgoing Elders to decide exactly when an election ends. Precedent for this was already set in the election of 1806, which went on for half a pumpkin day longer than was provided for by the constitution. As long as the delay is reasonably small, an election is not required to end exactly 2 pumpkin days after the ballots open.
 

IV. Concerning Tie-breaking

The results of the current election were determined in part by the involvement of then High Pumplar, seeing as Elder Isalie Gardner resigned prior to the election, leaving only two sitting Elders. The current Council of Elders upholds this, and declares that in the usually unlikely event there only two sitting Elders available to break a tie, the High Pumplar may be brought in to ensure the tie is actually broken.

V. Concerning Vote Limits
Finally, it has come to the attention of the Elders that the extreme circumstances of our recent election were due in part to the ability of a voter to give all three of their votes to a single candidate. The Elders have recognized this as a flaw in the system, and the Constitution makes no claim that voters are guarunteed the right to give all three of their votes to a single candidate. As such, from now on voters will be required to distribute their three votes to at least two different candidates during an Elder election.

 

Authored 1814, signed:

Elder of Bramblebury

Ratified 1814, signed:

Elders of Bramblebury

[Moochael 730]

Perry just wants to grill.