University of Colorado

University of Colorado Student Union Legislative Council

 

January 28, 2010                                                                      72LCB#8 – Revision to Candidate Ticket System

                                                                                                                    Concerning Representatives-at-large

                                                                                                       

 

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 Commmsioner                                                          

 

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 comprises 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. Hence, 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 limits on the number of candidates who may run on one ticket in Representative-at-large elections. By limiting the number to four (or three candidates in the spring elections) to form a single ticket for Representative-at-large seats, competition among candidates will be increased.

The goal of limiting ticket sizes is to gain greater representation for the student body. It will help to avoid all open seats being filled by candidates from a single ticket. This will ensure that different tickets have an opportunity to represent students on the council. 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)(3) as to what constitutes a ticket limit for Representatives-at-large. ______________________________________________________________________________________

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

 

 

Section 1: SECTION 101(b) (3) (b) of the UCSU Election Code shall read: Representative-at-large tickets                 may include up to three candidates.

 

Section 2: 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                                                           Failed on 1st reading                                                   6-8-1

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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