Exilian

I've run this once with the CTS, and figured I may as well do it again with Exilian since I now have all the stuff prepared.

But this time it will be (theoretically) EVEN BIGGER! And it won't be done packed into one evening. :P

THE SCENARIO

The battle for Middle-Earth was over. The defeat of Sauron created a new world and new opportunities; the dawning of the fourth age looked like a new dawn for monarchical government. However, two years after Gandalf left for the West, Aragorn unexpectedly died of a disease contracted from a poorly sanitised sword-handle. There was nothing for it but DEMOCRACY.

Middle-Earth's general election was about to begin...

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THE RULES

So here's the planned timetable & how it works:
21-30 March: Sign-ups (After 30 March no more candidates may be entered)
You can start signing up from now! You initially either sign up as a candidate or a voter.

A candidate basically controls a fictional Middle-Earth political party. To sign up as a candidate you need to send in your party, a brief description of them, and who your party leader is. For your party leader, you may pick any known or unknown figure (you can make someone up) who is alive (or plausibly alive) in Middle-Earth in the early Fourth Age. You will be expected to be more or less in-character as this person; you can change their character significantly or entirely from the books and change their political position greatly, but you can't change canon facts about their life. You can ONLY enter candidates up to 30 March. Candidates who get ballot access in the final election (see below) won't get voting papers. You may appoint deputy leaders after the hustings has started; characters may not be duplicated.

A voter will be given a voting paper for one or more constituencies. You can sign up as one of these until the voting window starts on April 20. On the voting paper you will have a number of candidates and be asked to divide ten votes between them. When voting, you represent the whole constituency and how you think they would all vote; reflecting the constituency well when voting is the most important thing. When asking questions at the hustings and debates, however, you may adopt the persona of anyone in your constituency. You will be dealt your constituencies as soon as you sign up (probably three or four per voter). You may express a preference for "Wealthy", "Rural", "Industrial", "Urban", or "Poor" constituencies when signing up, and/or for having a constituency with more Hobbits, more Elves, more Dwarves, more Orcs, or more Men in it. (Yes, the Orcs are enfranchised!) I can't promise that I'll be able to deal with your requests, but I'll do our best. There will hopefully be multiple voters per constituency; you are politely requested not to co-ordinate voting with other voters who have the same constituency as you do.

30 Mar - 5 Apr: Initial hustings & hustings vote
This is an initial week in which all the candidates argue their cases. There will be an open forum poll in which people can vote (including the candidates) on who they'd like to be in the final ballot. A candidate with over 15% of the vote has full ballot access and can stand everywhere. A candidate with 5-15% can stand either in five chosen constituencies, or one of the super-regions (Eriador, Rhovanion, South & East, or Gondor & Rohan). Candidates don't have to stand everywhere they have access to (if you're the Arnorian Nationalist Party you may get full ballot access but only want to stand in Arnor, for example). Candidates with under 5% will be eliminated.

5-20 Apr: Campaign! (20 April is the last day on which voters may register)
This is fairly self explanatory - a couple of weeks in which candidates can produce posters, argue in a debate thread, etc etc. This is the patch in which people will make up their minds as to how their constituencies will vote!

One other important thing is that candidates can choose four seats in which to run a GOTV (Get Out The Vote) operation. This will boost their vote percentage significantly in that constituency; the aim is therefore to choose the four seats that will be most marginal for their party. Candidates with partial ballot access can only do this on one seat. These boosts MUST be submitted privately, and MUST be submitted before April 20 (not least because if I'm standing as a candidate, it's clearly vital that I don't have any submitted ballot papers available to influence my decision).

20-30 Apr: Continued Campaign & Voting Window
After 20 April, voters can no longer register, and they may start sending in their ballot papers at any time. Sending in a ballot paper is FINAL and they may not be amended, so we recommend sending in the latter part of the voting window unless you've already made up your mind!

1 May: Results Announcement
The results will be announced!

Each constituency elects three members, allocated using the D'Hondt method.

After the election, we'll have the make-up of the Middle Earth government - if we have a majority or workable coalition, that is...

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HOW TO PLAY

You may sign up in this thread or by communicating with me; communications with me for any stage of the campaign may be via PM or E-Mail. Please use my megadux[at]exilian[dot]co[dot]uk account for email stuff for this. You can play entirely by email if you wish to, and send in questions for the hustings that way. Obviously it'd be nice if you turned up here and talked to everyone else too though! Candidates may find it difficult to play by email as they'll need to respond to hustings questions.

