University of Colorado

University of Colorado Student Union Legislative Council

 

January 28, 2009                                                                      72LCB#6 – Reform of UCSU Election Code

              Write-In Candidate System

 

Sponsored by:

                                                                        Daniel Ramos                           Tri-Executive

                                                                        Blaine Pellicore             Legislative Council President

                                                                        Alexander Schnell                     Election Commissioner

 Tom Higginbotham                   Tri-Executive

                                                                        Christine Thai                           Tri-Executive

                                                                        Danielle Warly              Assistant Election Commissioner

 

Authored by:                                                    Alexander Schnell                     Election Commissioner

                                                                        Daniel Ramos                           Tri-Executive

                                                                        Blaine Pellicore             Legislative Council President

                                                                       

 

Reform of UCSU Election Code Write-In Candidate System

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Bill History

 

The UCSU Election Code as it stands allows for write-in candidates to appear on UCSU election ballots. While this system has been valuable in the past, the write-in process needs reform. In order for a candidate to become a write-in they must apply to the UCSU Election Commission in order to be verified as a full-fee-paying student, and thus an eligible candidate. They may do this up until one week before the election. Once a student is verified as an eligible candidate, the Election Commissioner will put the student on the ballot. It is then at the discretion of the Election Commissioner as to whether that candidate may attend candidate events and/or be publicized at the expense of the Election Commission’s budget. While there are ideological arguments for the continuation of the status quo of the write-in system, there are also equality issues to argue.

 

Candidates who run as write-ins do not have to go through the petition process. Thus, while the formal candidates had to collect signatures of support to run, all a write-in must do is come the day after petitions are due and sign up to be a candidate. Clearly, this does not seem fair to the candidates who did petition work. There is also the issue as to whether it is ethical to use student fees to promote a candidate that didn’t petition students to run for office. Instead of arguing for a meticulous structure of how the write-in process should work, there is a simple solution to the system.

 

As of now, the write-in system functions well as a backup mechanism to fill seats when there are not enough formal candidates running to fill positions. Therefore, it is a necessary process to use when there needs to be quick recruitment to fill elected positions. However, in a contested election, when there are enough formal candidates running to fill seats, the write-in system should remain inactive. By making this slight change, the process is able to remain in the bylaws to function as a backup procedure for empty seats, while not stifling competition among formal candidates in a competitive election          

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Bill Summary

 

This bill will amend § 403 of the UCSU Election Code to reflect the new procedures for allowing a write-in candidate to appear on the ballot.

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

Section 1: SECTION 403 (a) (1) of the UCSU Election Code shall read: Write-in candidates may only                                    appear on the ballot if there are not enough § 402 (d) declared candidates                                                         running to fill all vacant seats in an election.

 

Section 2: SECTION 403 (a) (2) of the UCSU Election Code shall read: Separate from the situation                           described in § 403(a)(1), write-in candidates may be permitted to appear on the ballot under                 extreme circumstances at the discretion of the Election Commissioner.

 

Section 3: 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                                                            Passed on 1st reading                                     Acclamation

2/4/10                                                              Passed on 2nd reading                                    Acclamation

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_____________________                                                                                                               _____________________

Blaine Pellicore                                                                                     Thomas Higginbotham

Legislative Council President                                                                  Tri-Executive

 

 

 

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Daniel Ramos                                                                                       Christine Thai

Tri-Executive                                                                                        Tri-Executive