2022 Piedmonti general election

The 2022 Piedmonti General Election was the 3^rd consecutive annual (and 5th total) elections for all elected offices in the Union of Piedmont. The election was held on 2 days, the first round of the Consular Election (also called the Qualifiers) took place on 25 June 2022, and the election of all offices (including the second round of the Consular Election) took place on 3 September 2022. The qualifying round was originally postponed due to the outbreak of the Piedmonti Civil War, however Consul Presley Bartlett decided to relinquish her emergency powers on June 5^th and announced that she indented for elections to proceed as normal for the year. This has shortened the typical campaigning season which usually begins in April.

The civil war was the primary issue of the election, with debate centering around the nature of a future peace agreement and the fate of the rebelling Federal Provincialist Commonwealth. Though the civil war was at the front of most Piedmonti's minds, other issues such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the rise in violence against LGBTQAI+ in the United States, as well as that country's struggle with mass shootings were discussed as concerns as they bled into the Union. Bartlett's decision to hold a "snap election" also become a topic of criticism, primarily from the opposition party's leadership - believing they were not given ample time to prepare their campaigns.

Procedure

The Consular Qualifier Election was held on June 25, with all 6 individuals who registered to run for Consul by the cutoff date of June 20. Voters reported to their respective Township's polling location and cast their ballot for a single candidate between 9am and 9pm. Though remote and early voting are staples of Piedmonti elections, this option was only extended to Piedmonti's living abroad for this Qualifier due to the timetable of the election. The remote ballots that were submitted were collected and counted along with the others throughout the night of the 25th and the morning of the 26^th. Results were officially announced at 11:03am on the 26th, after being verified by the People's Tribunate.

The General Election took place on September 3; voters cast their ballots for their members of the National Assembly, Consul, Premier, Magistrate, People's Tribune, and Communal Tribunate. Senators, Premiers, Magistrates, and Communal Tribunes are elected by a first-past-the-post system where the candidate with the largest share of the popular vote receives the office. People's Tribune is also elected with one-vote-per-candidate, but the top 9 candidates receive a seat on the Tribunate. Delegates to the Popular Assembly are elected through a process of party-list and ranked choice voting. Voters select a 'Candidacy List,' lists of candidates aligned with a particular party, and then rank their top 3 candidates from said list. Each township's seats are awarded to the lists according to their proportion of the township's popular vote. There was no run-off for this year's Consular Elections.

Background

During her 3^rd term in 2021, Consul Presley Bartlett engaged in an electoral reform effort that would lead to the Fieldstone Convention revisions to the constitution. In addition to electoral reform, these revisions brought about a new balance of power as the newly created Townships gained legal superiority to their Provinces. Despite these revisions being very popular among the average citizens, they were decisive among the Piedmonti political class, particularly Senator KL who capitalized on this division to form the Federal Provincialist Party (FPP) in order to sabotage the implementation of the revisions. Throughout late 2021 and into early 2022, the L family and the FPP would bring the Union Government to a halt by blocking almost all legislation in the National Assembly. In January 2022, KL began to organize mass and constant protests in her home province - adjacent to the Union capital New Albertville. These protesters would form paramilitary groups armed by the Ls and occupy Harris Street Park and Yorktowne.

This unrest was the buildup to a coup that KL had been planning with her family since at least January. Her plan was to use the protesters to capture the capital, kidnap and depose Consul Bartlett, and demand a new constitutional convention. When this plan was leaked to the College of Praetors, they officially abolished the FPP and announced their intention to charge KL and her associates with treason. This led to KL initiating the plan and her father TL gave the order to storm the capital. The coup attempt would initially fail and become a protracted battle with Union legions, as Bartlett was able to safely escape and assume emergency powers to dispense with the rebellion. Not wanting to back down, KL would declare the secession of the provinces of Harris-York, Myers, Vandora, and Meadow Wood - and the formation of the Federal Provincialist Commonwealth on March 10. This marked the outbreak of the Piedmonti Civil War.

