Elections in the Maritime Republic of J Andres

[J Andres]

OOC: Elections are a little different than what is expected. Instead of casting your vote directly for a candidate, choose which issues effect you the most, and points will be assigned to candidates who have matching platforms.

I originally had six questions, not knowing the limit was three :-(

Polls are open till Thursday/Friday

IC:
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[size="4"]Your news source for [u]EVERYTHING[/u] J Andres! [size="1"]Occasionaly[/size] Published since 1981![/size][/center]

[right][i][size="5"]January 18, 2032[/size][/i][/right]

[b]ENDOR CUIDAD[/b] -- Poll workers from The North American nations of Disparu and Idaho-Montana have left the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Providence and have set up polling places across the nation. It is largely unknown how the general public will respond to the elections. Voter turnout is expected to be high.

Queen Stephanie spoke from the Adrik Annan Governmental Centre yesterday, "Never before has J Andres faced such an important election. We have never been at such a major crossroad. We are a small nation and we need to chose a direction to go in. A year and a half ago, we were in the same situation, and our President selected himself. Tomorrow, you will get to chose your president at this crucial time."

Initial Predictions are anyones guess, although, the Anchor Times has run numerous political simulators and is releasing the following probabilities.

Jim Karper, 40% chance of victory
Forrest Chafee, 30% chance of victory
Roger Ahmadinejad, 25% chance of victory
Gafar Annan, 5% chance of victory

The predictions for the Commune show no clear majority party.
Predicted outcome:
Anchor Party: 38 Seats
Nationalist Party: 23 Seats
Communist Party: 22 Seats
Social Traditionalist Party: 10 Seats
Union Party: 4 Seats
National Liberation Party: 3 Seats

Although the Social Traditionalists Split off from the Communist Party, they are likely to side with the Communists when it comes to electing a Premier. The Union Party will also likely side with the Communist Party.

The Premier must be elected by 50% of the Commune. If after three votes without reaching this result, the Monarch chooses the Premier out of the top two finishers. This will force some combination of the three top parties to form a coalition government.

Regardless of which leader the Commune selects for itself, it will be to fractured to follow only one parties platform. Who wins the Presidency will effect the leadership and dynamic of the Commune dramatically for the next four years.

Here is our platform analysis from yesterdays printing:

[b]On the major issues:[/b]

[center][img]http://www.rpadden.com/168/Gage-finalvoyage09-07-23.jpg[/img]
[i]A J Andrean Battleship stands rusted and useless at the Block Island Naval Institute[/i][/center]

[b][u]National Security & Defense[/u][/b]: [b]Ahmadinejad and the Nationalist Party[/b] support MCFEG (Military Contracts for Economic Growth). They plan on using government funds to grow jobs in defense corporations and military research. This plan to decrease unemployment will also result in a strong military force capable of defending J Andres. Ahmadinejad wants to revitalize the ancient Project Athena, and rebuild and restore Fart Farnum, as well as create five more bases. Ahmadinejad also wants to restore the naval fleet.[b]Karper and the Anchor Party[/b] plan on growing the military although not significantly. They support the restoration of Fort Farnum, and the construction of an airfield, but not to construct any further bases. “Our nation is only so big, “The Nationalists plan would bring the military so close to everyday life, we might as well start quartering soldiers.” [b]Annan and the Communist Party[/b] support expanding the military only as needed. They believe that with solid foreign relations, diplomacy can win the necessary battles, and that the J Andres troops should be highly trained, but we don’t need more. [b]Forrest Chafee[/b] supports the elimination of the J Andres “Army,” and further integration and formation of the National Guard and local police forces. He supports military training for all police officers, and although Police Officers will not be allowed to carry automatic weapons while on patrol, they will have them available at the police stations, in case of a national emergency. He believes that this will allow J Andres to adequately defend itself, and that the military will never need to be deployed. Fort Farnum will be transitioned into Fort Farnum Police Headquarters. Police Officers will adopt the uniform of the former Rhode Island State Police.


[center][img]http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090118215107/cybernations/images/0/0c/1bethesda.jpg[/img]
[i]This embassy in Bethesda Circle is vacant, as are many of the Embassies in Embassy Circle[/i][/center]

[b][u]Foreign Relations[/u][/b] : [b]Annan and the Communist party[/b] plan on a large growth in Foreign Relations. They have a goal of “having Embassy Circle full by 2040.” If elected, international tours will be popular, more treaties will be signed, and more economic agreements and opportunities will allow for J Andres Citizens to work abroad. [b]Karper and the Anchor party[/b] support growing the number of diplomatic missions, and may support treaties, but will not actively pursue any. [b]Ahmadinejad and the Nationalist party[/b] also support the growing of diplomatic missions, and support finding some defense treaty partners. [b]Chafee[/b] although favoring isolation, supports diplomatic missions, although will not pursue nor sign any treaties with nations. Chafee also plans on ending the economic agreement with Idaho-Montana that is allowing J Andres citizens to work there.


