Regional Communications act only applies to Regional Officers communication powerrs, not to stamps, btw. So unless mass telegram campaigns are illegal due to another law, I don't think they're illegal.

Good to know. With that in mind, I'm going back to my two-part proposal.

4× Cabinet minister /// 1× OWL director /// CRS member /// SPSF

My History

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We've debated stuff like this several times. And, part of it is that it's almost impossible to determine what is and isn't a campaign post. Like ... is it simply "Vote for me!"? Or could any good deed then be called campaigning?

In any case, I'm not quite opposed to this, but generally these type of things have been a bit DOA.

In the definition that I gave to campaigning, a candidate saying "vote for me" during the voting period would be illegal because they're encouraging a vote for a specific candidate. If they had instead said "vote" without specifying anyone in particular, that's completely legal.

4× Cabinet minister /// 1× OWL director /// CRS member /// SPSF

My History

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We've debated stuff like this several times. And, part of it is that it's almost impossible to determine what is and isn't a campaign post. Like ... is it simply "Vote for me!"? Or could any good deed then be called campaigning?

In any case, I'm not quite opposed to this, but generally these type of things have been a bit DOA.

In the definition that I gave to campaigning, a candidate saying "vote for me" during the voting period would be illegal because they're encouraging a vote for a specific candidate. If they had instead said "vote" without specifying anyone in particular, that's completely legal. 

But campaigning is rarely as simple as saying "vote for me". Consider these fictional situations:



Am I campaigning? Would this be legal?



What about this one? Is Auphelia campaigning? Is Volaworand campaigning in the quoted post?

~ Aumeltopia ~

Raccoons are bandits! First they steal your food . . . and then your heart/identity!

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The bill is very broad in that it covers much of how we communicate and can, as Aumey notes, be applied in numerous vague instances.

I think the intent of the bill can be better served if it were restricted to private messaging and mass telegrams. Barring these two would create a level playing field as Candidate A can counter public campaigning in say the Legislators' Lounge but would be unable to do so in private messaging (assuming that they are aware that such a campaign is being mounted in the first place) or with mass telegramming (as it disadvantages players who may not have the real-life financial resources of their opponents).

Admiral General of the South Pacific

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I will pursue a definition of campaigning limited to the use of mass telegrams but I'd like to ask for others' opinion on including the unauthorized use of mass telegrams to solicit endorsements as part of the definition. I'd consider this the fair regulation of spam messages that our citizens should not be unfairly subjected to. If private citizens wish to gain endorsements, they should earn them by endorsing others and not soliciting them

Criminal Code

...

(9) Campaigning shall be defined as the making of statements by mass telegram
a. encouraging or discouraging voters from voting for a specific candidate, group, or political party
b. soliciting endorsements without authorisation from the Council on Regional Security

4× Cabinet minister /// 1× OWL director /// CRS member /// SPSF

My History

(This post was last modified: 05-24-2020, 12:58 AM by Jay Coop.)

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I will pursue a definition of campaigning limited to the use of mass telegrams but I'd like to ask for others' opinion on including the unauthorized use of mass telegrams to solicit endorsements as part of the definition. I'd consider this the fair regulation of spam messages that our citizens should not be unfairly subjected to. If private citizens wish to gain endorsements, they should earn them by endorsing others and not soliciting them

Criminal Code

[snip]
b. soliciting endorsements without authorisation from the Council on Regional Security

Would "soliciting endorsements" be considered a mass TG as part of the RO communication power, or would it be considered any TG (using stamps or individually sent) related to endorsements?

-Griffindor/Ebonhand
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-Legislator 2/24/20-
-High Court Justice 6/7/20-
-South Pacific Coral Guard 11/17/20-
-Minister of Engagement 6/17/22-

-Past Roles/Positions
-Legislator 7/3/16-4/10/18
-Secretary of State 4/3/20-2/24/21
-Chair of the APC 9/24/16-5/31/17
-Vice-Chair of the APC 6/1/17-4/10/18
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Criminal Code
...

(9) Campaigning shall be defined as the making of statements by candidates on the Regional Message Board, Discord, or the forums, encouraging or discouraging voters from voting for a specific candidate, group, or political party during the voting period of an election.

...This is some confusing language, considering campaigning means any campaign and this is a ban on campaigning at a specific time, not a ban on campaigning in general. Either way, I'm not sure this is necessary.

We've tried to do something like this before, but it all boils down to what is or isn't campaigning, a very subjective question (as some people with more time to write have stated)
 

Regional Communications Act
...

(2) Communications to the region shall not
a. mislead the public
b. attack or otherwise diminish other officials
c. attack or otherwise diminish The South Pacific or her allies
d. directly or indirectly threaten the security apparatus of the South Pacific or her allies
e. deliberately influence a regional election in favour of or against a specific candidate, group, or political party

I'm not sure this clarification is even needed, but there's nothing wrong with it.

And, finally, as the unofficial remembrancer (a position which I gave myself 2 seconds ago) of the city of government island (not to be confused with government island) I'd like to remind the assembly the ancient rights and traditions of the city which give it an exemption from voting reform laws.

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Okay, I'm going to pursue a vote on a definition that would hopefully have the most support. Later on, I will pursue another vote on the matter as it applies to endorsements.

Criminal Code

...

(9) Campaigning shall be defined as the making of statements by mass telegram, whether by use of stamps or scripts, encouraging or discouraging voters from voting for a specific candidate, group, or political party.

4× Cabinet minister /// 1× OWL director /// CRS member /// SPSF

My History

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The problem I highlighted here still remains. The wording is too vague -- I would not support this as it stands.

Perhaps it would be clearer to simply ban any mass telegrams, of any kind, sent by a candidate during an election period?

~ Aumeltopia ~

Raccoons are bandits! First they steal your food . . . and then your heart/identity!

(This post was last modified: 05-27-2020, 10:32 PM by Somyrion.)

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Does the following satisfy your concerns, @Somyrion? I have included a provision limiting use before an election to prevent people from circumventing this rule.

Criminal Code

...

(8) Electoral fraud shall be defined as the manipulation of the democratic process in the South Pacific, wherein--
a. an individual recruits people to vote a particular way, with an underlying corrupt purpose, regardless if the recruited persons are aware of that purpose;
b. a group of individuals organize themselves to vote a particular way, with an underlying corrupt purpose that would alter the natural outcome of the vote;.
c. anyone who is not the Election Commissioner sends a mass telegram, whether by use of stamps or scripts, for the purpose of making statements related to an election at any point during and at least forty-five days before an election.

4× Cabinet minister /// 1× OWL director /// CRS member /// SPSF

My History

(This post was last modified: 05-27-2020, 10:48 PM by Jay Coop.)

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