Senate Election Participation & Seats



















Raw Data
DatePeople RunningSeats Available

14-Apr
66

14-Jan
76

13-Dec
86

13-Sep
96

13-Jul
55

13-Apr
55

13-Feb
65

12-Dec
75

12-Nov
96

12-Aug
96

12-Jul
86

12-Jun
86

12-Apr
117

12-Feb
97

11-Dec
86

11-Oct
76

11-Aug
136

11-Jun
86

11-Apr
128

11-Feb
96

10-Dec
98

10-Oct
168

10-Aug
148

10-Jun
1510

10-Apr
1810

10-Feb
169

09-Dec
139

09-Nov
189

09-Sep
169

09-Jul
178

09-May
148

09-Mar
148

09-Jan
158

08-Nov
148

08-Sep
138

08-Jul
127

08-May
97

08-Mar
127

08-Jan
107

07-Nov
147

07-Sep
127

07-Aug
97

07-Jul
125

07-Jul
75

Interest in running for the Senate has declined over the years, as evidenced by the chart and data provided. The chart includes every single general and mid-term Senate election and shows the month and year of each one. Interest in running for the senate peaked in 2009 and 2010. In both those years only once did the Senate fail to garner 10 or more people running for the legislative body. It was also during this time that the Senate saw it's largest ever formation with 10 seats.

Over the past 4 years we've seen a general decline in both interest and the number of seats available. Despite great advances in the region, the number of seats fell to it's lowest ever total between the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013 with only 5 members. This amount is what the first two Senates ever in 2007 started out with. As well, over the past couple years we've seen another dubious record arise, which is the fact that we've had uncontested elections for the first time ever three times in the past two years.

These three elections have had the lowest amount of people running in them ever with 6 and 5. This is 3 times less than what the Senate saw in it's prime participation days. There are many hypothesis' as to why the Senate has struggled with lower participation which has led to lower seat numbers in general. These are in general as follows:

1. That the hyper political atmosphere has given way to a more casual atmosphere.
2. That the Senate is now solely a legislative and functional body rather than a political one.
3. That the Citizens Assembly receives far more attention and has taken away interest in the Senate.
4. That the region has become far more executive orientated than legislatively orientated.

Whatever the case may be, the Senate is not currently at it's lowest point in terms of interest or seats. As well, the region and the Senate appear fairly active currently so while participation might currently be low the Senate is certainly not a failed body.

Random Facts

April 2012 was the last time we had 7 seats in the Senate and the last time we had double digits for people running. April 2011 was the last time we had 8 seats in the Senate. June 2010 was the last time we had 10 seats in the Senate.

Funny quotes from Nov 2007.
Paleomiz said:
Question: Can Lethen be both Prez AND in the senate simultaneously?
HEM said:
I don't see a law against it...

Also, in September 2007 LA was a candidate... "Lord Alphanesia (has been banned)"

Special Thanks to r3n and PhDre for their help. PhDre made the 3rd graph.
 
Not that there is anything wrong with that; not everyone has to want to be in the Senate, nor does everyone have to want to be in the Senate at the same time.
 
PhDre said:
Summary Statistics
VariableObservationsMeanSt DevMax Min
People Running4410.973.631818
Seats Available446.971.37105
# Candidates Who 'Lose' 4442.5790
% Missing Out4432.5214.4458.330
The first row is incorrect (the minimum in particular). Secondly, this is rich data that only a few have analysed (perhaps privately). It would be useful for others (not for me actually) to have this data analysed well.

As it stands this table indicates a large spread which tells us that we ought to look at the data on an election-by-election basis over time. It would be interesting to co-plot the following events:

a) Law Index 2.0 reforms;
b) Constitution passage dates
c) there are a few other events but i really need to poop right now brb.
 
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