NationStates

The Undying Empire does not hold democratic elections. All power lies within the position Eternal Emperor, the man who sits the Undying Throne. This power is delegated to the Lords Archon of the High Council, who pass proposed legislation, enforce it, and represent the government of the empire. The Imperial Senate, whom devise bills, acts and laws, and otherwise meet to discuss possible actions to ongoing affairs. And the High Tribunal, who prosecutes those who violate passed laws, and ensure the judicial flow of the empire runs smoothly.

Members of the High Council, the Imperial Senate, and the High Tribunal are appointed by the Eternal Emperor or his predecessor. Notably, members of the Imperial Senate often possess 'ancestral seats', meaning that the political heir of a Senator will by tradition inherit that seat. He still needs to be named by the emperor himself, but this is merely a formality. The High Council is non-hereditary, and focuses purely on meritocracy and loyalty. In some cases, a High Council member can be drawn from the Senate. The Tribunes are appointed through judicial skill.

Citizens of the empire do not vote in such matters. There are polls, censuses and other such times where the Emperor will allow the opinion of the people to be assessed, to determine how the majority of the nation desire the empire to move, and try to carry this out in a manner that ensures the empire succeeds, but if the popular vote does not swing in a way that benefits the empire, it will not be taken as an action. Notably however, these polls are only open to adult men whom are citizens. Non-citizens and women cannot vote.

This has persisted largely since the foundation of the Undying Empire, and the Golden Empire that existed prior to this was even more authoritarian. In the Undying Empire, many worship the Eternal Emperor as a God-King, and thus if he commands, they will inherently believe that what he decrees is good. Some, though loyalist, are not so devout, and yet others are sceptics and oppose the status quo (a dangerous position indeed), but through combination of awe and terror, the Anogaryen Dynasty and their vassals have held power for over a thousand years, and the people do not possess the means to force them to relinquish it.

Thus to ask who does and doesn't have the power to vote is a pair of questions that cannot be decisively answered when the answer to one negates the other. Senators do vote on legislation, but that legislation still has to be approved by the High Council, examined for flaws by the High Tribunal, and then approved of by the Emperor before it is considered law, rendering their power nothing more than delegation. The Emperor would rather have a couple hundred men assessing the situation, then a dozen determining if the proposed law is good, and have his Tribunes ensure it lacks flaws, before making a hasty decision either way. Not every Emperor thinks this way, but the Undying Empire is fortunate to have a ruthless, calculating, patient and above all intelligent tyrant as their Eternal Emperor; Valerion III Vaegalis.

To the Emperor, his people are the empire. To protect them is to protect the empire. To strengthen them is to strengthen the empire. But they cannot rule the empire. The people do not act as a single mind or entity, and if given such power would tear the empire into pieces, each piece corresponding to a narrow view of reality. Instead, Valerion has many different men with many different views assess the situation, a popular act come through, and ensure it is beneficial before enacting it. Only by concentrating power on himself, and delegating it out to trusted, traditional, and established organisations can the Eternal Emperor ensure that the empire progresses.

So no. Citizens do not have the right to vote on government affairs. We have no history of suffrage, or at least, no successful one. The Eternal Emperor commands, the loyalists obey, and if they're smart, so do the dissenters.