The International Star Ship Beacon is a generation ship, making the long Journey to Alpha Centauri.
Right so the Captain and Crew (trained for maintenance, food production, etc etc) have long had an advisory council of “colonists” to consult on the running of the ship. However as of late there has been growing discontent with the unelected Captaincy (we’re about half a generation into the voyage). So for the first time, a Council election, based on the subdivisions in each Habitation Ring (which are of roughly equal population).
The Beacon Residents Association is the group supportive of the Captain and the Crew. In fact, the Crew and their families and friends makes up the bulk of the voting base for the BRA. They are very much the status quo party. Doles of Food and Rec time, crack down on illegal activity, and keep the professionals in charge, not the people. Were expected to do well, and coming in 3rd was a major upset.
The Citizen’s Alliance was the major force pushing for Elections in the first place. Reform types to the core. Big on gradual changes, sharing power. Many of them are non-ship management specialists or service providers. Many have some ties to the black market, although that’s pretty well in the open. Favor some liberalization, namely the right to exchange rations with others. Won the most seats, but less than was expected.
MORE is the most radical of the groups running, finding support among those who have found themselves less satisfied with the status quo. In particular those who resent what they see as an overbearing Crew and stifling conditions on the ship. Not so stupid as to think they can just depose the trained managers of the ship’s systems, but are definitely of the opinion civilians should be the top dog. Most popular with ship born kids.
The ship was a joint European-American-Chinese project mostly, and all of those groups are represented fairly well on board. Slight tendencies towards MOVE, CA, BRA respectively but generally all the big players are represented. The other large group are South Asians (mainly Indians but a few other countries as well) who have carved out a strong community in Hab Ring 2. Somewhat parochial and alienated, they’ve formed the South Asian Congress to protect their interests.
True Light is, well, a ship born religion at best, a cult at worst. Believe those aboard are the next stage of evolution, that Alpha Centauri is the ‘true light’ compared to the ‘false sun’ of Earth. A rising force among ship born residents, although its heavily discouraged by the Crew. The fact that it got over 10% of the vote is very concerning to some, although the FPTP system hurt them badly.