Graduate Student Government of Northern Arizona University Election Code

Transcription

1 Article I. Definitions Section 1. GSG Graduate Student Government of Northern Arizona University Election Code The Graduate Student Government of Northern Arizona University shall herein after be referred to as GSG. Section 2. GSG Elections Director 2.1 The GSG Elections Director is established and sanctioned by GSG to monitor the GSG general, special, and run-off elections. The Elections Director is vested with the authority to interpret and enforce the GSG Election Code. The Director will be appointed by the GSG Officers with majority approval from the GSG voting body. The Elections Director must be a full-time NAU Graduate Student. An Officer or Representative may be appointed as Elections Director. 2.2 The Elections Director will provide each candidate with specific rules based on campaigning and campaign materials after confirming the Candidates. These rules will be established by the current Elections Director and supersede those in the elections code. Section 3. Candidates A candidate is defined as any NAU student attempting to fill an office in GSG in a general, special, or run-off election that has legally submitted a Statement of Candidacy to become an official candidate of a general or special election as outlined by the GSG Elections Director and has met all other requirements as outlined in the GSG Bylaws. Candidates will have their names placed on the elections ballot by the GSG Elections Director for an election. Section 4. Statement of Candidacy A Statement of Candidacy is one which has been certified by the GSG Elections Director as valid, containing all of the required information requested. A Statement of Candidacy Example is found in the Appendix, Item I. Section 5. Campaigning Campaigning shall be defined as any public action to persuade members of the student body to vote for a candidate(s). Campaigning includes but is not limited to table tents, buttons, electronic forums, or any form of advertising initiated by the candidate to persuade members of the student body to vote for a candidate. All campaigning must be done in accordance with the NAU Advertising Policy. Due to a constant change in technology and candidate innovation, this 1

2 section may be interpreted and adapted by the Elections Director in order to adapt with new situations. Section 6. Elections 6.1 A general election occurs annually during the Spring semester for the purpose of electing the Officer and Representatives for the following academic year. 6.2 All general elections for GSG shall be completed a minimum of 40 days before the spring semester completion for purposes of transitioning and educating newly elected officials into positions. Section 7. Undergraduate Student Guidelines Undergraduate students of NAU are ineligible to run for a position or vote in the GSG General Elections. Section 8. Electors An elector is defined as any duly registered and currently enrolled full-time or part-time graduate student attending NAU. Section 9. Plurality Plurality shall be defined as the candidate who receives the highest number of votes. Section 10. Complaints An official complaint relates to the alleged violations of the GSG Election Code, Constitution, Bylaws, or the NAU Student Handbook by candidates. Section 11. Plaintiff(s) A plaintiff is one who files a written complaint with the GSG Elections Director against a candidate. Section 12. Defendant(s) A defendant is one against whom a complaint has been filed with the GSG Elections Director. Section 13. Violation A violation is any action, or lack of action, which is contrary to specific sections of the GSG Election Code, Constitution, Bylaws, the NAU Advertising Policy, or the NAU Student Handbook. 2

3 Section 14. Polling Place The polling place is any public location where the electors cast their votes for any particular office Polling places include any public computer lab Only ASNAU and GSG may set up designated or undesignated polling places Candidates may not campaign within 100 feet (100 ) from polling places. Section 1. Location Article II. Campaign Materials and Locations 1.1 Campaign material may be placed anywhere that is allowed by the University Advertising Policy. 1.2 Campaigning within a classroom while that class is in session is prohibited without the instructors consent. 1.3 Campaigning may not take place within one-hundred feet of a polling place on Election Day, nor within any university maintained computer labs on campus. 1.4 No campaigning prior to the fourteen (14) days before the election. Section 2. Removal of Campaign Materials 2.1 All candidates must remove all campaign material by 5:00pm two (2) days following the elections polls closing. 2.2 The Elections Director will provide each candidate with specific rules based on campaigning and campaign materials after confirming the Candidates. 2.3 If any issue arises, then a candidate or the Elections Director may take a complaint to the GSG Officers for their ruling. Section 3. Candidate Responsibility 3.1 Any candidate who destroys, removes, defaces, places their candidate s materials over another candidate s or otherwise damages any campaign material of another candidate will be in violation of the Election Code. 3.2 All candidates are responsible for all material covered at any and all official GSG Elections Director candidate meetings. Article III. Code of Violations and Prescriptions 3

4 Section 1. Candidate Responsibility 1.1 All candidates shall be held accountable for knowledge of the GSG Election Code and the GSG Constitution, Bylaws, and NAU Student Handbook. Failure to read any section of the previously mentioned documents does not constitute a defense for any violation of said Election Code, GSG Constitution, Bylaws, or the NAU Student Handbook. 1.2 Any candidate may request an advisory option from the Elections Commission on any provision of the Election Code which may appear to be vague or unclear. 1.3 Anyone wishing to file a complaint with the Elections Director must do so in writing within two (2) working days of the alleged violation. Section 2. Elections Director Responsibility Upon receipt of an official complain the Elections Director will review the merits of the complaint and answer the complaint within two (2) working days. Section 3. Hearings In the instance of an official complaint, both plaintiff and the defendant will be provided an opportunity to present their side of their case at an official hearing. The Elections Director will hear both presentations and may ask questions to clarify issues. After both sides have explained their positions, the Elections Director will consider appropriate outcomes, including sanctions. The decisions of the Director will be in writing and will be available to both parties within two (2) working days of the completion of the hearing. The Elections Director must resolve all complaints within seven (7) days of receiving any complaint. Under extreme circumstances, this time can be extended to no later than ten (10) days. Section 4. Sanctions 4.1 The GSG Elections Director shall have the authority to levy sanctions against any candidate who violates this Election Code, only after a proper hearing has been conducted. 4.2 If a plaintiff or the defendant does not feel their complaint has been duly handled or resolved by the Elections Director, they may have their case heard by the GSG Officers. The GSG Officers will then have the authority to levy sanctions in the same manner as the Elections Director would. 4.3 The following is a complete list of sanctions to be implemented by the GSG Elections Director or the GSG Officers for any and all violations that occur during the election process: 1) written warning; 2) disqualification from running in a GSG general or special election; 3) limit campaigning in varying degrees; 4) non-certification of a winner. If a violation is made which results in one candidate receiving a large 4

5 advantage over another candidate, or has potentially swayed the votes of many students, that candidate must be disqualified even if they have received the plurality of votes. Section 5. Enforcement 5.1 The enforcement of the Election Code shall be the responsibility of the Elections Director. The Elections Director shall have the duty to initiate and proceed with any measures or procedures required for the enforcement of the Election Code. Article IV. GSG Complex Section 1. Integrity and Objectivity To ensure the integrity and objectivity of GSG, all GSG Officers shall be prohibited from the following 1) formally endorsing any candidate for office; 2) using any GSG capital equipment, facilities, and/or office supplies for the express purpose of advancing individual candidates for office; 3) displaying or disbursing any campaign materials on behalf of an individual candidate(s) for office. 1.1 Any candidate may cite any previous or current GSG work or experience for the purpose of their campaign. 1.2 Candidates running in a GSG election may not endorse or aid in the campaign of another candidate. 1.3 GSG Officers running as a candidate may not be involved in any elections processes. 5

6 Appendix Item I. Statement of Candidacy 6