The rebels enjoyed an initial surge of success in the battlefield thanks to the aide of the Civic Authority, a far-right extremist organization formed to oppose the Union and fought 2021 Kingsley-Knoll War against the Union. In the first couple months, the Provincialists rapidly capture much of the core of Fort Mill, pushing the Union legions out to the fringes of the town. However, despite these early victories, the Union regrouped and launched a large counter-offensive that has had the Provincialists on the defensive since May, with the rebels losing 70 percent of the territory they controlled in April. The Civic authority would also experience a crushing blow in the Union invasion of Pleasant Road - their capital - which caused their leadership to doubt the viability of the Commonwealth they had just joined, deciding to formally leave it on June 2. The collapse of the Provincialist front lines, and the flight of their allies, has signaled that the war is likely drawing to a close, though the Ls still press on from their heavily fortified capital of Yorktowne, fighting desperately to keep their holdings to the south-east in Doby's Bridge.

Consular Candidates

Maquis Socialist Coalition


Presley Bartlett

Position	1^st & 3^rd Consul of the Union of Piedmont
Home Township, Province	New Regent City, Oakdale
Announced	5 June, 2022
Advanced to Second Round?	yes
Jocelyn Ferguson

Position	2^nd General Secretary of the Union of Piedmont
Home Township, Province	Dye City, West Harris

Piedmonti Tunnist Party


Gabriel Williams

Position	Delegate from Homeland beach
Home Township, Province	Homeland Beach, Homeland
Announced	11 June, 2022
Advanced to Second Round?	yes
Jane Medlin-Smith

Position	Magistrate of Kingston
Home Township, Province	Mount Pleasant, Kingston

Liberal Union Party


Johnathan Fields		Elizabeth Swann

Position	People's Tribune	Primier of West Harris
Home Township, Province	Bend-on-Harris, East Harris	Dye City, West Harris
Announced	6 June, 2022	8 June, 2022
Advanced to Second Round?	no	yes
Rodger Kellman		Cody Markow

Position	Insurance adjuster	former Treasurer of the Union
Home Township, Province	Avunculus, Peachtree	Duportsmouth, Flint Hill

Civil Order Party


Jan Surface

Position	Delegate from AP City
Home Township, Province	AP City, Japoninca
Announced	14 June, 2022
Advanced to Second Round?	no
Brent Henton

Position	Chair of the Flint Hill COP Chapter
Home Township, Province	Ivy Town, Flint Hill

Other Candidates


Leonard Meyers

Position	Aedile of the Piedmonti Civil Air Service
Home Township, Province	Terramore
Announced	7 June, 2022
Advanced to Second Round?	yes
Opal Nielson

Position	Altura Clerk of Court
Home Township, Province	New Quailfield, Altura

Major Issues

Timing of the election

On 5 June 2022, Presley Bartlett relinquished her emergency powers that had been bestowed on her in March to address the civil war. Her last act as Consul Princept was to disband her Provisional Princept Governate and reseat the 2021-2022 Union Government; although all former officials who were members of the Federal Provincialist Party or had otherwise rebelled against the Union during the outbreak of the civil war were removed and replaced by consular appointees. The Princept Governate had postponed the Consular Qualifying Election indefinitely, but Bartlett reversed this decision and announced that the elections would go forward as normal on the 6^th. With only 19 days to gather support, many prospective candidates for Consul vocally criticized the "snap election" for not giving the proper time to prepare a full campaign. When questioned on this, Bartlett remarked:

"... while it's unfortunate timing, I think it might be a positive in the end. We have elections every year, and the campaigning season for these elections seem to start on January 1^st! While I love a good campaign, I don't want the Union to replicate the theatrical and expensive campaigns of American politicians. Our elections should be approachable by every citizen, and someone shouldn't be discouraged from running for office because they can't spare the time for 10 months of constant campaigning; perhaps cutting down our annual election season would make for a healthier political environment."

This suggestion that campaigning season should be restricted became the first non-war related issue of the election as detractors claimed this violated the 2nd Guaranteed Right to freedom of expression of future candidates. In response many supporters of Bartlett have cited many West European nations and Canada who have similar laws, some going further with total bans on political advertising throughout most of the year.

