Electoral Reform - Rock, Paper, Scissors

Day 1,294, 01:39 • Published in South Africa South Africa • by Luc Praetor


Coverage on the referendum to reform the voting system


Understanding the reforms to the voting system

LIMPOPO PROVINCE - In order to help address widespread misunderstanding of the new eSA congressional voting system, the outgoing Country President has today decided that eSA congressional voting itself will be carried out under the eSA voting scheme.

When announcing the plan, Grimstone explained, "It is crucial that people understand exactly how the eSA system works and the CP elections presents an ideal opportunity for people to use and thus understand the change."

He went on to explain the eSA voting system where, should for example the 'Yes' votes achieve less than 50% of votes, then the votes for the lowest achieving alternative (in the example, the 'No' votes) will be re-distributed according to peoples' second choice. So instead of just putting an X in either the 'Yes' or 'No' box, voters will instead make their preferred choice with '1' and their second choice with '2'.

"We hope that makes things clearer", he added.


The Valley of Indecision

GAUTENG PROVINCE - With the referendum on whether or not to adopt the new reforms on the eSA voting system for future congressional elections finally here, Mezu of Gauteng province, like many others, is struggling to come to a decision which accurately reflects his needs.

"Does queuing by a polling booth, or perhaps training in a battle, or working in my new delapidated food building that eAdmins gave me, more closely reflect my personal circumstances and preferences at this time?" he asked himself, whilst nodding at media articles showing Grimstone looking strict, Tenshibo looking strong, and Mr. Wet looking pleased under the new 'Wet Wizzle' neon sign.

Recognising the importance of the new eSA voting issue Mezu prioritised his needs for the day ahead, saying, "I'd rank going out to vote at 35% as it's my fundamental right to expression in a free eSociety; not going out to vote at 31%, as I don't think my vote will make any difference anyway; buying Q3 food in bulk in the sale which is about to end - pretty important, to party on Phuza Thursday, 22%; and participating in some training battles, which my friends say needs doing and while I often see where they're coming from, I'm diametrically opposed to them on this one, so only 12% for that."

With training battles coming in last, Mezu decided not to do it today and passed on its share to the other items. "I do feel a bit guilty about even thinking about training battles on such an important day so it's 7% to the 'yes to go and vote' campaign, 4% to the 'no to go and vote' campaign, and 1% to Q3 food shopping", he said, decisively.

"But Q3 food are not the most important issue today, are they, and really we could all lose them given the momentous choice we've been given to determine our futures through the ballot box, but since if I didn't go out to vote I could get them much sooner, I give 15% of their importance - about half a Q2 container - to the 'no to go and vote' campaign and 8% to the 'yes to go and vote' campaign."

"Which leaves, let me see... that makes 35 plus 7 plus 8 which is 50% in support of the 'yes to go and vote' campaign and 31 plus 4 plus 15 makes... um... 50% for the 'no to go and vote' campaign.

After a brief pause Mezu added, "Bugger".


Electoral Festivities

EKURHULENI METRO - Souvenir companies are already reporting massive sales of voting system merchandise including electoral reform plates decorated with the grinning face of the reformist Prelen, and a set of limited edition Pass-The-Buck badges to remind people to vote 'No'. However, the biggest sales are for a commemorative 'Say Yes to reform' tea towel imprinted either side with the two faces of Plato.

"This promises to be a truly historic day", said one man who has already pitched his tent outside the polling station. "In the future I will be able to tell my grandchildren that I was there when the decision was made to alter or not alter the voting system in such a way that all future election results might be ever so slightly different, but not so much that anyone would notice."

"To think of all those eCitizens singing and dancing in the street over voting reform brings a tear to my eye", said Plato, wearing a yellow paper hat and honking his party blower. "It makes all my broken pledges, backroom deals and miserable little compromises worth it. In fact, I imagine a lot of people will be having so much fun at their street party that they may completely forget to cast their vote in the referendum – but I guess that’s what eDemocracy is all about."

~ Another article consumed for eRepublik use