View source for March 2022 Local Council election

{{Infobox election
| election_name     = March 2022 Local Council election
| country           = [[The South Pacific]]
| flag_year         = 
| flag_image        = File:The flag of The South Pacific.png
| type              = legislative
| seats_for_election= All 3 seats on the [[Local Council]]
| vote_type         = Popular
| previous_election = November 2021 Local Council election
| previous_year     = November 2021
| election_date     = 1‒24 March 2022
| elected_members   = 
| next_election     = July 2022 Local Council election
| next_year         = July 2022
| opinion_polls     = 
| registered        = 1120 regional WA members (1st)<br>1120 regional WA members (2nd)<br>1119 regional WA members (Re-Opened)
| turnout           = 10.09% (1st)<br>9.55% (2nd)<br>9.74% (Re-Opened)

| image1            = File:Evinea_248398.png
| image1_upright    = 0.3
| colour1           = {{TSP Election/meta/party|Independent}}
| candidate1        = [[Evinea]]
| party1            = Independent
| popular_vote1     = 50
| percentage1       = 44.25%

| image2            = File:Canadian_dominion_213351.png
| image2_upright    = 0.3
| colour2           = {{TSP Election/meta/party|Independent}}
| candidate2        = [[Canadian Dominion]]
| party2            = Independent
| popular_vote2     = 37
| percentage2       = 33.94%

| image3            = File:Drystar_582231.jpg
| image3_upright    = 0.3
| colour3           = {{TSP Election/meta/party|Independent}}
| candidate3        = [[Drystar]]
| party3            = Independent
| popular_vote3     = 35
| percentage3       = 32.11%

| title             = Local Council
| before_election   = [[Canadian Dominion]]<br>[[Drystar]]<br>[[Apatosaurus]]
| after_election    = [[Canadian Dominion]]<br>[[Drystar]]<br>[[Evinea]]
}}

The '''March 2022 Local Council election''' was an on-site election held in [[the South Pacific]] from 1‒24 March 2022 to elect a new [[Local Council]]. This was the first election after a change to the Local Council Elections Act to streamline the election process went into effect, which among other things established a minimum residency requirement of 120 days to run for LC. Subsequently, the number of candidates dropped sharply to 4 (from a record high of 19 in the [[November 2021 Local Council election]], of which [[Evinea]] came out on top in the first round. In the second round, the Re-Open Nominations option won the most votes, and the election reverted to the nominations phase for the two open seats accordingly;<ref name="ec-announcement-original">EC Kris Kringle (1 Mar '22, edited 14 Mar '22): [https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1667721 March 2022 Local Council Election]. ''NationStates''. Retrieved 18 Nov '22.</ref> this time, 7 candidates stood, with incumbents Canadian Dominion (who had to run under an alias nation in the original election due to aforesaid residency requirement) and Drystar easily winning re-election.<ref name="ec-announcement-roned">EC Kris Kringle (15 Mar '22, edited 24 Mar '22): [https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1675450 March 2022 Local Council Election (Re-Opened)]. ''NationStates''. Retrieved 18 Nov '22.</ref>

== Background ==

Local Council elections are scheduled regularly in [[the South Pacific]], with all three seats up for election every March, July, and November.

Right before the start of the election, an extensive amendment to the Local Council Elections Act proposed to the Local Council by [[Kris Kringle]] was adopted after public approval had been attained.<ref>Canadian Dominion (26 Feb '22): [https://www.nationstates.net/page=poll/p=183008 Local Council Elections Act (LCEA) Amendment of 2022]. ''NationStates''. Retrieved 1 Mar '22.</ref><ref>Kringalia (25 Feb '22): [https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1665925 Local Council Elections Act Amendment of 2022] ''NationStates''. Retrieved 1 Mar '22.</ref> The changes made included fixing the start of the election to the first of the respective month; previously, the sitting Local Council was free to call the election at their pleasure, provided the start of the election period fell into one of the stated months. Furthermore, after the grotesquely stretched-out [[November 2021 Local Council election]], a new process for reducing the field of candidates to 11 was introduced: In addition to a requirement of 120 days of residency to be included on the ballot, only the eleven longest-residing candidates would ultimately be allowed to stand.