[center][img]http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20061104130214/cybernations/images/3/3a/Wheat_harvest.jpg[/img]
[i]Harvesting wheat is once again the primary occupation of J Andres citizens after the collapse of many corporations[/i][/center]

[b][u]The Economy and Unemployment[/u][/b]: J Andres economy is stagnant, and at all time lows. With the average citizen income under 30 Anchors a day, and unemployment high, it is one of the biggest hot button issues of the election. [b]Karper and the Anchor party[/b] support strong domestic growth. He will use government backed loans to get small businesses started, as well as using government funds to stimulate existing businesses and provide incentives for them to hire new workers. He also plans a number of government infrastructure projects such as building roads and schools that will put the nation to work. [b]Annan and the Communist party[/b] plan on further economic agreements with nations, like that with Idaho-Montana that will allow J Andres citizens to work abroad, or to bring foreign companies to invest in J Andres allowing their corporations to establish factories that citizens can work at. Annan believes that this flow of foreign money into J Andres is the best way to revitalize the nation. [b]Raymond Regaldi and the Social Traditionalists[/b] are not fielding a candidate for President, but do plan on using their influence in the Commune to switch J Andres into a Communist Economy. Then using government run businesses, they promise that they will provide work for every citizen at a very fair and equal wage. [b]Ahmadinejad and the Nationalists[/b] plan to use the military as the driving force behind their economic recovery, by putting citizens to work building coast guard vessels and munitions. [b]Forrest Chafee[/b] supports domestic growth, as does the Anchor party, in very similar manner. He plans on ending the Idaho-Montana agreement and using infrastructure improvements as the driving force behind the economy.

[center][img]http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090904043532/cybernations/images/8/81/Oldna.jpg[/img]
[i]An early map of North America showing J Andres controlling much of the eastern seaboard. The candidates stand on very different sides when it comes to the expansion of J Andres[/i][/center]

[b][u]Isolationism/Manifest Destiny[/u][/b]: [b]Forrest Chafee,[/b] is a strong supporter of Isolationism. He plans on turning the focus of the government inwards. This means that the J Andres borders will never change, and J Andres will meddle little in the affairs of foreign nations. [b]The Union party[/b] similarly promotes leaving the J Andres borders as they are. [b]The Communist Party & The Anchor Party[/b] both deny the existence of “Manifest Destiny” and agree that especially at this time, J Andres borders need to remain the same. [b]Ahmadinejad and the Nationalists[/b] disagree, and believe that J Andres will someday control the Eastern Coast once again, and that immediate action should be taken to try to annex the former states of Connecticut and Massachusetts. [b]Jim Karper[/b] slightly differs from his party, and believes that J Andres will someday posses Connecticut and Massachusetts, but not within the next eight years.


[center][img]http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/pls/portallive/docs/1/7293479.JPG[/img]
[i]Research out of JTech, J Andres primary technological organization has been stagnant for the nearly the past decade[/i][/center]

[b][u]Education, Research, Technological Advancement[/u][/b]: Most candidates support some sort of large influx of capital into research and education, the parties and candidates differ greatly on how to do this. [b]Forrest Chafee,[/b] believes in investing money into the nation’s universities. Although the Universities were once free to attend, the tuition fees will be waived for students conducting valuable research, and he wants to make research grants easy to obtain. Chafee also wants to place a limit on how many students can graduate each year in “non-science fields.” He believes that the sciences are very important at this time, and J Andres can’t afford to graduate English or Communication majors at this time. [b]Ahmadinejad and the Nationalists[/b] support military research controlled directly by scientists on the government payroll. They also support a shift in public school teaching away from English and towards Mathematics and Sciences. [b]Karper and the Anchor Party[/b] support research by the private sector, and plan on infusing government research funds into the hands of corporations to continue research and provide advanced products for public use. They also support a government subsidization of college tuition to make it more affordable. [b]Annan and the Communists[/b] support complete funding of college tuition to make it affordable for everyone. They believe that this creation of bright minds throughout the nation will lead to further discoveries.


[b]OOC:[/b] In regards to "rigging the elections," Disparu and Idaho-Montanta are providing poll workers and have the right to cast up to five "ballots" for a particular presidential candidate and an additional five ballots towards a specific party. These secret influence ballots will work into the final results differently than the poll above. You have the option of casting no ballots. The more ballots you cast the more influence you are putting into the election and the greater chance you have of being discovered by the other parties. "Getting Caught" will only influence your relations with J Andres and those parties. This is only in regards to our reaction to your influence. How you may react to each other is up to you.

