4 songs from last years top 20 have been eliminated:

The Devil Went Down to Georgia (6), More Than a Feeling (7), September (19) and Kashmir (20)

In addition, two semifinalists have been eliminated: Once in a Lifetime and Roxanne

1 song remains from this years TMT special winners: Nýfallið regn

Out of the 15 remaining new nominations after round 1, 5 made it to round 3.

Eeh, I have just spotted a bug in the code that meant the "Enable preview ballot" admin toggle functioned the wrong way around. Apologies for that. Because of it, the code checking for permission to actually use the preview ballot would boot users out if the option was enabled, rather than disabled, unless they were administrators, which is why I didn't spot this earlier.

This is now fixed and the preview function should work as expected.

What do you call someone who:

- first, bullies someone out of active participation in Talossa;
- and then, runs a political party whose name and branding is a direct parody of that which their bullying victim used to run?

You'd call him a sex pest unanimously condemned by the Ziu.

One of the difference of opinion between me and the Progressive Alliance is that, while we agree that what this character did to @Sir Lüc was beyond the pale, I think exactly the same of what he did to @Munditenens Tresplet and @Bråneu Excelsio, UrN .

Compare and contrast, with emphasis added:

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on August 03, 2026, 11:56:36 AMStatement on 62RZ26 - The Democracy Act and Amendment
In Favor: This bill was crafted together by the Progressive Alliance.

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on June 02, 2026Okay, so this is legal text from myself, Miestra, and Mic'haglh.

This is not the first time we have gone through the cycle:

1. Talossan reformists agitate for a reform.
2. Baron Davinescu opposes that reform for a long while.
3. Eventually, Baron Davinescu comes around to supporting the reform.
4. Baron Davinescu takes it upon himself - quite assertively - to write the draft of the reform himself.
5. He then takes credit for the reform.

The Union of Free Reformists is the party of team government and we are also the party of giving credit where it is due.

Quote from: Garth Spencer on Yesterday at 03:59:25 PMDear Burgermeister,

I wish to re-register the following political party in the Cosa. Is it permissible for me to send you the registration fee by an e-transfer to this email? Is it permissible for me to send it on Friday, August 14th, which is one day after the stated deadline?

Particulars:

Full party name: The Independent Green Anarcho-Surrealist Party

Party leader:  Garth Spencer

General aims and views:  The Independent Green Anarcho-Surrealist Party aims to fight gravity and boredom in Talossan affairs by introducing levity, interest, and strange resolutions to the Cosa. We encourage all Talossans, especially elected representatives, to do something funny or at least surreal every day. Get surreal!

List of candidates: Garth Spencer

Yours,

Garþ Açafat

Azul Garth, I have moved your registration to the appropriate thread. (And took notice of it, and will be adding you to the ballot ASAP)

Tagging @xpb for how to pay the fee, but just wanted to point out the deadline for the fee is September 30 if you don't intend to send campaign mailers; if you pay earlier, you can send those as soon as you do, but you don't need to pay by August 13/14/15 to appear on the ballot.

Yeah, only Fiovans get to stand in these elections

Dear Burgermeister,

I wish to re-register the following political party in the Cosa. Is it permissible for me to send you the registration fee by an e-transfer to this email? Is it permissible for me to send it on Friday, August 14th, which is one day after the stated deadline?

Particulars:

Full party name: The Independent Green Anarcho-Surrealist Party

Party leader:  Garth Spencer

General aims and views:  The Independent Green Anarcho-Surrealist Party aims to fight gravity and boredom in Talossan affairs by introducing levity, interest, and strange resolutions to the Cosa. We encourage all Talossans, especially elected representatives, to do something funny or at least surreal every day. Get surreal!

List of candidates: Garth Spencer

Yours,

Garþ Açafat

Sent out: Aug 12, 2026, 2:21 PM TDT / 7:59 PM UTC
Submitted by: Mic'haglh Autófil on behalf of the Uniun dels Reformistaes Livereschti (URL)
Count: 1 of 1 allowed before Balloting Day

---

Azul Talossaes! / Greetings, Talossans!

It is once again time for a Talossan general election, and I am here to humbly request your vote for the Union of Free Reformists (URL).

We are the Opposition in the outgoing Cosă, but have also played a constructive role in working with the current Government party, the Progressive Alliance, over the last six months. We've ensured stability, offered a sensible alternative to politically extreme or otherwise unsavory parties, and have played a key role in passing some seriously good legislation to make Talossa more democratic -- some of which will be on your ballot this time!

However, we also recognize that Talossa needs a change of government. The Progressive Alliance's government has run out of steam. They came into office with the perspective that they would be able to hugely boost immigration - even double the population! They found out that was unrealistic and then burnt themselves out trying to do too much, with few of their members remaining active. In this election, they're offering a much more humble program of small initiatives.

The URL, however, are confident we can do better than that. The best part is that we have the resources and the plan to make it happen. Here are our three big goals for the 63rd Cosă:

- Front and center is our Democracy Agenda, a package of reforms to increase the influence that voters like you have on Talossan politics. Talossa's institutions should fit the Talossan people instead of the other way around, and the Democracy Agenda recognizes this and promotes common-sense changes to get us there.

- An immigration policy that focuses on recruiting the sort of people whose interests overlap with what Talossa has to offer. Immigration should be about setting the country up for long-term growth, instead of constantly needing to recuperate losses due to attrition and apathy.

- Government shouldn't be a single key figure working themselves to the bone just to come up short anyway. The URL recognizes that things work better when the folks getting things done are part of a team. It's something we take seriously, to the extent we practice it as a party ourselves -- collective leadership instead of one boss making all the decisions. We'll return Talossa to the tried-and-true method of Government By A Team.

There's quite a bit more information on our Wittenberg board, and we'd encourage you to check it out and get in the know. Polling starts this Saturday, August 15th; look forward to more good news from the URL then!

Ja Pevar Din 'n Uniun - There is Power in a Union!

Mic'haglh Autofil
President and Seneschal Candidate
Union of Free Reformists (URL)

Only six voters this time.

GROUP 9
1. Black Hole Sun - 15
2. Fix You - 9
3. On Melancholy Hill - 8
4. Jump Around - 5 _{(Round 3 last year)}
5. Nýfallið regn - 5 _{(Not participating last year)}
6. Vacanze Romane - 4 _{(1 voter giving 4 points)}
7. All Along the Watchtower - 4 _{(0 voters giving 4 points, 1 voter giving 3 points)}
8. Kashmir - 4 _{(0 voters giving 4 points, 0 voters giving 3 points)}
9. On the River - 3 _{(1 voter giving 3 points)}
10. Tri Martolod - 3 _{(0 voters giving 3 points)}

GROUP 10
1. Paranoid Android - 14
2. Baba O'Riley - 10
3. How Soon Is Now? - 9
4. Solsbury Hill - 7
5. The Universal - 6
6. Once in a Lifetime - 5
7. All Is Full of Love - 4 _{(1 voter giving 4 points)}
8. Live in the Moment - 4 _{(0 voters giving 4 points)}
9. Holiday in Cambodia - 1
10. Fifty-fifty Clown - 0

Party Name:
The Independent Progressive (BREN)

Party leader:
Breneir Tzaracomprada

50 word statement:
My readiness to serve the Kingdom endures as love for it will not allow me to withdraw. I call on all to summon the courage to look forward so we can move forward together. I will continue to serve my country. May this example inspire others to do the same.

Cosa list:
Just me :)