== Electoral System ==

The Local Council Elections Act stipulates that two rounds of [[wikipedia:Plurality voting|plurality voting]] will be held to determine the three winners; voters cast their single vote in each for their most-preferred candidate. In the first round, the candidate with the most votes wins a seat ([[wikipedia:First-past-the-post voting|First-Past-The-Post]]), and all other candidates move on to a second round under the same rules, with the top-two candidates winning the final seats. Due to NationStates poll restrictions, a single poll can only allow for 11 candidates and the ''Re-Open Nominations'' option at a time, so should there be more than 11 candidates running, the field is automatically reduced by disqualifying the candidate with the lowest residency score until only 11 candidates remain in the race.<ref name="lcea">The TSP Local Council (1 Jun '20, updated 4 Apr '22): [https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1381893 Local Council Elections Act]. ''NationStates''. Retrieved 18 Nov '22.</ref>

The election would start with a three-day candidacy declarations period (during which candidates may already campaign), followed by a campaigning-only period of another three days, after which the polls would open. Each poll would last three days, with a day of downtime in between.<ref name="ec-announcement-original" /> The re-opened election proceeded likewise, but only consisting of a single two-winner poll.<ref name="ec-announcement-roned" />

== Original Election ==

The original election took place from 1‒14 March 2022 and ended in a decision to re-open nominations by the electorate.

=== Candidates ===

Resulting from an accidental relocation of their nation a few weeks prior, incumbent [[Apatosaurus]] was ineligible to run in the election following the amendment to the Local Council Elections Act which established a minimum residency requirement of 120 days (ironically meaning that they themselves had ratified their own exclusion by approving the amendment);<ref>Apatosaurus (1 Mar '22): [https://www.nationstates.net/page=rmb/postid=46712632 RMB post]. ''NationStates''. Retrieved 3 Mar '22.</ref> their colleague [[Canadian Dominion]] had to run under their puppet ''New Ontario Dominion'' for the same reason as they had lost their nation password and hadn't yet reached 120 days of residency on their new main nation.<ref>Evinea (2 Mar '22): [https://www.nationstates.net/page=rmb/postid=46716594 RMB post]. ''NationStates''. Retrieved 3 Mar '22.</ref> [[Drystar]], the third incumbent, chose not to run for re-election.

Four candidates were officially acknowledged by the Election Commissioner and appeared on the ballot. [[Drew Durrnil]] was originally disqualified due to failing to submit a Conflict of Interest disclosure before the end of the nominations period ‒ as required by the Local Council Elections Act ‒ but was re-instated after it was made clear that their CoI disclosure from the [[November 2021 Local Council election|last election]], which technically complies with all criteria set forth in the new LCEA too, was still up to date and the one they would like to use.

{{TSP Election/campaign
| declared = 4
| on_ballot = 4
|
{{TSP Election/campaign/candidate | incumbent
| name = [[Canadian Dominion]]
| running_as = New Ontario Dominion
| flag = File:New_ontario_dominion_813975.png
| party = Independent
| primary_office = [[Local Council | Local Councilor]] of the South Pacific
| assumed_primary = November 2021
| other_offices = 
| campaign = Campaign for NOD (New Ontario)<ref name="campaign-nod">New Ontario Dominion (2 Mar '22): [https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1668085 COI/Campaign for NOD (New Ontario)]. ''NationStates''. Retrieved 3 Mar '22.</ref>
}}
{{TSP Election/campaign/candidate
| name = [[Drew Durrnil]]
| flag = File:Drew_durrnil_692850.png
| party = Independent
| primary_office = [[Legislators of the South Pacific | Legislator]]
| assumed_primary = October 2021
| other_offices = 
| campaign = 
}}
{{TSP Election/campaign/candidate
| name = [[Evinea]]
| flag = File:Evinea_248398.png
| party = Independent
| primary_office = [[Legislators of the South Pacific | Legislator]]
| assumed_primary = December 2021
| other_offices = Editor for the [[Ministry of Media]]
| campaign = Evinea For Local Council<ref name="campaign-evinea">Evinea (5 Nov '21, edited 1 Mar '22): [https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1616369 Evinea For Local Council]. ''NationStates''. Retrieved 1 Mar '22.</ref>
}}
{{TSP Election/campaign/candidate
| name = [[Purple Hyacinth]]
| flag = File:Purple_hyacinth_804856.png
| party = Independent
| primary_office = [[Legislators of the South Pacific | Legislator]]
| assumed_primary = November 2021
| other_offices = Advisor to the [[Minister of Foreign Affairs]]<br>Senior Staff in the [[Ministry of Culture]]<br>Senior Staff in the [[Ministry of Engagement]]<br>Senior Staff in the [[Ministry of Media]]<br>[[Office of World Assembly Legislation|OWL]] Senior Staff
| campaign = 
}}
}}

Canadian Dominion's campaign consisted mostly of answers to questions they were asked on the RMB, but also included two main goals, namely relaxation of the double-post prohibition and creation of a strike system to "get rid of trolls faster and more efficiently", among a short list of their background experience for the job, particularly the administration of the TSP Ice Hockey Federation RP and consistent activity as incumbent Local Councilor.<ref name="campaign-nod" />