Please do sign up: obviously signing up a candidate is a little bit of a commitment (though it shouldn't take much of your time even then), but signing up as a voter is practically none at all, so go go go for it :)

Sign up sheet for a candidate:

QuoteParty Name:
Party Leader:
Party Description:

And for a voter:

Quote
Constituency type preferences:
Species preferences:

A final note on my own involvement: I may enter a candidate in the campaign depending on how many people want to run. The campaign works "mechanically" (aka I don't have to take any decisions whilst running it, and what I know about people's decisions won't help me make my own) so this shouldn't create any conflicts of interest. I am of course happy to provide any clarifications needed on that.

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CANDIDATES/PARTIES
Shortlist
Green Arda Party
Minor Ancillary Character Hagiography Organisation (MACHO) Party
Middle Earth Alliance for Democracy (MEAD)
SSS - Shiny Shirt Society
White Tree Alliance

Full Descriptions
Green Arda Party
Party Leader: Eowyn (Faramir as deputy)
Advocate: Eowyn
Description:

Spoiler

- Stricter schedules for the use of horses in Rohan and Gondor, so no horse works more than an 4h day.
- Eagles are not to be used as taxis willy-nilly. Instead a request can be made by moth, no later than 48h before the desired lift.
- Mordor and any surrounding blighted lands are to undergo ecological restoration to return them to green, fertile and happy lands. The hard graft is to be undertaken by any surviving orcs, as part of their community service. The works shall be overseen by a committee of Hobbits and Elves, as they understand ecology and conservation best.
- Girls and boys are to learn skills and crafts equally in school. Both shall learn sewing, cooking, sword fighting, archery, horse riding, tending of crops, First Aid, ethical citizenship (covering Equality and Diversity issues, as well as procurement provenance, etc). On top of this the curriculum will include sciences, languages, geography, and history. Through these subjects an awareness of different cultures, religions and sensibilities will be passed on.
- Tax will be raised across all the lands of Middle Earth, in a fair socialist manner. One is to pay proportionally to one's income. The raised taxes will then be distributed for the good of all (education, health care, infrastructure) and no one will be left behind. "Spare" bedrooms allowed!
- Any buildings which currently only have steps must provide step-free access within a year of the elections. Government subsidies for this will be available.
- Healing trips to Lothlorien will be available on prescription by health care professionals for all.
- Children's farm camps to the Shire will be subsidised by the Government to ensure a connection to nature for all.
- Military spending will be drastically cut. Any resulting job losses will be redeployed in (e.g.) ecological restoration, fire fighting and farm camps. Those who have science, language, history or geography knowledge may apply to become teachers.
- Research into clean, carbon neutral energy is a priority.
- The preservation of minority languages and the protection of minority ethnic groups will be guaranteed by the Government.
-Flexible working patterns and working from home policies are expected from most employers.

Minor Ancillary Character Hagiography Organisation (MACHO) Party
Leaders: Elladan and Elrohir (because they come as a pair)
Advocate: Tar-Palantir (http://www.exilian.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=4420)
Description:

Spoiler

The MACHO Party is fighting for the rights of all those minor and overlooked characters and, by extension, races, who should really get more airtime, rather than being mentioned once and then dying/disappearing/being sidelined. With their mingled illustrious ancestry, Elladan and Elrohir are well-placed to champion the minor character cause and, being underused, are not constrained by any canonical character considerations, so will at least consider any policy, no matter how apparently insane/evil/suicidal.

Middle Earth Alliance for Democracy (MEAD)
Leaders: Alatar & Pallando
Advocate: Jubal (http://www.exilian.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1)
Description:

Spoiler

MEAD is an alliance of Middle Earth's more socially liberal characters, fed up with living in a world that just seems so often like everything was designed by a very conservative Catholic. Campaigning for more female characters, equal marriage, and improved social rights for all, MEAD's core policies are mostly in the social sphere. They do however also advocate supporting small independent businesses and artisans, and creating more economic growth outside the big cities.