Ending the Civil War

The members of the Union Government that remained loyal to the Union after KL's coup and the following civil war are united in their opposition against the Provincialist rebellion, however, there has been much debate about the nature of a peace and resolution to the conflict. Many Maquis and Tunnists took up arms in loosely organized militias to fight against the rebels, this has led to a hardline faction arising between the two parties calling for their unconditional surrender. These Grantists, as they have begun calling themselves (an allusion to U.S. General Ulysses S. Grant who similarly called for the unconditional surrender of the Confederacy during the American Civil War), advocate for the forceful reunification of the Union, with an occupying force remaining in the former Federal Provincialist Commonwealth, and refusing to seat any representatives from the rebelling territory in the next Union Government. In opposition to the Grantists, other factions have sprung up supporting various "softer peaces." Several Maquis and Liberal Union candidates have adopted a stance aligning with former Delegatus Primus Katie King, who proposes banishment of the Ls and former FPP members, but otherwise reverting the rebellious provinces to their pre-civil war state; though this plan is seen by others as lenient on members of the Liberal Union Party who also joined the Provincialists. The Civil Order Party has formally adopted their Consular candidate Jan Surface's proposal that would see the reincorporation of the Rebellious provinces, but a Provincialist state would be formed on Banks Street as a form of appeasement.

Notably, this topic has been largely avoided by Consul Bartlett and other members of the Union Commission in order to "maintain the integrity of potential negotiations." Bartlett has alluded vaguely to her goals in any peace negotiations: preserving the Union, reincorporating Harris-York and Myers, but has otherwise remained mute on the issue. This has added fuel to the fire of conspiracies that secret negotiations are underway, possibly with elements of the Provincialist government acting against the wishes of the Ls - who are publicly opposed to negotiating any peace or ceasefire at the moment.

New Provinces

Another talking point about ending the civil war is what is to be done with the new provinces of East and West Harris when the Provincialist territory is reincorporated. The provinces were created in May when the Union retook most of the Mainland, including portions of what were the provinces of Myers and Harris-York. Bartlett's emergency government created the new provinces hastily and pushed their admittance through the National Assembly at an unprecedented rate - even seating newly appointed senators and delegates from the provinces in June. With post-war reconstruction on everyone's mind, many question if these provinces will continue to exist. West Harris in particular is at issue, as it comprises the most populated part of what used to be Harris-York. many proposals have been made to attempt to solve the problem, most breakdown to 1 of 3 options: intergrade Yorktown into West Harris, reform Harris-York to its pre-civil war borders, or admit Yorktowne as its own province - possibly with additional territory ceded to it.

Liberal Union Party candidate for Consul, and Premier of West Harris, Elizabeth Swann has been very vocal that she will not agree to any attempts to place West Harris back in the control of Yorktowne. This is in direct opposition to a growing movement among conservative officials that wish to see Harris-York reunited to "keep the natural political balance." This is a rare example of the MSC openly siding with the Liberal Union, due to Swann's message aligning well with the party's interest. Harris-York had been a politicly divided province, split into 3 major factions. The ruling faction had been supporters of the L family, tied to no particular political party, and voting the way the Ls instructed them to. The actual largest faction were those who may not have really been on board with the Ls, but still opposed the Bartlett administration and were steadfast supporters of the LUP, though some would also go on to join the Federal Provincialist Party. Opposing these overwhelming anti-Bartlett groups was a small, yet dedicated, collection of Maquis supporters mostly concentrated in Dye City and to a lesser extent Creekside. With the civil war screening out most of the anti-Bartlett voters from the political system, and many fence-sitters now much more sympathetic to the MSC, West Harris is pretty evenly split between the Liberal Union and the Maquis. The MSC sees West Harris as a new area to expand their voter base; and for the Liberal Union, West Harris represents one of their few remaining cores of support they have left.

