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2007-2008 Campaign and
Election Handbook
Whether you are running for office, or just following campaign action, a student’s most important role is voting. Voting will occur online the day of the election from 8:00 a.m. to midnight. In the event online voting isn’t available, voting polls will be located in the Knutson Campus Center, Offutt Concourse, the Library, and Ivers Science Building as possible locations. The Knutson Campus Center voting booth will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Other locations’ voting times may vary.
Students studying abroad may vote online. In the event online voting is
not available, absentee balloting will be made available to students
studying abroad. In all absentee balloting situations, students must
contact the Election Marshal (sgaelect@cord.edu) individually.
Additionally, should a student be off-campus and unable to reach a
computer, so long as the Election Marshal is contacted prior to the
election, voting will be possible. For General Election Rules please refer to Article V of the SGA Constitution and Article II of the SGA Bylaws available online or by contacting the Election Marshal. Sec. 1. The Elections and Credentials Council Cl. 1. Shall serve as the council responsible for coordinating and publicizing all Student Government Association elections. Cl. 2. The Election Marshal shall in consultation with the office of the Student Advocate and a member of the executive team, interpret and enforce the election rules and regulations. All of the Election Marshal’s decisions regarding election rules and regulations are final and binding, subject to the filing of a written appeal to the Elections and Credentials Council ASAP or within 48 hours following the declaration of the results. Cl. 3. The Election Marshal shall announce general election dates at the Interest Meeting regarding those who wish to run for office. Cl. 4. The Election Marshal shall be responsible for setting petition due dates. Cl. 5. The Election Marshal shall not have the power to alter due dates or election dates once they have been publicly announced, unless they obtain 4/5 approval of the Elections and Credentials Council.Sec. 2. Election Procedures Cl. 1. Prior to the opening of petitioning for the general election, the Election Marshal shall schedule a meeting with prospective candidates to explain and answer questions concerning eligibility requirements for running (academic and disciplinary standing), election rules, and shall personally provide each candidate with a copy of the election rules. All candidates not attending the meeting shall be responsible for obtaining copies of the rules and abiding by them. Cl. 2. The petitions will be due within a week of the interest meeting; both dates will be set by the Election Marshal. Cl. 3. All approved petitions shall be kept by the Election Marshal or an appointed proxy. Cl. 4. All candidates must be members of Student Association, as defined by the Constitution and meet eligibility requirements also defined by the Student Government Association Constitution and Bylaws. Cl. 5. The ballot shall include voting instructions, titles of positions to be filled, and eligible candidates. Cl. 6. Ballot counts shall be done by the Election Marshal, an official observer as appointed by the ECC, and a Student Advocate. Upon certification, all candidates will be notified by e-mail. Results will be made public to the students thereafter.Cl. 7. A recount may be requested by any candidate in the election. Requests should be directed to the Election Marshal. All parties involved shall be notified via e-mail and the recount shall be completed within 24 hours of the request. Cl. 8. In the event of a tie, within 24 hours of the official results being released, the Election Marshal shall set a date for a run off election between the tied candidates for the contested slot. This election will be held within 1 week if possible. Sec. 3. President/Vice President Cl. 1. The President/Vice President shall be elected as a team in February. Cl. 2. Candidates must present 300 signatures from members of Student Association to the Election Marshal in order to have their names included on the ballot, so long as other specified rules are followed. Cl. 3. Candidates will be introduced to the Student Body in some manner as determined by the ECC prior to the general election. Cl. 4. All candidates will be notified within 12 hours, via e-mail, of any date changes that may occur within the petitioning period and in the time before the elections.Cl. 5. Presidential/Vice Presidential elections shall be held no earlier than one week after petitions are due. Cl. 6. In the general election, no more than one vote shall be cast for this office. Cl. 7. President/Vice President shall be elected on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday in February, and will be President/Vice President Elect until the first Tuesday in April. Sec. 4. Class Representatives Cl. 1. The Senior, Junior, and Sophomore Class Representatives shall be elected on the same day as the President/Vice President and the Freshmen Class Representative will be elected in September, if possible. Cl. 2. Each of the candidates must present 75 signatures to the Election Marshal in order to have that person’s name on the ballot. These must be submitted to the location indicated on petition form. Cl. 3. Signatures must be Student Association members and from the respective candidate’s constituency. (Example: if the candidate is running for sophomore class representative, he/she shall have signatures from current freshmen).Cl. 4. Candidates will be introduced to the Student Body in some manner as determined by the ECC prior to the general election. Cl. 5. Class Representative elections shall be held no earlier than one week after petitions are due. Cl. 6. All candidates will be notified within 12 hours, by e-mail, of any date changes that may occur within the petitioning period and time before the elections. Cl. 7. In the general election, no more than two votes shall be cast within your respective class. Cl. 8. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the Student Involvement Council or the Elections and Credentials Council more than one month prior to a general election, a special election shall be set by the Elections and Credentials Commissioner to occur one week after the close of a petitioning period. In the event that the vacancy falls less than one month prior to the scheduled elections the seat shall be filled by the Elections and Credentials Council. The Elections and Credentials Council may, by two-thirds margin, vote to suspend the special election and call for the position to be filled according to the appointment procedure when circumstances deem necessary as verified by the office of Student Advocate. In case of appointment, the Elections and Credentials Commissioner shall be directed to publish an application period not to exceed one week for student eligibility to fill the vacancy. The ECC shall then conduct interviews with the prospective candidates and make their decision within one week following the close of the application period.Sec. 5. Campaign Regulations Cl. 1. All campaigning shall be conducted in an ethical fashion; violations of which, such as lies, deceptions or misinformation, shall be considered violations of campaign regulations. Cl. 2. Candidates for President/Vice President shall be limited to no more than $400.00 for formal campaign expenses. A. Each campaign will be expected to keep records of its expenses and turn them in, along with receipts, to the Election Marshal at his/her request. B. Failure to file records in a timely manner will result in a fine. Cl. 3. Candidates for Class Representative shall be limited to no more than $100.00 for formal campaign expenses. A. Each campaign will be expected to keep records of its expenses and turn them in, along with receipts, to the Election Marshal at his/her request. B. Failure to file records in a timely manner will result in a fine. Cl. 4. The campaign will begin at 5:00 p.m. on the day the petitions are due, or at the conclusion of the meeting on the day when petitions are due. Cl. 5. Campaign posters are subject to the following regulations on campus: A. Posters may be placed on the interior surfaces made of brick or glass (with the exception of glass doors), and general informational bulletin boards. B. Posters are forbidden on painted surfaces, subject to regulations for individual buildings. C. Posters can’t be placed on educational bulletin boards. D. In Olin, material must be placed near water fountains, and absolutely not on any form of artwork. E. Posters may not be placed on exterior surfaces. F. Posters shall not cover or block previously placed posters. G. On election day, candidates’ posters may only be in an individual’s room or on the door. Cl. 6. All campaign materials in the general election shall be removed by midnight preceding the election. Cl. 7. Campaigning on election day shall be limited to casual conversation, articles worn on the person, articles displayed within dormitory rooms, or on personal door room doors unless otherwise stipulated by the Election Marshal. Cl. 8. Penalties will be imposed for violations of election rules, by the Election Marshal, as to include any or all of the following: A. Disqualifications B. Monetary Fines: a. The Election Marshal will handle all fines or penalties as follows: A fine not to exceed $20.00 shall be levied for each infraction and immediate removal of the campaign materials. b. Multiple voting shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $20.00. C. Any action taken may be appealed to the Elections and Credentials Council. Addendum Any campaign materials submitted to the general student body through the campus post office must be pre-approved by Paulette Dixon, Manager of the Post Office. All campaign related mail must be submitted to the campus post office no later than 2 business days prior to the election date.
In the Student Government Association offices, campaigning shall be
limited to casual conversation and articles worn on people. The use of
the Student Government Association materials and offices for campaigning
purposes is prohibited. There are a variety of places candidates may go for assistance in running their campaigns. Below are places to find supplies, advice, answers, and assistance. The Cornerstone The Cornerstone is located on the second floor of the Campus Center and provides supplies to students at low cost. Supplies include poster board, buttons, paper, glue, markers, etc. Students can also find balloons, streamers, and ribbons.
Professional Staff Contacts
Nathalie Miller, Assistant Director of Student Involvement
Chelle Lyons-Hanson,
Assistant Dean of
Student Leadership and Service 2008 Spring Election Marshal
Todd Robley, Election Marshal,
The Elections and Credentials Council
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Questions regarding the SGA Campaign & Election Handbook? Contact the Election Marshal at sgaelect@cord.edu |
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