University of Colorado

University of Colorado Student Union Legislative Council

 

January 28, 2010                                                                    72LCB#3 – Candidate Petition Signature                                                                                                                          Requirement Reform                                                                                                             

 

Sponsored by:                                     Daniel Ramos                          Tri-Executive

                                                                       Blaine Pellicore                        Legislative Council President

                                                                       Alexander Schnell                    Election Commissioner

                                                                       Christine Thai                          Tri-Executive  

                                              

 

Authored by:                                                   Daniel Ramos                          Tri-Executive

                                                                       Alexander Schnell                    Election Commissioner

                                                                       Blaine Pellicore                        Legislative Council President

 

Candidate Petition Signature Requirement Reform

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Bill History

 

Upon declaring an interest in running for UCSU elections, candidates must obtain a petition and collect signatures from their peers in order to get on the ballot. This process was intended to allow/encourage students to talk to those signing their petition about running for election, their ideas, and to ask for their support. The number of signatures required has been a barrier to students making it onto the ballot. The number of students who obtain petitions from UCSU and declare their intent to run is far less than the number of students who turn in completed petitions to put them on the ballot. With the number of required signatures being so high, potential candidates have to focus on getting a lot of signatures in a small amount of time, therefore causing them to focus more on numbers than on connecting with students. With this change, students have more opportunity to speak with other students and garner their support through the petition process.

An additional intention of this legislation is to provide more opportunity for competitive elections. Lower signature requirements will give more opportunity for more tickets and/or independent candidates to get on the ballot. The intention is that more competitive elections will yield higher voter turnout in UCSU elections.

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Bill Summary

 

This bill will rewrite § 402(b) (2) and (3) of the UCSU Election Code to lower the number of candidate petition signatures required for both Executive and Representative-at-large candidates.

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THEREFORE BE IT ENACTED by the Legislative Council of the University of Colorado Student Union, THAT,

Section 1: SECTION 402(b) (2) shall read: Applicants for candidacy for Representative-at-large shall submit a petition with valid signatures and student identification numbers from 75 registered UCSU fee-paying students.

 

Section 2: SECTION 402(b) (3) shall read: Applicants for Executive shall submit a petition with valid                                   signatures and student identification numbers from 150 registered UCSU fee-paying students.

 

Section 3: SECTION 402(b)(4) shall read: Each individual candidate shall be responsible for obtaining their signatures. Therefore, only one name shall appear on a petition and also include the office sought by         the candidate. If declared, the petition may also include the name of the candidate’s ticket.

 

Section 43: This bill shall take effect upon passage by the Legislative Council and upon either obtaining the                signatures of two Tri-Executives or the lapse of six days without action by the Tri-Executives.

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Vote Count:

1/28/10                                               Amendment on number of signatures                                             8-6-1

1/28/10                       Amendment changing number of signatures and adding new Section 3   7-5-3

1/28/10                                                           Passed on 1st reading                                               Acclamation

2/4/10                                                             Passed on 2nd reading                                              Acclamation

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Blaine Pellicore                                                                                   Thomas Higginbothaem

Legislative Council President                                                               Tri-Executive

 

 

 

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Daniel Ramos                                                                                     Christine Thai

Tri-Executive                                                                                      Tri-Executive