Abortion Access

On June 24, the day before the Consular qualifying elections, the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a landmark decision that had protected the constitutional right to abortion in the U.S. since 1973. This decision sent shockwaves through the Union, and a response was desperately and urgently required; as the U.S. states that surround the Union were likely to enact legislation that prohibited and/or even prosecuted people who obtain an abortion. The College of Praetors (the Union's own constitutional court) was the first to respond, publishing a formal note on the Constitutional Charter of the Union of Piedmont on the 27^th that confirmed that abortion was protected by the 4^th, 7^th, 13^th, and 15^th Guaranteed Rights of the Piedmonti Citizen. 2 days later, the National Assembly passed the Bodily Autonomy and Reproductive Health Act (BARHA), which legally protected Piedmonti citizens' access to an abortion up to 2 weeks before the due date, as well as providing legal access for Americans who wish to receive an abortion within the Union's borders.

The Union's various political parties have been nearly unanimous in their condemnation of the United States' violation of human rights by overturning Roe v. Wade, however the Civil Order Party, and independent candidate for Consul Leonard Meyers, has taken the opposite position, declaring it a "big win for Christianity in North America," in the words of COP Chairman Gary fellows. Additionally, some conservative leaning members of the Tunnist Party, including their leader in the Popular Assembly Deborah Guiles, have criticized the BARHA for allowing late-term abortions.

LGBTQAI+ issues

The 1st Guaranteed Right of the Piedmonti Citizen, inscribed in the Constitutional charter, states: "All people within the Union... are equal before the law, and in treatment by all institutions public and private." This guarantee created the foundation of anti-discrimination law in the Union of Piedmont, and the particular rights of LGBTQAI+ identifying people are heavily protected by the Union Government. The Union has issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples since its founding, discrimination against LGBTQAI+ persons by private entities or the state is actively prosecuted, and legal gender identity is determined by the individual and can be altered at will. Despite these protections, the rise of right-wing violence and hate against members of the LGBTQAI+ community in the United States has spilled over into the Union.

The "culture war" has become the centerpiece of the Civil Order Party's platform, and nearly all of their candidates standing in this election often speak of "degeneracy" and the "decay of moral values." The COP has focused their legislative efforts into dismantling legal and constitutional protections of not just LGBTQAI+ people, but all minorities in the Union. Their main targets are the Right to Identify Act passed in April, and BARHA, which provides legal access to gender affirming care. The discussion this year has primarily focused on the rights of trans individuals, a debate sparked mostly by Consul Presley Bartlett's coming out as a transwoman in March 2022. While most people in the Union, civilian and politician alike, either approved of, or didn't even mention Bartlett's change in gender identity; COP candidates bring it up often and use the topic as an opportunity to misgender her and claim she is "mentally unfit."

While the COP has managed to stir up some support for these views among the Union's far-right elements, the backlash has been immense and loud. Senator Kristalin Yerty led an effort in mid-June to get every member of the National Assembly and each consular candidate to sign a pledge that they respect and will defend the rights of LGBTQAI+ Piedmontis. Every member of the National Assembly signed the pledge except the COP's representatives: Jan and Howard Surface. Jan Surface was the COP's 2022 nominee for Consul and was removed from the first Consular Debates on June 22 for repeatedly deadnaming Bartlett and refusing to use her proper pronouns.

Firearm Access

After the widely publicized mass shootings in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas in May, discussion began about restricting access to firearms in the Union. While the Union of Piedmont does not currently have any laws regarding civil ownership of weapons aside from a prohibition on the sale of lethal military equipment to civilians. However, unlike in the United States, the Union does not have a constitutional right to bear arms, leaving the door open for broad regulation and restriction of firearm ownership. The topic became increasingly relevant as the Civil War wound down, as many civilians had taken up arms and formed militias independent of the Union Legions to fight the rebels. With the Provincialists largely defeated, these militias were still out there and, despite being ultimately loyal to the Union, many formed along party lines into Maquis and Tunnist oriented groups. This was cause for concern for many, fearing these armed partisan groups may choose to turn on each other, or even the Union Legions rather than simply disbanding. Wanting to get out ahead of this impending crisis, Delegatus Primus Layelle Omar announced on July 21 that the National Assembly would begin drafting a law to codify weapon regulations, and reached out to the various militias and other civic leaders to consult with the Union Government on its provisions. While the Union has its anti-gun elements among the liberals and moderate Maquis, the common consensus is that access to weapons ought to be respected. Notably Consul Bartlett is a defender of gun rights, while she advocates for an assault weapon ban and strict regulations around gun ownership, she is steadfast in her sentiment that civilian gun ownership is necessary to keep the government at the will of the people.