SSS - Shiny Shirt Society
Party Leader: Shagrat
Advocate: HanSolo
Description:

Spoiler

The SSS are NOT a bunch of Brown Shirts (or Black Shirts or any other Capitalised Shirt Colour). No, our party is following the Age long theme of what is shiny is best, especially if it belongs to you! Our brave leader, survivor and hero of the last war of the Third Age, stretches his benevolent hand to you. The King has failed, the Wizard Councillors have fled/died - now in this Modern Age a Modern Orc will stand forward and bless all who pledge allegiance to him and join him on his quest to regain his stolen shiny - a quest many heroes have embarked on before so it must be good!

White Tree Alliance
Party Leader: Prince Imrahil
Advocate: Tar-Meneldur
Description:

Spoiler

The White Tree Alliance appeals to the peoples of Middle-Earth to preserve the noble institutions that have guided Arda since its very beginning. Are there any among us who can deny the beauty, power, and grace of the late King Elessar, may he rest in peace? His universal appeal, his nobility, magnanimity, and fairness of judgement were impeccable, and during his tragically brief reign, Gondor began to flourish once more, the decline seen during the rule of the Stewards was reversed. We hold that the qualities that made the Lord Aragorn so supremely suited for his role were his by heredity and by fate, by the blood of Númenor of old. The combined might of Sauron and Saruman could not prevent the Lord Aragorn from taking the place that was rightfully his!

Our candidate, the Prince Imrahil, is of one of Gondor's oldest and most noble Houses. The Princes of Dol Amroth have ruled over Belfalas since the days of Númenor, since before even the changing of the world. In them the blood of Númenor lives on. Imrahil was one of the Lord Aragorn's most trusted counsellors, and his valour in battle is unchallenged. The Lord Legolas, Elf of the Woodland Realm, commented on the Prince's nobility: indeed, the blood of the Firstborn is said to run in the veins of the Princes.

Are not the Valar themselves ruled over by Lord Manwë? Do our noble cousins the Elves of Mirkwood, of Lothlórien, of Imladris, have not Elves and Men since the rising of the Sun flourished only under the rule of wise monarchs? Vote for the White Tree Alliance, and the Reunited Kingdom shall experience the restored glory of the noble Kings of old!

While the restoration of the monarchy is our primary goal, the WTA's wider manifesto is as follows:
- The establishment of a bicameral parliament at Minas Tirith, so that both the nobility and the elected representatives of the people may advise the King on matters of State.
- The establishment of a Reunited Kingdom Free Trade Area to strengthen Gondorian commerce.
- Government subsidies for trading and exploration far afield, to discover new commercial opportunities in the East and South.
- The extension of the hand of friendship to the defeated minions of Sauron - Gondorian merchants and industry can only benefit from opening up such a wide new market and potential labour force.
- Proportional income taxes to be used to maintain the Gondorian armed forces at a somewhat lower level than during the War of the Ring, and to pay for important public services such as policing and disaster response.
- Issuing paper money, removing Gondor from the gold standard, and establishing a central bank to control the money supply for more stable rates of interest and employment.
- Subsidies and incentives for land reform to modernise our agricultural economy. Research into more efficient farming and mining methods.
- Massive investment in infrastructure projects to improve transport links within and outside Gondor, to improve ease of access to the North Kingdom, to Rohan, and to the realms of our allies the Dwarves and Elves. This will also create thousands of jobs and benefit local communities.
- Companies to be invited to bid for government contracts for infrastructure projects, decreasing cost to the state and increasing employment throughout the nation.
-The beacon system to be upgraded to allow passing of any messages between the Kingdom's major cities at high speed.
- Universal education for the sons of Gondor, to increase our skill base in this competitive world. Widespread industrial apprenticeship schemes, and scholarships to our ancient centres of learning, where the best may learn efficiently from the greatest of our loremasters.