[iamthey]

Greater Pacifica will support its ally in whatever its people decide upon.

[AironthFlamewing]

The Free and Balanced Election Commission which is responsible for handling some of the election returns for J Andres reports a heavy turn out for the Communist Party in the various polling districts which are under the jurisdiction of the UKIM Election Panel. More results will be released as they become available.

[Michael McBride]

The Empire of Pravus Ingruo would like to remind the voters of the Maritime Republic that the protectorate states of Massachusetts and Connecticut are [b]not[/b] being held in trust for them, and we expect a new, sovereign government to rise from those territories. Any military excursion by the Maritime Republic into Imperial Protectorate States will be seen as an act of war, of which to be met with the full might of the Empire.

[J Andres]

[quote name='Pravus Ingruo' timestamp='1291092429' post='2526311']
The Empire of Pravus Ingruo would like to remind the voters of the Maritime Republic that the protectorate states of Massachusetts and Connecticut are [b]not[/b] being held in trust for them, and we expect a new, sovereign government to rise from those territories. Any military excursion by the Maritime Republic into Imperial Protectorate States will be seen as an act of war, of which to be met with the full might of the Empire.
[/quote]

Any attempt to expand into Massachusetts and Connecticut would be through diplomatic channels.

[J Andres]

[center]{The Anchor Times}
{Your Source for Everything J Andres, since 1981}[/center]

[b]ENDOR CUIDAD[/b] -- As our reporters conduct their exit polling, some trends have been arising. The youth vote is not clearly as large as expected, and that is definitely hurting some candidates. Roger Ahmadinejad was the front runner last week and the elderly population seems to be supporting him. The Commune races still look close eighths three main parties splitting the vote.

Edited November 30, 2010 by J Andres

[AironthFlamewing]

Dispatch-
The "Free and Balaned Election Commission" of the UKI-M are currently reporting a large upswing of support for the Communist Party and their Candidate Mr. Annan in the J Andres General Election. Students have poured out in the hundreds of thousands from throughout the Maritime Republic to vote in the election area administered by the UKI-M. The students apparently are enchanted with Mr. Annan's plans for growing the economy through deals with powerful neighbors as well as a general warmer climate when it comes to foreign relations between J Andres and other members of the World Community. Vladimir Leninovsky, A student from J Andres' main university says "That all the students and all the people must get behind the Communist Party of J Andres,[for] without it we are doomed to be nothing more then chattel to the capitalist swine that run against our [Future] Dear Leader Gafar Annan!"


The Election Commission will continue to provide updates to the public as information becomes available.

Edited November 30, 2010 by graniteknight

[Pikachurin]

[center][IMG]http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii55/LT_imageserver/ElectionsDisparuJAndres2032.png[/IMG]

In electoral districts managed by Elections Disparu, it appears that, while certain parties are ahead of the race, it appears that there will be no clear-cut winner in this election if things continue their current course.

In certain districts, mainly those traditionally considered to be strongholds of the Nationalist Party, Ahmadinejad (N) is garnering the most support due to his MCFEG Plan. However, he is only ahead by a couple thousand votes, and can easily be surpassed by another candidate for the Presidency. In other districts, though, Forrest Chafee, as well as Karper (A) appear to be garnering massive support from the people, and are ahead the other candidates in the polls. Political commentators speculate that this might be caused by their plan to launch a stimulus program for the J Andrean economy, which will certainly help the common man. Furthermore, in certain districts, there appear to be increasing support for Ahmadinejad (N) and Karper (A) due to their platform to expand J Andres's borders sometime in the future. Such a prospect appears unlikely at the moment, however, as the lands directly adjacent to J Andres are under the protection of Pravus Ingruo.

Stay tuned as Elections Disparu continues to monitor the fourth Maritime Republic's first elections.[/center]

[J Andres]

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[size="4"]Your news source for [u]EVERYTHING[/u] J Andres! [size="1"]Occasionally[/size] Published since 1981![/size][/center]

[right][i][size="5"]January 18, 2032[/size][/i][/right]

[size="5"]Election Process "Smooth" say Voters[/size]

[b]ENDOR CUIDAD[/b] -- Many voters have expressed that they felt that the election was handled well through the foreign agencies of Disparu and Idaho-Montana. General voter consensus has shown that most voters support the foreign agencies, and wish to see them again in the future. Gafar Annan (COM) spoke briefly with [i]The Anchor Times[/i] after casting his own ballot, "I believe it is agreements such as this one, that strengthen our nation. These foreign individuals are doing a terrific job, and this is something I wish to continue." Similar statements were received also by Jim Karper (ANC) and Roger Ahmadinejad (NAT).

