ALBION COLLEGE STUDENT SENATE
ELECTION CODE
REVISED 2007-2008
Preamble:
All candidates must carry on a fair campaign and abide by the campaign regulations in this Code
and as set by the Election Commission (EC). The Commission has the duty and the authority to
apply and interpret campaign regulations. The Commission will provide a copy of this election
code, and any other publication it deems necessary, to all candidates. Violation of any of this
election code will result in disqualification from the election. Should the candidate fail to rectify the
situation (within 24 hours of notification of the Election Commissioner) she/he will be disqualified
from the election. If the candidate wishes to contest her/his disqualification she/he may appeal to
the Senate Ethics Board. Campaigning is defined as any promotional activity on behalf of a
candidate conducted on an impersonal, one-to-many basis.
1. Fairness
All campaigns will be run in an ethical manner with mutual respect shown toward other
candidates at all times. Candidates will be held responsible for instructing all supporters to follow
these campaign regulations. Candidates will be held responsible if any campaign worker does not
follow election regulations. Candidates will be held responsible for knowingly allowing a campaign
supporter to violate the rules of the EC or this code. The candidate is responsible for notifying the
Election Commissioner of violations or possible violations that occurred without his/her prior
knowledge.
2. Slander and Libel
Neither slander nor libel will be tolerated in any campaign. Slander is defined as the utterance of
a falsehood that damages another candidate’s reputation unjustly. Libel is defined as any written
or printed matter tending to injure a person's reputation unjustly or the act of publishing such a
thing. At minimum, any slanderous or libelous statements will result in a sanction requiring
retraction and public apology.
3. Campaign Time Limits
Public campaigning for office may begin after the candidates’ meeting, as scheduled by the EC.
4. Campaigning on Election Day
a. Candidates may not campaign orally or promote themselves on a one-to-on basis within fifty
feet, or in the same building, of any polling place while the polls are open. If the polling place is
located on the outside of any building, campaigning may not occur within audible or visible range
of the building. Once polls have opened on the first day of elections, no additional campaign
materials may be posted in the venue in which elections will take place.
5. Campaign Regulations
a. All candidates for the Albion College Student Senate may only use personal funds to
advocate their campaigns.
b. Should a candidate wish to question the results of an election he or she must do so within 24
hours after the election results are posted.
c.
No more than one posting per bulletin board is allowed.
d. Financial disclosure statements and receipts must be turned in at the request of the EC.
e. All students who run an active write-in campaign will be subject to the same campaigning
regulations as those who submitted letters of intent (i.e., campaign policies, spending limits, etc..).
f.
No write-in candidate who may receive the majority of votes for any position will be certified
as the winner until the election.
g. Candidates must be ethical in the content of all campaign materials and publicity. Ethical
campaigning is defined as campaigning free from slander and libel, and will not portray use of
tobacco, alcohol, drugs or illegal activities, and will not portray offensive materials. Sole discretion
will be left to the election commissioner and ethics board.
h. Facebook, aim profiles, myspace, email, livejournal and other internet mediums of
campaigning are considered public domain, as they can be viewed by anybody, and shall adhere
to the rules set for other campaign materials.
i. During the election no incentives can be distributed in any public place on campus.
6. Election Publicity Provided by the Election Commission
The EC will make arrangements for:
a. Coverage of the Albion College Student Senate elections in the Pleiad or appropriate public
forum.
b.
An optional public debate forum among those seeking offices.
c.
Non-partisan banners or posters marking the polls and urging students to vote.
d.
Letters of intent and other important election information available on the Senate homepage.
e. Any other activities that will increase student interest in Albion College Student Senate and in
voting.
7. Campaign Posting:
All postings in campus buildings must be put on public area bulletin boards. Respect should be
shown by not removing, covering, and defacing other organization or candidate’s posters.
College staff will regularly remove outdated materials.
Sheet signs may be hung according to college policies. The Vulgamore showcase can also be
reserved through the Campus Programs and Organizations office (KC 3rd floor) for displays and
event advertising. Residence hall student room door postings must remain on the door only and
be kept to a minimum for fire safety purposes. Postings on windows, walls, doors, trees,
sidewalks, etc.., are not permitted. Removal of these postings and repair of any damage caused
maybe done at the expense of the individual or group responsible.