Evinea pitched their ideas together with an extensive list of past and current government and roleplay involvement (including SWAN awards, service in the [[Ministry of Engagement | MoE]] and the [[South Pacific Special Forces | Tidal Force]], and membership in several roleplay alliances) to back up their plans, which, besides mainstream promises such as effective rule enforcement, maintaining a good RMB atmosphere, and intra-LC cooperation, featured increased transparency, expansion of the LC Deputy Council programme, and cooperation with and recruitment for the off-site government.<ref name="campaign-evinea" />

=== Results ===

The results of the first round were certified on 10 March 2022..<ref name="ec-announcement-original" />

{{TSP Election/result
| title = First Round
| type = FPTP
| ballots = 113
| turnout = 10.09
| ron_votes = 29
| invalid = 0
|
{{TSP Election/result/candidate | win
| name = Evinea
| party = Independent
| votes = 50
| percentage = 44.25
}}
{{TSP Election/result/candidate
| name = Purple Hyacinth
| party = Independent
| votes = 15
| percentage = 13.27
}}
{{TSP Election/result/candidate
| name = New Ontario Dominion
| party = Independent
| votes = 10
| percentage = 8.85
}}
{{TSP Election/result/candidate
| name = Drew Durrnil
| party = Independent
| votes = 9
| percentage = 7.96
}}
}}

The second round results were certified on 14 March.<ref name="ec-announcement-original" />

{{TSP Election/result
| title = First Round
| type = FPTP
| ballots = 107
| turnout = 9.55
| ron_votes = 61
| ron_opt = win
| invalid = 0
|
{{TSP Election/result/candidate | lose
| name = Purple Hyacinth
| party = Independent
| votes = 21
| percentage = 19.63
}}
{{TSP Election/result/candidate | lose | incumbent
| name = New Ontario Dominion
| party = Independent
| votes = 17
| percentage = 15.89
}}
{{TSP Election/result/candidate | lose
| name = Drew Durrnil
| party = Independent
| votes = 8
| percentage = 7.48
}}
}}

As such, Evinea was elected to the Local Council, while the election of the remaining two seats was restarted, beginning the following day.

== Re-Opened ==

From 15‒24 March 2022, the re-run of the election took place.

=== Candidates ===

This time, eight candidates put forward their names, with one disqualified for failing to post a Conflicts of Interest disclosure before the deadline. Canadian Dominion was able to run under their main nation again, as it had reached the required residency score; their fellow incumbent Drystar ‒ who decided not to stand in the original run ‒ also accepted a nomination.

{{TSP Election/campaign
| declared = 8
| on_ballot = 7
|
{{TSP Election/campaign/candidate | incumbent
| name = [[Canadian Dominion]]
| flag = File:Canadian_dominion_213351.png
| party = Independent
| primary_office = [[Local Council | Local Councilor]] of the South Pacific
| assumed_primary = November 2021
| other_offices = 
| campaign = Canadian Dominion (NDC) for LC<ref>Canadian Dominion (12 Nov '21): [https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1619781 Canadian Dominion (NDC) for LC]. ''NationStates''. Retrieved 10 Feb '22.</ref>
}}
{{TSP Election/campaign/candidate | incumbent
| name = [[Drystar]]
| flag = File:Drystar_582231.jpg
| party = Independent
| primary_office = [[Local Council | Local Councilor]] of the South Pacific
| assumed_primary = November 2021
| other_offices = 
| campaign = Third times a charm, or Drystar strikes back<ref name="campaign-drystar">Drystar (5 Nov '21, edited 7 Nov '21): [https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1616542 Third times a charm, or Drystar strikes back]. ''NationStates''. Retrieved 18 Nov '22.</ref>
}}
{{TSP Election/campaign/candidate
| name = [[Hanguk-Nippon]]
| flag = File:Hanguk-nippon_544568.png
| party = Independent
| primary_office = Citizen of the South Pacific
| assumed_primary = April 2018
| other_offices = 
| campaign = A Look Back<ref name="campaign-hn">Hanguk-Nippon (16 Mar '22, edited 18 Mar '22): [https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1675806 HN for Local Council! {{!}} A Look Back]. ''NationStates''. Retrieved 18 Nov '22.</ref>
}}
{{TSP Election/campaign/candidate
| name = [[Indronesia]]
| flag = File:Indronesia_33258.png
| party = Independent
| primary_office = Citizen of the South Pacific
| assumed_primary = October 2021
| other_offices = 
| campaign = Campaign<ref name="campaign-indronesia">Indronesia (20 Mar '22, edited 23 Mar '22): [https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1677970 Campaign]. ''NationStates''. Retrieved 18 Nov '22.</ref>
}}
{{TSP Election/campaign/candidate | disqualified
| name = [[Confederate Mexico]]
| flag = File:Flag of El Salvador.svg
| party = Independent
| primary_office = Citizen of the South Pacific
| assumed_primary = October 2021
| other_offices = 
| campaign = 
}}
{{TSP Election/campaign/candidate
| name = [[Purple Hyacinth]]
| flag = File:Purple_hyacinth_804856.png
| party = Independent
| primary_office = [[Legislators of the South Pacific | Legislator]]
| assumed_primary = November 2021
| other_offices = Advisor to the [[Minister of Foreign Affairs]]<br>Senior Staff in the [[Ministry of Culture]]<br>Senior Staff in the [[Ministry of Engagement]]<br>Senior Staff in the [[Ministry of Media]]<br>[[Office of World Assembly Legislation|OWL]] Senior Staff
| campaign = 
}}
{{TSP Election/campaign/candidate
| name = [[Somurias]]
| flag = File:Somurias_638913.png
| party = Independent
| primary_office = Citizen of the South Pacific
| assumed_primary = June 2021
| other_offices = 
| campaign = SOMURIAS4LC<ref name="campaign-somurias">Somurias (8 Sep '21, edited 15 Mar '22): [https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1589530 SOMURIAS4LC]. ''NationStates''. Retrieved 18 Nov '22.</ref>
}}
{{TSP Election/campaign/candidate
| name = [[Trivalve]]
| flag = File:Trivalve_885811.png
| party = Independent
| primary_office = Citizen of the South Pacific
| assumed_primary = June 2021
| other_offices = 
| campaign = Trivalve for LC<ref name="campaign-trivalve">Trivalve (8 Sep '21, edited 12 Jun '22): [https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1589546 Trivalve for LC]. ''NationStates''. Retrieved 18 Nov '22.</ref>
}}
}}

