Federal Elections Act 3024 (Wiltshire)

The Federal Elections Act 3024 was an act of the National Assembly passed in absentia and granted royal assent on X July 3024. Written and proposed by the interim Conservative government of Prime Minister Owen Lassiter, the law outlined the new legal structures for the election of the Wiltshire National Assembly. The law received controversy, especially from the Socialists, as it was essentially a diktat from the monarchy and provisional government. Ultimately, though, the law went forward and the 3024 Wiltshire general election took place.

Provisions

The law outlined a number of key provisions, including:

A new electoral system;
Maximum term lengths;
Authority of the Wiltshire Elections Authority (WEA);
Process for the dissolution of the National Assembly;
Formal process for the election of the Prime Minister of Wiltshire;
Formal process for the election of the Speaker of the Wiltshire National Assembly;
Campaign finance regulations; and
State electoral rules.

Electoral system

The Federal Elections Act created a new electoral system, designed to distance Wiltshire from the proportional and rank-choice voting systems that had been identified as a partial cause of the numerous political crises of the preceding five years. The electoral system adopted was that of a first-past-the-post voting system in a 100-member National Assembly. The law instructed the Elections Authority to subdivide, by state, Wiltshire into 85 electoral districts (electorates). The final 15 seats in the National Assembly, known as the "majority bonus", are granted to the political party that receives the most seats.

In order to stand as a candidate in an electorate, an individual would require to be either:

Officially nominated by a recognised federal political party;
Officially nominated by a recognised state political party; or
Receive 2,000 signatures from registered voters in the particular electorate.

The law defines a "federal political party" as a party that holds National Assembly seats, representing at least two states or 10% of the national popular vote. Similarly, it defines a "state political party" as a party that holds National Assembly seats in one state and no other, accounting for at least 5% of the state's popular vote in either the most recent federal or most recent state election.

The law also provides the Wiltshire National Assembly with the authority to strip political parties of their federal or state official status, provided the party has violated "core principles of democratic decency".

Term length and snap elections

The law set "the maximum length of the life of any given National Assembly" at 18 months, with a federal election considered mandatory after the natural life of the National Assembly.

Snap elections can be called by the government, with the consent of the royal commission. Additionally, snap elections may be trigged following a vote of no confidence in the National Assembly if no other candidate for the position of Prime Minister can be nominated within two working days.

Upon the natural end of the life of the National Assembly, or upon an incident as outlined under the snap election provisions, the royal commission shall formally dissolve the National Assembly. Elections must then be held on the last Friday of the next calendar month. The time between dissolution and the federal election must be used for official campaigning, during which time the incumbent government stays in post. After the federal election, the new National Assembly shall be formally summoned.

After the election, the incumbent government remains in post until either the Prime Minister is re-elected by the National Assembly, or a new Prime Minister is elected (see details below).

Election of the Speaker

Following the summoning of the National Assembly, the first order of business (NA-01) shall be the election of the Speaker of the National Assembly. The election of the Speaker must take place within the first day's business. Candidates may be given five minutes to present speeches and official manifestos may be circulated before voting. Voting shall take place, with the winning candidate requiring an absolute majority on the first ballot. If they fail to receive an absolute majority (51 votes), then a subsequent round, containing only the two most popular candidates, shall take place shortly after but within the same day's business.

In the event that there are more than 2 candidates who fit this criteria (i.e., two candidates tie), then the process shall be as follows:

In the event that two candidates tie for first place on the first ballot, then both shall proceed to the second round;
In the event that two candidates tie for second place on the first ballot, then both candidates shall proceed to the final round alongside the first place candidate. In the final round, a simple plurality is required.

In the event of a tie in the second round, then the candidate who received the most votes in the first round shall be considered elected Speaker.

The candidate elected Speaker shall be considered Speaker-elect until their position has been confirmed by the royal commission. As Speaker-elect, they shall be entitled to take the chair of the National Assembly and preside over Assembly business as per usual.

Election of the Prime Minister

Following the election of the Speaker, the Speaker-elect shall schedule a confirmation vote for the Prime Minister. The eligible individuals for Prime Minister are the official leaders of federal political parties, though they are not mandated to stand. Any other individual can be placed as a candidate for Prime Minister by a special vote and conducted on a case-by-case basis.

In order to be elected Prime Minister, the candidate with the most votes is considered elected unless an absolute majority (51) of the National Assembly votes for other candidates. In the event that no candidate is considered elected, a subsequent ballot shall be held within the same day's business. If that ballot fails, the National Assembly shall enter recess for a period of two-working days, before returning and holding subsequent ballots. No candidate shall be permitted to stand in the election for Prime Minister for more than 4 successive ballots or two business-days of voting (whichever comes first).

After each business day of voting, a two-working day recess shall be held.

Motions of no confidence

A motion of no confidence in Their Majesties's government can be called by the Leader of the Opposition or the Speaker of the National Assembly. In order to successfully mandate the resignation of the Prime Minister, a motion requires an absolute majority to vote against the incumbent. In the event that happens, the Prime Minister must resign their position. They would be considered eligible to stand again, provided they meet the above criteria. The subsequent election for Prime Minister shall then be held in the same manner as outlined above.