8.
Procedure
a. For fall first-year/transfer elections, each first-year/transfer student will be eligible to vote for
Senators during a date and time set by the EC.
b. For the second semester election that is set to fill seats that are currently filled by interim
senators “there shall be an election that takes place during the second week of the second
semester” (Article 11: Section 1.C.1).
c. Each poll will have a minimum of two poll workers. Anyone may work at a poll, except a
candidate who is running for a position that will be voted on at that poll. A list of voting instructions
must be available at all polls. Each poll will have a list of students eligible to vote at that poll. All
voters must be able to present a valid College I.D. upon the demand of the poll workers.
d. A poll worker must not discuss the substance of an election, except to instruct voters in the
process, and should discourage others from doing so within 50 feet of the poll.
e. The Commission will have the power to enact any necessary procedures to ensure election
security.
9. Ballots
a. The Commission will be the sole provider of ballots for any election and will be responsible
for ballot security.
b. The Commission will arrange for the counting of ballots. No persons other that the Election
Commissioner, Associate Commissioners, and authorized counters may be present at the
counting.
c. At no time will results be released before the count is completed.
d. Names shall appear in alphabetical order by last name, with all incumbent candidates
appearing at the top of the ballot and identified accordingly.
e.
All ballots will have at least two slots for write-in candidates.
f. If a candidate contests an election the authority over that election will be immediately
transferred to the Ethics Board, who will have the authority and autonomy to take such actions it
deems necessary and prudent to ensure a fair election process.
10. Enforcement
a. Campaign Violations: All violations must be brought to the attention of the Election
Commissioner immediately. He/she will research the solution and, if necessary, make the
decision by himself/herself or call an emergency meeting of the EC to review possible sanctions.
b. The Commission, if violations of election practices are found, may impose any sanction
deemed necessary, including but not limited to the following:
(1)
Removal of campaign literature;
(2) Suspension of a candidate's campaign privileges;
(3)
Removal of a candidate from the election ballot;
(4)
Cancellation or invalidation of any or all races;
c.
Referral to College Judicial Board.
(1) The Commission may refer any student to the College judicial process and the Vice President
for Student Affairs, who, upon investigation, is deemed to have defrauded other members of the
student body with regards to the election process. This includes campaign workers or supporters
who have campaigned for another in any way, and write-in candidates who have campaigned for
them in any way.
d. All violations or possible violations must be reported within 24 hours after the announcement
of election results.
e. The Commissioner will have the authority to enforce all decisions dealing with the election as
indicated in this Code or a majority vote of the Commission.
f. A candidate may appeal a Commission decision to the Ethics Board. A two-thirds (2/3) vote
of the Ethics Board shall constitute a reversal of the Commissions decision. The Ethics Board
shall only have the authority (with a two-thirds vote) to:
(1) Sustain a commission decision;
(2)
Overrule a commission decision, thus referring the issue back the EC for a new decision;
g. Declare a new election to occur, in the event that it is concluded that the commission is in
gross and uncorrectable violation of the Albion College Student Senate Constitution.
11.
Recounts, Appeals, and Validation
a. After the ballots have been counted to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, he/she will
certify the results. Announcement of the results will then be made to the candidates and public.
b. Candidates may request a recount from the Election Commissioner, in writing, within 24
hours of certification.
c. The EC must respond to all recount requests within 24 hours of the request.
d. A candidate may make an appeal of a Commission decision in writing to the Ethics Board
within 24 hours of notification of a Commission decision.
e.
The Ethics Board must respond to an appeal request within 24 hours.
f. All appeals, protests, or requests must be written and delivered to the any Ethics Board
member within the indicated time limits.
12.
Tallying Procedures
a. Elections for Senators will be determined by the number of votes cast for the prespective
member. Each student will have one vote in the President/Vice President race and one vote for
every open Senate seat in the general body race for which he/she is eligible to vote. If there is a
tie, a special runoff election will be held.
b. The Student Senate President and Vice President will be decided by the candidate receiving
the most votes.