NationStates

Push Polling

Validity: Must have elections, public protest, and at least some political freedom.

Description
In the aftermath of a recent close election, your government has received a litany of complaints concerning the activities of "Bikers for @@LEADER@@"- a grassroots organization whose intense mass demonstrations in front of voting locations and harassment of opposition voters allegedly swung the election in your favor.

Option 1
"We're just tryin' ta' help, is all," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, the head of the organization, placing a friendly arm around your shoulder and pinning one of your own party's buttons to your chest. "Maybe we swung the election a bit. Who knows? We're just exercisin' our right ta' express ourselves politically like any folks can do, and you should be supporting that. Otherwise, I can't guarantee ma boys an' I will keep bein' so friendly in the future."

Effect: the mob vote is a crucial electoral demographic

Option 2
"You're to blame for this!" accuses a junior aide who's clearly trying to get himself fired. "My grandmother and her friends were going to vote against you, and they couldn't even get in because of these goons that you directly benefited from! If you want to show people you're anything but a corrupt wannabe autocrat, you'll ban all political demonstrations anywhere near voting centers and beef up security. It's the only way to keep our elections fair."

Effect: police officers intimidate voters into not trying to intimidate voters
Alternate: poll workers complaining about unfair wages are arrested

Option 3
"Can't we all just get along?" asks your Director of Managerial Oversight, hanging an empty suit on your coat rack. "How about we set up special cordoned-off areas some distance away from voting locations specifically for these demonstrations? It'll appease the more enthusiastic political types while alleviating any concerns about them interfering in the electoral process. Would you like a glass of water?"

Effect: the nation's democracy attracts huddled masses yearning to breathe free

Option 4
"Such a nasty person. So nasty," rambles Minister of Electioneering Edward Rump, who somehow won "Minister of the Year" despite losing the popular vote. "People say it's nasty- very many people, you're hearing, they're calling it everywhere. And we need to call- they give us a call, and they vote. And the vote won't be nasty, because it's fair, and we're calling it. Bigtopia's building a call center. They're competing with us- the voters call and not the nasty people and it'll be so fair. So fair."

Effect: the "I don't want what you're selling" Party recently won a few seats in Parliament

Cretox State wrote:We're just tryin' ta help, is all

Cretox State wrote:anyone can do

Cretox State wrote:You're to blame for this!" accuses a junior aide who's clearly trying to get himself fired. "My grandmother couldn't get in to vote because of these goons that you directly benefited from!

Cretox State wrote:"Bigtopia's building a call center. They're competing with us," rambles Minister of Electioneering Edward Rump, who somehow won "Minister of the Year" despite losing the popular vote. "But we need the calls. People want to vote, they call us. They call us, we'll call it an election. The voting places, the nasty areas- very nasty, they need to be called out. We'll close them. People call to vote- it'll be the fairest election. It'll be so fair and so great, people will get tired of how fair it is. So great."

Candlewhisper Archive wrote:Hey, this is really good. Carry on!

Golgothastan wrote:The effect for option 2 seems weak. I get you're trying to engineer an "unexpected consequence" outcome, but I don't think poll workers actually would demonstrate on election day like that. How about ... "intimidating security officers crowd polling stations in an effort to prevent voter intimidation"? Or not. But something.