In-Game Help Files

6.7 ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS

An ELECTION in Lusternia takes place when someone who does not hold a particular position (such as Guild Leader or Leader of a city or commune or a Trademaster of a cartel) decides that he or she wants to challenge someone currently in that position (or to seek to fill a vacancy in that position). The person challenged must be in the same guild or city or commune (whichever is relevant) to the person doing the challenging. The command to challenge another player's position is CONTEST (syntax is listed below).

In order to begin an election in a guild or cartel, only one challenger is needed. In order to begin an election for the leader of a city or commune, two challengers must be found before an election may take place (which includes the person currently holding the position). Only one challenger is needed for vacant positions of city or commune leaders.

A REFERENDUM differs from an election only in that it is not about a particular position of power. It is called by someone in power (be it a God, a Guild Leader, or a member of the ruling council of a city) who defines what the referendum is about, how long it will last for, and what the choices in the referendum are.

It should be noted that the command ELECTION (or ELECTIONS) may be substituted for REFERENDUM (or REFERENDUMS) where applicable. (In other words, in an election, use ELECTION and in a referendum use REFERENDUM). Also note that all times relating to elections are in Lusternian time.

COMMANDS FOR EVERYBODY
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REFERENDUM LIST (or just REFERENDUMS)
- Lists the current referendums or elections that are relevant to you.

REFERENDUM <#> SUMMARY
- See a summary of a particular referendum or election.

REFERENDUM <#> CHOICES
- See a list of the choices in a particular referendum or election.

REFERENDUM <#> VOTE FOR <choice#/choice>
- Vote in a referendum or election.
- There are requirements that must be met in order to vote:
City: You must have played at least 50 hours, and be at least level 30.
Guild: For Referendums - You must have played at least 50 hours,
and be at least level 30.
For Elections - You must be at least guild rank 3.
Public: You must have played at least 100 hours.
- You can change your vote before the election or referendum is over by
simply voting again.

REFERENDUM <#> RESULTS
- See the results of a referendum or election.

FOUR WAYS TO CONTEST
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CONTEST <person> AS <position> OF <city, commune, cartel or guild name>
CONTEST VACANT AS <position> OF <city, commune, cartel or guild name>
CONTEST <person> AS HEAD OF <clan/cartel> (if the clan or private cartel is democratic)
CONTEST <person> AS HEAD OF <family> (if it is a great family)

You must have played at least 150 hours before you can contest. All contests cost the challenger 10,000 gold.

Ordinarily, you must be at least guild rank 3 in your guild to contest a guild leader. However CURRENTLY, all guilds may be contested at guild rank 1.

Note: You may use the syntax ELECTION <number> REMOVE <your name> to withdraw from an election you have contested.

Examples:
CONTEST VALERA AS LEADER OF SERENWILDE
CONTEST CHADE AS HEAD OF COOLCLAN
CONTEST VACANT AS TRADEMASTER OF GOURMONDS
CONTEST SILVANUS AS HEAD OF D'MURANI
CONTEST SNAIKKA AS GUILDLEADER OF SOCIETY

COMMANDS FOR THOSE IN POWER
---------------------------
REFERENDUM CREATE FOR PUBLIC/CITY/GUILD/<clan>
- Create a referendum.

REFERENDUM <#> TITLE
- Give a referendum a title.

REFERENDUM <#> DESCRIPTION
- Give a referendum a description.

REFERENDUM <#> ADD <choice>
- Add a voting option to a referendum.

REFERENDUM <#> REMOVE <choice>
- Remove a voting option from a referendum.

REFERENDUM <#> OPEN
- Open the voting on a referendum.

REFERENDUM <#> CLOSE
- Close the voting early on a referendum

REFERENDUM <#> CLOSE IN <x> <days/months/years>
- Set the number of days, months, or years before the referendum will end.

VOTE WEIGHT IN ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS:
-----------------------------------------
see HELP VOTEWEIGHT.

PROTECTION FOR CONTESTANTS IN GUILD/CITY/COMMUNE ELECTIONS:
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Those who challenge a guild leader will be afforded the same protections offered to a High Elder Guildmember - it will take all 3 guildmembers with outguild privileges to outguild the challenger. This is to protect guilds from nepotism.

Further, challengers will likewise be afforded the same protections from getting uncitizened or ostractized that guild leaders enjoy--it will take 3 members of the city or commune council to remove a challenger from the city or commune.

Finally, those who challenge the city or commune leader will also be afforded the protection of requiring 3 members of the city or commune council to be removed.

SPECIAL NOTE ON ELECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR GUILDS, CITIES AND COMMUNES:
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Elections in guilds, communes and cities are often an interesting time of political intrigue and turmoil, and one in which many members of these organizations have a vested interest. In terms of self-interest it is only logical, therefore, that guild, city, and commune leaders enact laws or other requirements to help steer the outcome of these contestations in their preferred direction. For example, the most common requirement we see is that a guild member must be a guild secretary to contest for any particular position (secretaries, of course, being appointed by the GM and GA already in power). This is, however, not particularly healthy or constructive for the long-term success, openness, and viability of these organizations.

We do not feel it is either realistic or fair to ask these leaders to act against their rational self-interest, or assume they will. Only an Administrative answer is truly fair in this situation.

Therefore: - We are making it our policy that only the coded requirements may restrict who can contest for any elected seat in a guild, public cartel, family, city, or commune election.

Note that clans and private cartels are unaffected by this policy, since these are purchased by players and may be used however those players wish.