Timeline

June


Date	Event	Notes
5	Consul Presley Bartlett officially renounces her emergency powers and announces that the Union Government will be reseated and elections will continue as originally scheduled. Bartlett also announces her intention to run in said elections for a 5th term as Consul.	This drew some criticism and the Consular Qualifying Elections was labeled a "snap election" or "rushed election" by some.
6	LUP People's Tribune Johnny Fields announces his candidacy for Consul.
7	Leonard Meyers, an independent and Aedile of the Piedmonti Civil Air Service, announces his candidacy for Consul.
8	LUP Premier of West Harris Elizabeth Swann announces her candidacy for Consul.
10	Bartlett gives an interview with the Union Reporter where she speaks on the "rushed" nature of the election.	This added controversy to the already controversial Qualifying Election, as she touched on potentially shortening the campaigning season and regulating political advertising.
11	The Union Commission announces that they have offered a ceasefire to the Provincialists, the rebels refused.	This event, along with Bartlett relinquishing her emergency powers, signaled to most Piedmontis that the Civil War was near an end, and ignited the discussion about what a peace deal should include or not.
11	Tunnist Delegate from Homeland Beach Gabriel Williams announces his candidacy for Consul.
13	A group of Grantist protesters marches outside the capital in New Albertville, calling on the government to not accept accept anything less than an unconditional surrender.
14	COP Delegate from AP City Jan Surface announces her candidacy for Consul.
17	An organization called the Just Peace Association, comprised of several Union Government officials, delivers remarks to the Popular Assembly - asking them to endorse the Senator King Peace Plan.	The Popular Assembly would not vote to endorse the plan after the speech sparked a heated debate in the chamber between Delegates with Grantist leanings and those without.
20	The cut-off date to declare candidacy for Consul.
21	The first Consular debate is held between the 6 candidates who filed to run by the cut-off date: Presley Bartlett, Gabriel Williams, Elizabeth Swann, Jan Surface, Leonard Meyers, and Johnny Fields.	Jan Surface was removed from the debate 8 minute into the event for refusing to use Bartlett's proper pronouns and repeatedly deadnaming her, violating the debate rules. Leonard Meyers received a large bump in the polls after the debate, going from ~2% to upwards of 10%. This is credited to his moderate platform and rejection of the Liberal Union Party, appealing to many liberal voters who left the LUP due to their association with the Provincialists.
24	The United States Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.	This made the Union's response and the matter of extending abortion access to Americans a forefront issue.
25	The Consular Qualifying Election is held.	Bartlett became the first person to win a majority of votes in the qualifying round (51.27%), sparking a brief discussion about if a second round in the Consular Elections was even necessary, however this notion would be quashed when Bartlett and Princept of the College of Praetors Zach Badr clarified that the second round of the election is constitutionally mandated. Gabriel Williams (23.9%), Leonard Meyers (10.75%), and Elizabeth Swann (8%) would also advance to the second round.
27	Meyers remarks to a Union Reporter journalist that he opposes abortion access and refers to the overturning of Roe v. Wade as "A big win for Christianity in North America." He also stated that he opposes the Bodily Autonomy and Reproductive Health Act.	This caused a large backlash among Meyers supporters, many of whom report being completely unaware of Meyers' views when they voted for him. His polling numbers would drop almost back to his pre-debate numbers, this coencided with a bump for Swann as liberals flocked back to the LUP.
30	The Flint Hill Legion and the Paddocks Left Front Militia win the Battle of Steele Creek, occupying Fort Mill Middle and Elementary Schools, and the intersection of Springfield Parkway and Tom Hall Street.	This victory severed the Provincialists' primary connection between their capital Yorktowne and their holdings in Doby's Bridge. Union forces were also able to apprehend Sean Dilmont, the highest ranking New Federal Guard officer outside of the L family.

