As announced in our March Baronial meeting, we have received a motion to change our baronial election policy. This information will be posted here on our baronial website, on Facebook, and on Discord. A barony members-only Facebook group will be created to discuss these policy changes, and there will be space at the next few barony meetings to discuss the changes as well.
Proposed change 1
Current Policy
I. The term limit for the Baronage of the Rhydderich Hael is defined as three years with an optional fourth year pending a Vote of Confidence by the voting members of the Barony, as defined in subsection c.
II. Four years will be the maximum consecutive period any person/s will hold the Baronage of the Rhydderich Hael
a. If a couple are currently acting as Baron and Baroness and one does not wish to continue for a fourth year, the other cannot call for a Vote of Confidence to continue as an individual for the fourth year. Both must step down.
III. If a sitting Baronage wishes to continue for a fourth year, the Baronage must inform the Seneschal and other officers no later than the November Barony Meeting in the second year of the reign. The Baronage must then inform the populace through the Newsletter, and other media available, of this desire.
IV. If the Baronage does not indicate the desire to continue for a fourth year by above mentioned time, it will be assumed that no desire to continue for a fourth year exists and notification of an election will be held in the manner described in Section V.
V. Once the sitting Baron/ess announces the desire to continue for a fourth year, the Seneschal will order mailing addresses (see section IV) and construct a ballot to be sent out to all eligible voters.
a. The ballot will be a simple Yes / No / Abstain construction.
b. The ballots will be sent out as soon as possible, preferably by the December Business Meeting and must be completed and returned to the Seneschal by January Barony Business meeting (Date and Time to be determined.) Ballots will be accepted up to 8:00 PM to allow for late arrivals.
c. The Seneschal, Knight Marshal and Pursuivant will open the ballots and tally them.
V.c.i. If the Knight Marshal and/or Pursuivant are not available, the Seneschal shall pick other members of the Baronial officers to assist in the tabulation. Three people are required.
d. A Vote of Confidence shall be a success if a simple majority of the returned ballots are for a continuation of the reign of the Baronage.
V.d.i. In order to avoid a second Vote of Confidence the Seneschal’s ballot will only be opened and counted if there is a tie.
e. If a simple majority of the returned ballots does not support a continuation of the reign of the Baronage then the Vote of Confidence shall be considered failed and a call for resumes for an Election Steward shall be made to start a new Baronial Election.
Proposal
I. The term limit for the Baronage of the Rhydderich Hael is defined as three years.
Proposed change 2
Current Policy
VIII.g.ii. The second part will list the candidates. Next to each candidate will be a line where the voter may put a number ranking the candidates in order of preference (the highest number being the most preferred, lowest number the least preferred).
VIII.g.ii.1. For example: if there are three candidates on the list, the voter would put a 3 next to the person(s) they would most like to see elected, a 2 next to their next favorite candidate(s) ,and a 1 next to their least favorite candidate(s).
h. All candidates on the ballot must have a number next to their name(s) for that part of the ballot to count.
i. The candidate(s) with the most overall points is declared the winner.
Proposal
VIII.g.ii. The second part will list the candidates. Next to each candidate will be a line or box where the voter may put a check mark to indicate the ONE candidate (or) candidate couple of their choice.
h.Ballots with more than on selection will be disqualified.
i. The candidate(s) with the most overall points is declared the winner.