News

SGA schedules special election for Oct. 24-30

By Matt Quane
mquane@mscd.edu

Metro's Student Government Assembly has approved the timeline for the special election and passed new election commission bylaws.

The bylaws, which were written by new commission chair Richard Boettner along with former Metro student trustee Harris Singer and members of the SGA senate, outline new provisions on special elections and proper conduct of candidates.

Voting for a special election will be held Oct. 24 through Oct. 30 to fill the presidential position and 11 contested senatorial seats left unfilled after the election during the Spring Semester.

Following the disqualification of presidential candidate Zoë Williams and other candidates by the commission during the spring election, the Student Court ruled that an electoral code of ethics must be created, and that a special election must be held by Oct. 31.

Any Metro student wishing to run for president or any of the open senate positions must complete an intent-to-run form, along with the requisite number of signatures, by Sept. 28. Both forms are available at the SGA office, located in Tivoli Room 307.

SGA interim President Dennis Bergquist estimated that at least 24 students had picked up intent forms as of Sept. 20. He said although the SGA was not able to fill the 15 vacant senate positions-or the minimum 12 required-in the spring election, he's confident that won't be the case this fall.

"I am very optimistic we're going to fill all the senate seats," Bergquist said.

All students who meet the qualifications to run in the election will begin their campaigning on Oct. 3.

The revised election commission bylaws specify that only Metro computer labs are recognized as official polling stations, however because voting is conducted electronically, online, through MetroConnect, any student can vote legitimately from any computer. This provision was added due to the disqualification of Williams based on a complaint from Metro student Anna Davis, who accused Williams and her supporters of violating state law by conducting a private polling station.

Williams, former SGA Attorney General Will Safford, former election commission chair Alan Franklin and other supporters set up laptops with wireless Internet access outside the Arts Building urging students to vote in the election.

Under the new bylaws, such a setup would be prohibited because they specifically invite students to use the machines to vote, Boettner said. The election commission will refer to state law regarding the definition of a private polling station.

Setting up a private polling station could carry a violation of 10 points, a new provision added to the revised bylaws. Under this new point system, an individual, party or referendum could be disqualified and taken off the ballot for 10 accumulated points.

The new election commission bylaws are actually old bylaws. Boettner adapted the bylaws previously in place during the Spring 2003 election, when he also served as commission chair. The document also borrows concepts from other schools' election guidelines.

"It clarifies a lot of points," Boettner said. "It takes candidates and holds them responsible for their actions and it lays out the rules in a very clear and concise manner."

Todd Zinck, who was the chair of the election commission during the spring election, resigned from the commission this month, leaving commissioner Boettner as chair.

Last week, Danielle Kelly was appointed by the SGA as an election commissioner, leaving one more spot to fill on the commission in order to achieve quorum.

Boettner said the SGA is expected to appoint a third commissioner to meet quorum, or the necessary number of members of a group in order to hold legitimate meetings.