Main Page/Presidential
Presidential Elections are the default mode of the Political Machine universe. Unlike most democracies, and republics, the votes cast in states are assigned directly to electors in what is known as the Electoral College. Simply put, there are 538 electoral votes, scattered across 50 different states, with the rather notorious threshold of 270 to win. With the rather poignant exception should both candidates hit 269-269 electoral votes, in which case neither candidate will win.
Each state's electoral vote is calculated by the amount of representatives + senators that are present in their congressional delegation.
The Presidential Election mode covers everything from starting up a campaign, to closing night on election day. By default when starting a campaign, the candidate will have $2,000,000 to boot, and a level 1 campaign HQ in their home state of choice.
Unique Features
Unique to the Presidential Mode is the Debates feature, with changes in issue scores and enthusiasm across the board depending on what answer the candidate may exhibit.
Certain differences from presidential elections versus primaries include:
- Elections being conducted at the end of the electoral process in what may be described as one fell swoop.
- 2 candidates instead of 4
- The ability to pick running mates that will go around the map giving speeches
Settings
When creating a game, there are several Advanced Options to work from. They are listed as follows
Game Length
The number of turns in the game.
Longer games tend to reward long term planning and strategy, while shorter games favor efficient use of stamina and maximizing short term benefit. One turn typically takes around 2-5 minutes.
- Quick (21 Weeks)
- Normal (28 Weeks)
- Long (41 Weeks)
- Epic (52 Weeks)
Starting Funds
The amount of Money each candidate begins the game with.
More money will allow for less restrictive use of Ads and Headquarters, while less money will mean players need to build up wealth before spending it.
- 50%
- 100%
- 150%
- 200%
Debate Frequency
The number of Debates in a Presidential Game.
Debates are not available in Primaries mode. Debates give an opportunity to gain national benefits over your opponent, more debates will allow players greater influence on the national stage.
- None
- 1
- 2
- 3
Random Events
The frequency of Random Events occurring in game.
Some random events are country-wide and affect issues and candidates, others appera as '?' icons on the map and can be visited for a bonus.
- None (No events will occur this game.)
- Half ('?' Events will occur every 4 turns starting on Week 3. There will be 1 country-wide event.)
- Normal ('?' Events will occur every 2 turns starting on Week 3. There will be 2 country-wide event.)
- Double ('?' Events will occur every 3 turns starting on Week 3. There will be 4 country-wide event.)
Randomize Issues
The degree randomization of issue importance nationwide.
Issues will have their importances partially randomized at the beginning of the game. This can cause certain issues you may not normally see to play a critical part in an election, but can produce unbalanced games, particularly in Presidential Mode.
- None
- Some Randomness
- Very Random
Randomize States
The statue values that will be randomized.
The chosen state values will be partially randomized at the beginning of the game. This can lead to states being more important in the election than they otherwise would be, or states being easier or harder to win for certain parties. However, it can produce unbalanced games, particularly in Presidential Mode.
- None
- Electoral Votes
- Fundraising Data
- Political Parties
- Randomize All
Electoral Compromises
There are however some compromises in how the system is represented contrary to real-life. One particular aspect includes how D.C.'s electoral votes under the Twenty-third Amendment are represented, with D.C.'s EVs being divvied up between Maryland and Virginia. With Virginia in particular receiving 2 extra electoral votes, and Maryland being allocated one extra electoral vote.
Unlike the broad winner-take-all systems of other states, Nebraska and Maine use congressional district electoral systems to allocate their electoral votes. This however is not present in The Political Machine.
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"The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves." |
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Unlike the problem present when two candidates from the same home state are being cast for President and Vice President, this is not an issue in The Political Machine. Such a problem presented itself in the 2000 election with George W. Bush and Dick Cheney residing in the same home state. To avoid nullifying electoral votes should they have won Texas, Cheney had changed his voter registration to Wyoming to avoid disqualifying any potential electoral votes from Texas in particular.
