University of Colorado
University of Colorado Student Union
Legislative Council
January 28, 2010 72LCB#7 – Revision to
Candidate Ticket System
Sponsored by: Daniel
Ramos Tri-Executive
Blaine
Pellicore Legislative
Council President
Alexander
Schnell Election
Commissioner
Christine
Thai Tri-Executive
Danielle
Warly Assistant Election
Commissioner
Authored by: Daniel
Ramos Tri-Executive
Alexander
Schnell Election
Commissioner
Blaine
Pellicore Legislative
Council President
Revision to Candidate Ticket System
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Bill History
As the UCSU Election Code stands, there is no direct
mention of a formal ticket system for candidates, and thus no rules that would
govern such a system. The term ticket does not appear anywhere in the UCSU
Election Code. In order to formalize and regulate this de facto
system of candidate tickets, the Election Code needs to be revised.
Traditionally, a ticket has been a group of students who choose to run together
on a single platform. This practice gives a two-fold advantage. First, the code
allows the candidates on the ticket to collect petition signatures as one single
entity. Therefore, each individual candidate on the ticket does not have to get
all the required signatures to run, and the entire ticket can combine their
signatures to reach the total requirement. Secondly, the candidates on these
tickets receive a campaigning advantage through name recognition of their
accompanying platform. While the practice of tickets has significant
advantages, it needs to be structured in a way that encourages fair competition
among candidates. Therefore, it is necessary to place a restriction on the
number of candidates who can be placed on one ticket in an Executive election.
By limiting the number of candidates to three on an executive ticket,
competition will be increased in elections. Revising the Election Code to
incorporate and regulate an official ticket system will further help legitimize
the student government’s actions by creating the best possible representation
for the student body.
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Bill Summary
This bill will create a definition in § 101(b) as to
what constitutes a ticket. This bill will also amend § 402(b) of the UCSU
Election Code to stipulate that candidates may run on tickets, however they
must adhere to the definition of a ticket set forth in § 101(b).
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THEREFORE BE IT ENACTED by the Legislative Council of
the University of Colorado Student Union, THAT,
Section 1: SECTION 101(b) (3) of the UCSU Election Code shall read: Ticket: A ticket consists of multiple candidates who petition for candidacy and run a campaign under the same platform and name. Executive(s) tickets may contain up to three candidates.
Section 2: SECTION 101(b) (3) (a) of the UCSU Election Code shall read: Executive(s) tickets may contain up to three candidates.
Section 3: SECTION 402(b) (4) of the UCSU Election Code shall read: Multiple applicants may appear on the same petition, and be known as a ticket, as long as that petition indicates the name of each applicant, the office sought by each applicant, and the political party affiliation, if declared, of each applicant. If multiple applicants appear on a petition, each signature shall be counted as though independently provided for each individual applicant.
Section 4: SECTION 402(b) (5) of the UCSU Election Code shall read: All eligible candidates who form a ticket are bound by the definition of a ticket set forth in § 101(b) (3) of the UCSU Election Code.
Section 5: SECTION 402(b) of the UCSU Election Code shall read: A Representative at Large ticket shall
consist of a maximum of one minus the total number of open seats.
Section 6: After one year of enactment, Section 5 of this bill will expire unless agreed upon by a supermajority of the Legislative Council to enact indefinitely.
Section
7: 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 Amended
Section 5 and added Section 6 9-7-1
2/4/10 Failed
on 2nd reading 9-6-2
(2/3
majority needed to amend Election Code)
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_____________________ _____________________
Blaine Pellicore Thomas
Higginbotham
Legislative Council President Tri-Executive
_____________________ _____________________
Daniel Ramos Christine
Thai
Tri-Executive Tri-Executive