Polaris general elections, 2016

The Polaris general elections, 2016 were a set of presidential and legislative elections held in the Federal Republic of Polaris on October 29, 2016. The Polaris Democratic Party won all of the seats in the EAC and large, albeit diminished majorities in the Senate and Assembly of Representatives of the Legislative Congress of Polaris. This was the second consecutive election where the Polaris Democratic Party garnered strong majorities in all three bodies. The election was also the first contested by the Socialist Party (formerly the Continental Union Party), and the Green Alliance.

The writ of election was formally issued on September 15, 2016 by the Chief Justice, allowing for a 40-day campaign period between the parties. Three televised presidential debates were held on Polarian broadcasting networks, with viewership attaining 65% of the nation at one point. The election was also the first conducted through ranked ballots, which has been attributed to many of the gains made by the minority parties in the Senate and Assembly. The election was also the first subject to the new term limitations, having been extended from four to five years in 2013.

Presidential candidate Catherine Howebrucke, the Executive Councillor for New Westshield was elected President, and was inaugurated on January 20, 2017. The results of the election were confirmed by the Assembly of Representatives on December 20, 2016.

Background
The last Polarian federal elections were held immediately following the creation of the Polaris SAD. The term limitations for President, the Executive Administrative Council, and the Legislative Congress of Polaris were extended to five years under the Polaris Elections Act, 2013, a measure that was controversial, but justified by the ruling Polaris Democratic Party as "a measure to ensure stability and good governance for all Polarians". Despite the rancour this action generated among the minority parties, it was not as damaging as thought by most political scholars.

In 2014, the occupation of Polaris by Puffalia in the Frosian War caught many Polarians by surprise. Accusations against the government by Socialist Party leader Hailey Hainsworth of "colluding with the enemy" gained popular attention as the government fled to Puerto Elanor, and at one point, the Socialists eclipsed the Democrats in presidential and legislative polls immediately following the Occupation. Many of those in the public were shocked by the lack of resistance demonstrated by the Polarian military, suspicions that quickly subsided as stories from the battlefield began to trickle into Polaris City. Returning to Polaris City with a damaged reputation, then-President Nathaniel B. Kratz declared that he "shall build a stronger Polaris, one that in the face of this shortcoming, shall emerge ever united and prosperous than it was found by our invaders,". The ensuing action of the PDP to form the Joint Committee on Rebuilding & Reconstruction helped to rapidly regain public trust and confidence in the government, as over $16 billion was spent to rebuild damaged infrastructure, pay reparations for the families of victims, and stimulate the Polarian economy.

Nathaniel B. Kratz, whose approval ratings reached nearly 86% following the formation of the JCRR, had revealed that he was undergoing significant health issues that would prevent him from running in the next election. This enabled political veteran Catherine Howebrucke, also the recipient of significant attention in her role as chair of the JCRR to run, and eventually win the nomination for President of the EAC in Millsburg, Hamtpon in July 2016.

Though the efforts of the PDP were well-received throughout urban centers across Polarian, the Socialist Party, reorganized from the Continental Union Party, capitalized on the growing disaffection and dissatisifcation about rural residents that their voices were not being heard, and that the JCRR was treating recovery efforts assymetrically, placing undue focus on urban, as opposed to rural areas. This would allow the Socialist Party to garner significant support in rural counties throughout Polaris. These efforts would eventually be rewarded with substantial electoral gains for the Socialist Party. Hailey Hainsworth, long rumoured by political observers as building a presidential campaign formally dismissed these rumours as "false", noting that "My efforts would be better spent on the ground--in the Assembly-engaging our government on the issues that matter most to Polarians." Hainsworth eventually endorsed political newcomer Daniel Marer Chambers, a former labour leader for the presidential nomination.

By September, incumbent President Kratz approached the Supreme Court as per convention, and requested a writ of election. The issuance of the writ would entail in an exhausting 40-day campaign period, with leaders from all parties visiting states to rally support and outline their promises. In one of the more notable moments during the presidential campaign, Daniel Chambers declared "We shall rid ourselves of the scourge of large corporations--we will nationalize all of them,", which immediately led to a spike in corporate and surprisingly some union donations towards the Polaris Democratic Party. It is estimated that for the election alone, the PDP received $455 million in donations.

Polling
According to a CBN News poll conducted on October 15, a survey of 3,000 Polarians indicated that the following issues were most important to Polarians:


 * Economic growth & jobs (25%)
 * Rebuilding and reconstruction (24%)
 * Education & training (16%)
 * Infrastructure and transit (16%)
 * Social insurance & family benefits (9%)
 * Environment & climate change (4%)
 * Foreign relations & aid (3%)
 * Law and order (2%)
 * Social and economic inequality (2%)
 * Democratic reform (1%)

Debates
The presidential debates held during the 2016 elections were the first to be broadcasted in all of Polarian political history. Debates are organized by the Office of the Commissioner of Elections. The debates were held at several major university campuses across Polaris, and were moderated by various high-profile news anchors. The format of each debate differed, with the first and second being more traditional, while the third was done in a town-hall format.

Presidential nominees for the Polaris Democratic Party (PDP), the Socialist Party, and the Green Party were invited and participated in all three debates. Protests emerged from the Conservative Action Party, who demanded to be included as part of the debate roster, but were subsequently ignored by the Office of the Commissioner on Elections.

moderated by Denis Pelenasky of CBN News moderated by Joanne Chen-Doyle of PRN moderated by Allen Ruiz Colho of Arcticvision News
 * First Presidential Debate University of Polaris at Rockford Hill (September 30, 2016)
 * The Economy
 * Health Care
 * Foreign Affairs
 * The Environment
 * Second Presidential Debate Demeurre University, Millsburg (October 15, 2016)
 * Jobs and unemployment
 * Free trade & investment
 * Sustainable development
 * Government's role in the economy
 * Third Presidential Debate, Wilkes State University-Calman Bay, (October 28, 2016)
 * The economy
 * Foreign aid & intervention
 * International cooperation
 * Law & order

Campaign slogans
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