Canadian Dominion campaigned on the same platform as in the original run of the election.<ref name="campaign-cd" />

Drystar too re-used a campaign, namely his [[November 2021 Local Council election | November]] one, which he amended to present two general ideas for the coming term ‒ making an official position for RMB greeters, and short story events for nations to post narratives from their citizens' lives ‒ while pointing out his extensive experience on the RMB over the years, both as simple poster and Local Councilor.<ref name="campaign-drystar" />

Hanguk-Nippon themselves summed up their campaign as "tidiness and awareness", pledging to reintroduce lighthearted RMB games, hold a ''choose-your-own-adventure'' poll series, and community education about (RP) spam awareness while relying on their several years and one former LC term for experience.<ref name="campaign-hn" />

Indronesia presented themselves as "an option for the excluded countries in this TSP", approaching the election from an almost-RP standpoint of promising not to force other countries to be liberal and opposing the "oligarchs of the big countries in TSP", but also mentioned being from an eastern country as an advantage for their would-be moderation, since most other candidates were from America or Europe.<ref name="campaign-indronesia" />

Somurias uniquely claimed that they wanted to make the RMB "as loud, liberty, and free" as others and advertised their Asian residence similarly to Indronesia; specific policies included removing the one-word post prohibition (then-Rule 13) and regularly holding fun polls.<ref name="campaign-somurias" />

Trivalve's campaign focused on two main goals ‒ supporting RMB roleplay and decisive action against rulebreakers ‒ while citing quotes from fellow RMBers lauding them for experience, activity, and trustworthiness backing; furthermore, they mentioned the ''Regional Development Program'' they'd been running as further evidence of their involvement.<ref name="campaign-trivalve" />

=== Results ===

The results were certified on 24 March 2022..<ref name="ec-announcement-roned" />

{{TSP Election/result
| title = Re-Opened Second Round
| type = FPTP
| ballots = 109
| turnout = 9.74
| ron_votes = 6
| invalid = 0
|
{{TSP Election/result/candidate | win | incumbent
| name = Canadian Dominion
| party = Independent
| votes = 37
| percentage = 33.94
}}
{{TSP Election/result/candidate | win | incumbent
| name = Drystar
| party = Independent
| votes = 35
| percentage = 32.11
}}
{{TSP Election/result/candidate | lose
| name = Somurias
| party = Independent
| votes = 13
| percentage = 11.93
}}
{{TSP Election/result/candidate | lose
| name = Purple Hyacinth
| party = Independent
| votes = 8
| percentage = 7.34
}}
{{TSP Election/result/candidate | lose
| name = Hanguk-Nippon
| party = Independent
| votes = 4
| percentage = 3.67
}}
{{TSP Election/result/candidate | lose
| name = Trivalve
| party = Independent
| votes = 4
| percentage = 3.67
}}
{{TSP Election/result/candidate | lose
| name = Indronesia
| party = Independent
| votes = 2
| percentage = 1.83
}}
}}

Accordingly, Canadian Dominion and Drystar were re-elected to serve a four-month term on the Local Council alongside Evinea, the sole victor of the original election run.

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:Elections|Local Council 2022/03]]