Only one candidate spoke out against the election committees. Forrest Chafee spoke from his home in Warwick, just before sunset, "These 'unbiased' foreign nations are only trying to influence us! When I am elected as the seventh President of J Andres, I will put an end to these election committees. I am not against cutting ties with foreign nations, but I don't plan on having them handle something as crucial as elections!"

As we head into the final hours of the election, the exit polling has become more complicated. Although the elderly vote was out in full force this morning, it seems the college students had just not awoken yet. As predicted, the college students did come out in full force, many of whom supported Forrest Chafee or Gafar Annan. Poll numbers are tight, and we are holding any predictions until polls close later this evening. It will be interesting to see if now it is the middle-aged, who come out to the polls in large numbers, after getting out of work earlier this afternoon. It looks like the elections will go down to the wire.

[J Andres]

[center][IMG]http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o29/forestfufighting/ddaletterhead2.png[/IMG]
[b][i]From the desk of Minister Brian Wilfork[/i][/b][/center]

The polls will be closing in just a few hours. All J Andres citizens who have not taken the time to vote should make their way to the polls soon. The Election Committee's of Disparu and Idaho-Montana have done a terrific job maintaining order and assisting in the democratic process so far. Citizens should not take the time to help determine the direction of the nation now. Indications from exit polls show many races close, you're vote does count!

[i]Brian Wilfork[/i]
Minister of Domestic Affairs

Edited December 2, 2010 by J Andres

[J Andres]

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[size="4"]Your news source for [u]EVERYTHING[/u] J Andres! [size="1"]Occasionally[/size] Published since 1981![/size][/center]

[right][i][size="5"]January 19, 2032[/size][/i][/right]

[b]ENDOR CUIDAD[/b] – After a long night of counting, the first election of the fourth Maritime Republic of J Andres has drawn to a close.

The youth vote came out in large numbers, as originally expected. This proved for a strong night for the Communists, as well as for Independent Forrest Chafee. In the end, it seems that the nation favors strengthening the military equally with progressing forward with research.

[center][img] http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20071121002406/cybernations/images/0/08/Ahmadinejad.jpg[/img]
[i]Roger Ahmadinedad, shown here addressing the troops during the Macacan Conflict in 1995, is now 69 and is the seventh President of J Andres.[/i][/center]

[url="http://cybernations.wikia.com/wiki/J_Andres_Presidential_Election,_2032"]ELECTION RESULTS: PRESIDENT OF J ANDRES[/url]
[b]ROGER AHMADINEJAD (NAT) 31%[/b]
FORREST CHAFEE (IND) 27%
GAFAR ANNAN (COM) 26%
JIM KARPER (ANC) 16%

Roger Ahmadinejad took the election by a fair margin. Chafee and Annan were the real surprises of this election. Chafee was expected to finish near the bottom of polling, and Annan was expected to finish third, after Jim Karper. The public expressed their distaste for Karper’s plan of investing tax dollars into J Andres corporations. This led to a large amount of traditional Anchor Party votes going into Communist and Independent columns. Annan and Chafee were drawing from the same source of voters, and can attribute their losses tonight to splitting the vote.

[center]Removed
[i]Dimitri Egorov, pictured here, will serve as the Premier of the J Andres Commune after his Communist Party won 72 seats, and put together a Coalition of Communists Social Traditionalists, Union Party Members.[/i][/center]

[url="http://cybernations.wikia.com/wiki/J_Andres_Commune_Elections,_2032"]ELECTION RESULTS: J ANDRES COMMUNE[/url]
[b]Communist Party: 72 Seats (37%)[/b]
Nationalist Party: 51 Seats (26%)
Anchor Party: 40 Seats (20%)
Social Traditionalists: 23 Seats (12%)
Union Party: 8 Seats (4%)
National Liberation Party: 3 Seats (2%)


The Communist Party suffered in the Presidential Elections due to splitting the vote with Forrest Chafee. They did not suffer the same fate in the Commune Elections. The Communist Party picked up 72 seats of their own, and then added 23 seats of the Social Traditionalists who agreed to caucus with them. The Union Party seems willing to join up with the Left leading Coalition to form a Coalition Government in the Commune that will elect Dimitri Egorov (COM) as their leader.

Ooc: Inauguration and the like to follow later back in “A Queen’s Struggle”

Edited January 28, 2011 by admin
Removed hotlink image