[OPINION] The crux of the matter: on the secret ballot

"It's a theft most foul indeed"

Carlüs Xheráltsëfiglheu writes  —  There are many points as to why someone might support the secret ballot. Some will argue that it is an issue of democracy, that a truly democratic state will have a secret ballot which does not grant such a benefit to the incumbent party. Others argue that a public ballot is the enemy of privacy, and that one’s vote should fall into the parameter of the private rather than the public sphere.

It should come as no surprise to active Talossan citizens that I’m an advocate of a secret ballot, but it’s the latter group into which I fall predominantly. Voting is, more often than not, a matter of conscience. It’s a question which asks “who is it you’re endorsing?” or even “who do you prefer, A or B?” In much larger countries this mightn’t be so much of an issue (though it’s open to abuse in so many other ways), but in Talossa what we have is a much smaller community where one’s actions can affect people in a far more direct manner. If person A and person B are both person C’s friends, it’s a regrettable decision that person C is required to make, and one that person C will inevitably, if only subconsciously at least, be judged. You might argue that this issue is solved through electing parties instead, except that it isn’t. If anything it makes things much worse for person C, who’ll have to choose between groups of friends instead.

Moreover, no citizen should have to justify their vote. It isn’t your average Talossan Jane and Joe’s place to be accountable for the actions of the party which they’ve elected. In fact, that would unequivocally defeat the object of elections, when one may as well be accountable and have some legislative clout by operating under a system of direct democracy, as do many of Talossa’s provinces. I’m not about to agitate for direct democracy in Talossa though, because Talossa’s politicians do have their uses. It should be Talossa’s politicians who attempt to justify attracting citizens’ votes and certainly not the other way around. To have to stand up and be counted as a supporter of the government or an opponent is no small thing, and above all else it immediately labels the voter.

The crux of the matter is this: whose business is it which way a citizen voted? It’s nothing to do with the parties – they aren’t sovereign in Talossa. Is it the business of King John, our Judges, or any officer of the state? No, it is the business of the individual that cast the vote and their business alone, for every individual is sovereign in their right to privacy, and a public ballot robs voters of this. It’s a theft most foul indeed.

New Athletics Director for UTal

ABBAVILLA — Though still waiting for its new coat of arms, the University of Talossa has appointed a director to oversee the institution's athletics program.

The University's Regent, Istefan Pertgonest, today named M:sr Edo Grischun to the post. Little is known of M:sr Grischun's plans for the post, however expectations are high, given his exemplary contribution to Talossan society in other fields. 


The Distain, Lord Hooligan said in a statement: "I am sure Eðo will do a great job in this post, and see to it that our University's undefeated record in intercollegiate athletics continues."

Arise, Fiôvâ!

FIOVA — A Constituent Assemby for the gestating Provinçù Liveradâ da Fiôvâ has burst into life, with Provisional Chair Miestrâ Schivâ beginning proceedings with a roll-call.

The primary duty of the assembly will be to create a constitution for the government of the province. This is necessary, because the Organic Law mandates that any prospective province must have a functioning constitution. Schivâ declared that the assembly would additionally "do all the other things necessary under the OrgLaw to formally constitute ourselves as the Eighth Province."

The draft constitution proposed by D:nâ Schivâ mandates that all elections in the province shall be conducted by secret ballot, that the executive power is held by an officer called the Capitán, the legislative power by a General Assembly of all citizens, and the judicial power by a Landsdoom. Under this constitution Fiôvâ would be the only province utilising the secret ballot for elections. Miestrâ Schivâ, as leader of the ZRT is of course a strong proponent of political privacy, and hopes that elections in Fiôvâ could serve as a model for how secret-ballot elections could be conducted in the Kingdom at-large.

Fiôva province will be formed from a part of the extreme south of Maritiimi-Maxhéstic, bordering M-M to the east and Maricopa to the north.

Clearing out the Uppermost Cort

WITTENBERG — Bills have been proposed to remove Justices Siervicül, Castiglha and Buchholtz from the bench of the Uppermost Cort. The CSPP legislators Owen Edwards and Éovart Grischun have brought forward these three separate proposals in order to solve a long-standing roadblock to the efficient functioning of the Talossan state.

With ancient cases such as Government v. Chancery yet to receive a ruling, and no responses from the incumbent justices, it is no surprise that some people want the situation to change. A solution to this was attempted with the creation of the Magistracy and the Clerk of the Courts. However, it is by now clear that a wholesale replacement of the members of the highest court in the land is the most sensible course of action.

The likely candidates to replace the dormant justices have been named in another proposed piece of legislation: The Time-Travelling Judicial Nomination Act. The nominees are as follows: Sir Tamorán dal Navâ, former Seneschal, Talossan since 1997 and someone who has previously held judicial office in the Republic; Admiral T. M. Asmourescu, currently the Attorney General and a Magistrate; and Ián Tamorán, a prominent legislator, translator, and master of wordplay.

The procedure for the nomination, in accordance with the Organic Law is specified in this single act, as follows:

These prospective nominations become actual nominations in this manner: when one vacancy is created in the Uppermost Cort, Sir Tamorán dal Nava's nomination is understood to become active; when a second vacancy is created in the Uppermost Cort, Admiral T. Asmourescu's nomination is understood to become active; and when a third vacancy is created in the Uppermost Cort, Ián Tamorán's nomination is understood to become active. If one of these nominations is individually vetoed by the King, then the vacancy is filled by the nominee below him in the ranked list. 

These nominations, if passed, will not be binding on any future removals or resignations from the Bench, in the event that all three sitting Justices are not removed and replaced during the May Clark of 2012.

The plans appear to have the support of the Talossan people, who are frustrated at the lack of efficient justice. As another measure in the overhaul of the courts, Owen Edwards, along with former Scribe Martì Prevuost have been nominated to the Magistracy of the Kingdom of Talossa.

A renaissance! Mormoglhen rebooting soon.

E. D. Ursüm, The chairman of Intrapriças Mormoglhen, today announced the return to activity of the long-dormant news blog Mormoglhen. Inspired by the recent 'reunision' of Talossa, and the ensuing publishing boom, it was felt that more journalistic balance and variety was needed as we head into a new and unpredictable phase of Talossan history. Ursüm announced: "Expect more opinion pieces, and a lot more articles."