July


Date	Event	Notes
2	After a brief exchange of fire, the New Federal Guard 2^nd Regiment surrendered to the Flint Hill Legion.	the 2nd regiment was the largest remaining Provincialist regiment, prompting most other Provincialist units in Doby's Bridge to also surrender.
2	The Sedgewick Ceasefire is signed between the UOP and the Civic Authority, taking them out of the Civil War.	This agreement ended conflict with the Civic Authority and Joel Kophazi's Militia. The CA were permitted to return to their home territory along Pleasant Road, other than the territory currently controlled by Maquis partisans. Kophazi's militia were allowed to occupy Vandora and the Township of Merit until November 2, after which they relinquesh control to the Union.
5	The second Consular debate is held between the 4 candidates who won the Qualifying Election: Presley Bartlett, Gabriel Williams, Elizabeth Swann, and Leonard Meyers.	Meyers spent the night answering to his upset supporters about his position on abortion, doubling down on his pro-life stance, evoking several Bible verses throughout the debate. Williams and Meyers also took up many Grantist talking points, criticizing Bartlett for not ordering an assault on Yorktowne already to end the war - Meyers in particular accused Bartlett of purposely prolonging the war to gain support to win the election. Bartlett deflected these accusations by touting the recently finalized ceasefire agreement with the CA, as well as reiterating her constant efforts to reach out to the Ls. Bartlett used the debate as a platform to expand on her plan for peace, with her "two pillars for reconstruction" being a total reunification and the prosecution of top Provincialist government officials.
9	Rene Salute, Swann's running mate, answers a Union Reporter journalist's question at the Japonincan Liberals Conference in Reservon.	Salute was asked: "...would you rather become General Secretary or keep your [Popular Assembly] seat?" She responded, "well I like my seat ... Consul sounds nice." This drew much controversy, mainly from within her own party who felt she was 'stabbing Swann in the back.'
10	The Maquis Candidacy List Association holds it annual conference.	A group of 3 people are discovered hiding beneath the speaking platform and arrested. Authorities later stated the motive of the individuals was to kidnap Bartlett after she delivered her address. The identities of the 3 have not been made public, but their affiliation with the Provincialists has been confirmed.
12	Elizabeth Swann announces that Rene Salute will depart her campaign and will no longer be her running mate.	Swann assures her supporters that she will select a new running mate promptly, and that she believes a new face on the campaign will, "...breath a much needed breath of hope for the liberal ticket."
15	Tunnist Cathrine Stump drops out the race for Senator from Japoninca.	During a Zoom meeting on the 13th with other Tunnist Senate candidates, Stump lost her temper and yelled several profane remarks to other members of the forum for not supporting her Grantist views. Stump decided to drop from the race, despite being the front runner, after the Tunnist Chapters (the organization that manages Tunnist candidates for the National Assembly) revoked their official support for her campaign.
20	Elizabeth Swann announces her choice of Cody Markow, former Treasurer of the Union, as her new Running Mate.
21	Delegatus Primus Layelle Omar states that the Popular Assembly will begin drafting a unified code of regulation for firearm ownership.	Omar extended an invitation to the many militia organizations that have aided the Union during the civil war, as well as civilian leaders and experts, to consult with the chamber on the provisions of the bill. Bartlett would receive both support and criticism when she urged the Popular Assembly not to ban handguns.
31	Secretary of Foreign Affairs PJ Hall delivers a press conference to the Piedmonti media.	Hall announced that the KL has agreed to negotiate a ceasefire, but refuses to even begin peace talks until after the election.

