Introduction/Elections
"Kings are elected?"
- "Oh, absolutely! Lots of them prattle on about 'divine right' and so on, but when push comes to shove, every one of them is chosen by the nobles of the realm. Now, different realms do things differently. Kings and Dictators only get elected when the old one abdicates or is incapacitated. Other realms call their rulers 'Prime Ministers' and elect them every month.
- "Rulers aren't the only elected positions, either. Some realms elect their Judges, or even their Generals! And of course, votes count differently in some realms than in others, giving more weight to Dukes, for example. Some realms may have unofficial votes for other positions, but those are done by sending messages, not by officials employed by the realm as votecounters."
There are several things which will prompt an election. Monthly elections occur in certain realm types, such as Republics. Other realms have elections only sporadically, but in either case, you will be given at least one turn warning before an election occurs, so that you can set your votes as you see fit.
Under the Paperwork page, you'll have the option to set your votes in advance for Ruler and any other elected positions in your realm. You actually place multiple votes in each election: you have a first-choice, a second-choice, and a third-choice, with the first getting more votes than the other two. The actual number of votes varies, but for now, assume that your first choice gets four votes, your second choice gets two votes, and your third choice gets one. You may vote for one of your characters, if they are eligible, but you will not receive as many votes as if someone else voted for you. On this same page, you may choose to refuse certain positions, in which case votes for you will be wasted.
(See elections for a thorough discussion of what triggers an election, and how exactly the voting system works)
Be aware that voting is one of a noble's inalienable rights in Battlemaster. Anyone who gives you orders about voting should be reported to the Titans or Magistrates.
