SBA Election Packet 2018-2019 Elections Deadline: Monday, April 2, 2018 at 8 a.m. Place in drop box by SBA office on 3rd Floor of Robertson Hall (RH 344-C) Or email to domobla@mail.regent.edu by the deadline. 1
Dear Prospective Candidate, Thank you for your interest in running for an elected Student Bar Association ( SBA ) position for the 2018-2019 term. The SBA serves a critical role as the representative body of Regent s law students to the school s administration. In addition to its representative role, SBA authorizes and appropriates funds received from SBA fees to plans events and activities such as Barrister s Ball and the SBA Christmas party. The SBA also works with other student organizations to ensure Regent s law students enjoy the same opportunities as law students nationwide. If elected, you will have a unique opportunity to serve your fellow students. In this packet, you will find an election schedule, candidate filing statements, and nomination petition for your classmates to sign. All law students are eligible to run for either Executive President or as a representative of their respective class. The President-elect will fill the three executive positions from the elected representatives. Please turn in the candidate filing statement and petition by the deadline. 1L candidates interested in serving as next year s 2L representatives need 17 signatures from their classmates. 2L candidates interested in serving as next year s 3L representatives need 16 signatures from their classmates. Those interested in running for Executive President need supporting signatures from at least 68 members of the entire school body. In addition to the positions mentioned above, each class has its own executive positions: Class President and Class Vice President. The candidate who received the most votes for class representative will automatically be nominated as the Class President. The candidate who receives the second most votes will become the Class Vice President. For information regarding these positions, please see page eight of this packet. Any representative nominated to the class executive positions may refuse the automatic nomination thereby accepting only the responsibilities of a representative. Election packets are due by Monday, April 2, 2018 by 8 a.m. If you have any questions, please email domobla@mail.regent.edu. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely yours, Domonique Black Election Commissioner, Student Bar Association 2
SBA Election Important Dates March 26th April 2nd April 2nd April 4th and April 5th April 6th April 11th Packets Available Packets Due Campaigning starts at 8 a.m. Voting at SBA table in RH Lobby. (Campaigning may continue, but must abide by rules.) All candidates will remove posters and campaign materials from school property by 8 a.m. Announcement of Election Results 3
Candidate Filing Statement Name Current Law Year Email Which position are you seeking? Why do you feel you would be a good (fill in whichever position you are seeking)? (You may attach a separate sheet if you need more space. I certify that I have read the SBA election rules and agree to abide by the SBA election rules. Signature Date 4
Nomination Petition We, the undersigned, nominate (candidate name) for the position of. (Position sought) Please write your signature and print your name and class year. Remember you may nominate more than one candidate for the same position. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 5
24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 6
52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 7
Office Responsibilities & Duties Executive President: presides over all meetings of SBA; only votes in the Senate in the event of a tie. Executive President has the following responsibilities: a. Act as the official student representative of the student body, b. Propose yearly goals and an annual budget to the SBA Senate for approval, c. Appoint other executive officers from among the representatives selected by each class, and d. Attend SBA meeting and other mandatory events as required. Class President: Each class president is primarily responsible for organizing communication to their class about school events including posting announcements to the class Facebook page. Class President has the following responsibilities: a. May appoint a class representative in the event of a vacant class representative position. b. Represent his or her class in the Senate, c. Serve on SBA committees as appointed, and d. Attend SBA meeting and other mandatory events as required. Class Representative (each class has four): Each class representative is a voting member of the Senate. Each class representative has the following responsibilities: a. Represent his or her class in the Senate, b. Serve on SBA committees as appointed, c. Attend SBA meeting and other mandatory events as required, and d. Perform other duties as requested. 8
Campaigning Rules Candidates, When you file for election, the Election Commissioner will recognize your candidacy as official. Official candidates are allowed to make posters and distribute campaign literature. Unofficial candidates are those who do not file, but rely on write-in campaigns. Unofficial candidates may not distribute items, including literature. Every official candidate is permitted to (1) use social media; (2) distribute campaign literature; a. You may post literature on tack-strips and bulletin boards throughout Robertson Hall, with the exception of the Career Services and Faculty bulletin board. b. Remove all campaign literature from campus no later than 8 a.m. on Wednesday, August 30th. (3) speak to individuals and campus groups; and (4) distribute other campaign-related items [campaigns in the past have passed out cupcakes, K-cups, and cookies). Prohibited Actions Candidates may not (1) disrupt classes or other student organizations; (2) utilize students hanging folders for campaign literature; (3) post literature on buildings walls, bathroom stalls, or furniture; or (4) campaign within 50 feet of a polling station. Penalties The SBA Senate has authority to use its discretion to discipline misconduct by reducing a candidate s final vote total by 20% for each violation of election rules or remove a candidate from contention. 9
Voting Procedure Ballot Access & Voting Privilege Every law student at Regent University who is currently enrolled in classes and has paid SBA fees is eligible to vote in SBA elections. SBA election personnel will have a voter roll for each class which a voter must sign, to indicate he or she has voted. Candidates are not allowed at the ballot box, except to cast their own ballots. Every official candidate will be listed on the ballot for the position being sought in alphabetical order. There will be a space for write-in candidates. Write-in candidates must meet all requirements as official candidates to be elected. Voting Hours & Certification Polls shall be open during business hours from 9am on Wednesday, April 4th and close 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 5th. Only in a compelling, exceptional circumstance will the Senate require polls to be open for additional hours (such as weather delay). Once polls have closed, the Election Commissioner, or his designee, will release unofficial results to the student body. These results will be certified at the next Senate meeting. Voting Method Voters will rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives a simple majority of first preference votes, the candidate with the fewest first preferences votes will be eliminated and that candidate s second preferences are distributed between other candidates. This process shall continue until a candidate receives a simple majority of overall votes. If a voter chooses to write-in a candidate, the voter may only write-in one candidate. Challenging Election Results Election results may be challenge on two grounds: (1) improper vote tabulation or (2) election misconduct. Any violations or allegations of improper vote tabulation or election misconduct must be made to the Election Commissioner (domobla@mail.regent.edu) within 48 hours of the release of election results. The Senate will then hear from the dissatisfied candidate if at least one member of the Senate supports the claim being investigated. Swearing In & Transition Newly elected SBA members are expected to attend a transition meeting with current members and to be present to be sworn in. This will take place before the last day of classes. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please email domobla@mail.regent.edu. Thank you for your interest, God bless & good luck. 10