August, September, & October


Date	Event	Notes
August
2	Joel Kophazi declares the territory under his occupation the Republic of Vandora, he additionally claims Nova Chevron and Sedgewick.	This threw a wrench into the effort towards peace, as it was a blatant violation of the Sedgewick Ceasefire. The Altura Legion was mobilized to surround Vandora, but held back from a full-on assault.
5	Several detachments of the New Federal Guard 3rd Regiment were discovered deep in the woods of Doby's Bridge and captured.	These detachments were the last remnants of Provincialist control outside of Yorktowne, their capture completly severed the city from the outside world.
6	Union legionnaires are ordered to break through the first layer of defenses at Yorktowne, occupying Harris Street Park with minimal resistance.	This move put pressure on the Ls to begin negotiations, though they still held out, proclaiming that any attcak on Yorktown proper would erase any chances of a peacesettlment.
10	A surprise nighttime artillery strike temporarily drives Union forces from Harris Street Park, though the Provincialists are unable to occupy the park before the legionaires returned.
13	The Union celebrates Constitution Day.	Large Grantist protests erupt outside New Albertville and Somerton, calling for an immediate assault on Yorktowne and the capitulating of the Ls by force.
17	Consul Bartlett signs the Comprehensive Firearm Regulation Act into law, but it is vetoed by the People's Tribunate.	The law would have banned the ownership or importation of assault rifles and most handguns, as well as establishing mandatory background checks and strict mental health restrictions for owning a firearm. Most controversially the bill outlawed concealed carrying and did not make exceptions to any weapon ban for sporting. When delivering her statement on the veto, Tribune of the Citizen Jamie Wosje said the following: "...Large portions of this bill are sound and would create a safer public for the union. But it is the opinion of this Tribunate that there are provisions that violate the rights and liberties of Piedmonti citizens, and the bill needed to be returned to the National Assembly to have those provisions removed."
21	Provincialists attempt an unsuccessful assault on Fort Southguard.	Despite the failure, this event sparked a resuming of hostilities along Yorktowne's defenses for a couple days following until a wave of Union artillery strikes brought back the quiet of the ceasefire. This violation of the ceasefire agreement sparked more Grantist protests and the infamous editorial penned by Senator Robert Crenshaw that claimed: "[Bartlett] is being toyed with by a by a terrified corned animal, the longer she relies on the war being 'basically over,' the longer it gives a desperate KL to find another way to lash out."
28	Delegatus Primus Omar and Minority Speaker Guiles make a joint statement regarding firearm regulations.	The press statement communicated that the National Assembly would be leaving the matter of firearm regulations to soon-to-be-elected next assembly, iterating that the focus of the legislature should now be in the peace process, and healing the Union.
September
3	General election day.	Presley Bartlett receives a majority of the votes in the second round of the Consular election, securing her 5th term. The Maquis Socialist Coalition also retained their majority over both houses of the National Assembly, though losing a significant number of seats - primarily to the Tunnists. Not even an hour after the results were certified by the Electoral Integrity Commission and the Popular Tribunate, Bartlett issued a 24 hour ultimatum to the Provincialists. "...surrender your positions, lay down your arms, submit to Union authorities and potentially receive leniency in the judicial system... or Yorktowne will be taken by force, and the will of the Union shall be imposed upon them."
5	4 Legions storm Yorktowne and arrest the rebel leadership.	After receiving no response to her ultimatum, Bartlett ordered the Riverview, Solaria, Peachtree, and Flint Hill Legions to assault the Provincialist capital on the morning of the 5th. The guards at the main gate put up minor resistance until the entirety of the assault force gathered outside, but once the legionaries were through the gate, the entire provincialist defense collapsed. TL and RL, along with several other high-ranking Provincialist leaders, were arrested without issue inside the Commonwealth House; while JL and KL were apprehended shortly afterwards in Dye City, they were attempting to escape to the United States.
24	The Treaty of AP City is signed and ratified, officially ending the Civil War.	The treaty obtained the Provincialists' unconditional surrender, as well as outlining the various sedition, conspiracy, and treason charges the rebel leaders would face. The treaty also addressed the manner of reincorporating the rebellious provinces, as well as forming the Eastern North American Cooperative (later renamed the Metrolina Cooperation Pact).
October
9	The 2022-2023 Union Government is inaugurated into session.