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VOTERS

ERIADOR
Luin & Lindon - Comrade_General
Arthedain, Angmar & Forochel - Eadfrith
Evendim & Fornost - JR, Chewie
Rhudaur & Eregion - Son of the King
The Shire - Mother of Dragons
Bree & Buckland - Colossus
Cardolan - Glaurung

RHOVANION
Upper Anduin & Mirkwood North - Tiffmeister
Moria, Mirkwood & Lorien - Mother of Dragons
Dorwinion and Near Rhun - Glaurung
Erebor & Dale - JR
The Iron Hills - Othko97
The Riverlands - Comrade_General, Chewie
Central Rhovanion - Son of the King

THE SOUTH AND EAST
Ithilien and Gorgoroth - Eadfrith
Nurnen - Othko97, Tiffmeister
Harad & Harondor - Mother of Dragons
Umbar - Comrade_General

GONDOR & ROHAN
Dunland & The Isen - Glaurung
Rohan - Colossus
Emnet & Entwash - Othko97
West Gondor - Tiffmeister
Vales of Gondor - Colossus
Dol Amroth & The Coasts - Eadfrith
Minas Tirith - Son of the King, Chewie
Pelargir - JR

First update done: we now have two parties, which is a good starting point for an election.  :P

Ok I'll be a voter, I'm happy with whichever of the things you decide to give me :)

Awesomes!

I will deal you your constituencies soon - I'm still umming and aaahing over one boundary line. I think you'll probably get 3 constituencies (but you may be given more if we totally fail to find voters :P ).  :)

Oh, uh, yesh. I'll vote.

Yay, an electorate! :)

Two candidates, two voters. The words "rotten borough" are springing to mind at this stage....

In that spirit, Jubal and I should commit massive electoral fraud by registering a load of fake voters and bussing in lots more. ;) We can't leave Middle Earth rulerless!

It'll be really embarrassing if one of us fails to get full ballot access. :P

Just a bit. I think we'd have to conclude that Sauron was moving again if that happened. Or that the massive electoral fraud had already happened.

I'll vote too!

Yay :) Will deal your constituencies when I get home. :)

I'll vote!

Yay!

You should all have received PMs telling you what your constituencies are, and also they're in both threads.  :)

We have a whole three parties :O

Four parties! :o

Five - the inevitable monarchists that Tolkien might actually have approved of finally turned up. :P

This whole thing confuses me greatly. Can you summarize what I need to do? :P

I will PM or summarise in threads what you need to do at every stage, fear not :)

What criteria do we use to decide how the peoples we're representing vote? Given that each race is more than likely monarchists and nationalists, half of them are isolationist and a fair number are warmongering, I can really see only two of the current parties being voted for at all.

I would give the following guidelines:
- Don't assume that your people will all vote the way their aristocrats would vote, and remember that by and large in LOTR you only see the aristocrats.
- Instead think about lifestyles - what is an ordinary horse-breeder in Rohan likely to want from life? What about a pub landlord in Bree? Or a small businessman in Dale? Initially they might well be social conservatives (though I'm not sure they all would), but they may well also be amenable to voting for things that will actually make them better off.
- Nationalism and internal warfare I think we should semi-discount - Gondorians may be more likely to vote for fellow Gondorians, but obviously if you assume everyone's priority is to break back up into their own kingdoms the whole thing breaks down a bit. So yeah, regionalist sentiment I think will exist but vary, and some people (like the Dorwinions or the Dwarves) will be much more in favour of integration because yay for decent long distance trading.
- That said, run with stereotypes to an extent; this is supposed to be fairly light-hearted. In the CTS version we had Rohirric voters parodied as Top Gear viewing heavy road-users which was hilarious and worked well.

Does that make sense?

Excellent, just wanted it cleared up. :D

HUSTINGS ROUND IS GO!

I'll vote.

Yay!

Constituencies duly dealt  :)

Sign me up to vote,
Ideally a nice Rural/Urban split - perhaps a mix of eriador and south east (though i question whether Harad should be enfranchised)

Done :)

2 more people needed!

I'll vote! Doesn't look like there is much choice in constituents anymore, so I'll take whatever is left and will try to vote accordingly. SSS is freaking awesome and needs more votes though, so I'll probably be slightly biased :P

Is not a case of choice so much - we can happily have multiple people per constituency!

You will be voting in West Gondor, and Upper Anduin (because they're the last left with 0 voters), and also Nurnen, in former Mordor. :)

Quick question: I know orcs are enfranchised, but what about women? And serfs? And what is the minimum voting age?
Given that this whole democracy thing is a new idea, I assume low levels of voter apathy, but I need to work out my constituency demographics.

Women and serfs are all enfranchised, there is no property qualification. The minimum voting age is adulthood, defined differently by species.  :)

I want to be a voter

You are now on the list!

You have been allocated the Riverlands, Minas Tirith, and Evendim & Fornost :)

You can now go over to the other thread and prod people with questions!