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Bill: Proposed Electoral District Act

Tonga1

New member
Parliament Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2024
Messages
4
Author: Raymond West
Sponsor: MP Tomasi Latutupou
Type: Act of Parliament


A
BILL
TO

Establish Electoral District Constituencies

Preamble: to introduce regional representation to the residents of Azalea Isles, and to create a commission that will independently support the development of constituencies.

1. Establishment of Elections Azalea Commission
(a) The Elections Azalea Commission, also known as Elections Azalea, shall be an independent, non-partisan commission responsible for the allocation of seats and organization of electoral district constituencies. Elections Azalea will not be responsible for holding the election itself, but is only for deciding the areas in which seats will be allocated.
(b) Elections Azalea shall be granted the power to:
(i) Determine constituencies according to the population distribution, demographic data, and any legally established districting guidelines.
(ii) Oversee regular reviews and adjustments to boundaries to reflect population shifts.
(iii) Ensure transparency, publish reports on proposed and confirmed boundary adjustments, and hold public hearings on proposed changes when necessary.
(c) Elections Azalea shall consist of 1-5 members in its commission. Commission members are appointed by a majority vote of Parliament, and set to serve four-month terms.
(i) Commission members are to be provided a $2000 stipend upon the completion of their four-month term for their work.
(ii) Commission members may not be a member of any political party nor may be a candidate in an election during the time of their employment with Elections Azalea.
(iii) Commission members can be removed from Parliament with two-thirds majority support.

2. Electoral Districts
(a) Electoral Districts and Constituencies shall hold the same definition: an area of land in which its residents vote. These constituencies are to be established across Azalea Isles in which seats are allocated to.
(b) Boundaries and seat allocation for each constituency shall be determined by Elections Azalea based on the following criteria:
(i) Population: Constituencies shall have relatively equal populations, with adjustments made for areas with unique geographic or demographic considerations.
(ii) Geographic Integrity: Constituency boundaries should follow natural borders or significant geographic features where possible to preserve community cohesion.
(iii) Community of Interest: Constituencies should respect community ties and socio-economic interests, limiting the division of cultural communities.
(c) Voters in each constituency shall be entitled to the same number of votes equivalent to the number of seats contested in such an area. For example, if ‘Constituency A’ has 3 seats representing it, then anyone voting in that constituency will be entitled to 3 votes.
(d) Elections Azalea shall determine the boundaries and allocation of seats at least two weeks prior to the election, based on the provisions outlined in Section 3 of this Act.

3. Procedures for Adjustments
(a) Boundary reviews and changes in seat allocation shall include the following steps to ensure transparency and public input:
(i) Preliminary Proposal: Elections Azalea shall draft proposed boundaries and provide a detailed explanation of the adjustments based on demographic, geographic, and community data.
(ii) Public Consultation: The Commission shall hold at least one public hearings inviting community input on the proposed boundaries.
(iii) Final Determination: After reviewing public feedback, Elections Azalea shall issue a final map of constituency boundaries and submit a comprehensive report to Parliament for record-keeping purposes.
(b) It may also be necessary for Elections Azalea to collaborate with the election manager ahead of time to ensure that matters are coordinated properly.

4. Qualification of Voters
(a) In order to vote in a constituency, an individual must own or rent a property within such boundaries, classifying them as a “Resident.” This may include, but is not limited to, owning a plot or renting an apartment within the area of the constituency.
(b) If a person holds property within two different constituencies, then they will only be entitled to vote in one of them. The person may choose which constituency they are a “Resident” of accordingly.
(i) Any person who votes in more than one constituency during a general election shall be guilty of electoral fraud, false voting, or any equivalent within the Criminal Code.

5. Registration of Voters
(a) Elections Azalea will collaborate with the Ministry of Social Services and the election manager in order to retain a record of registered voters with their according property.
(b) Registration processes may be set up and modified by the election manager, however they must remain simple and easy to complete.
(c) Any resident of a constituency may vote without registering, however if they own or rent property within more than one constituency then they are required to register in order to declare which area they officially live within.

6. Terminology Appendix
(a) “Constituency” - the electoral district in which seats are allocated towards. These districts may be electing one or more Members of Parliament to represent them.
(b) “Resident” - someone who rents or owns property within the specified area, or has declared themselves a resident of one area if they retain property within multiple.
(d) “Election manager” - the body or person in charge of running the election itself.

Enactment: This Act comes into force immediately upon passage.
 
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