STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION ELECTION Codes Lorain County Community College Office of Student Life (CC206) 1005 North Abbe Road, Elyria, Ohio 44035 T: (440)366-4036 F: (440)366-4675 E: slevents@lorainccc.edu W: www.lorainccc.edu/student-life/ Student Senate Office (CC203) W: www.lorainccc.edu/student-life/student-senate/student-senate-election/ Staff Manager: Selina Gaddis (440)366-7648 Administrative Assistant: Rochelle Fairley (440)366-7567 Staff Assistant: Teresa Flock (440)366-7645 Office Hours Fall & Spring Semester Monday-Thursday: 8:30a.m. - 6:00p.m. Friday: 8:30a.m.-4:30p.m. Winter/Spring Break & Summer Semester Monday-Friday: 8:30a.m - 4:30p.m.
2 P age
ELECTION Codes Section 1: Definitions 1. Lorain County Community College will be further referred to as LCCC. 2. The University Partnership will be further referred to as the UP. 3. Both LCCC and the UP schools will be further referred to as the schools. 4. Media is defined as all paper and online publications in the schools as well as all cable television, and radio networks and stations 5. Advertising is defined as promotion by word of mouth and through the media. 6. The Election Judge will be referred to as the Election Committee Chairperson. 7. Campaigning will be defined as any solicitation of votes for a particular candidate involved in the election on all school premises and through school resources 8. Campaign articles will be defined as, but not limited to, flyers, posters, press releases, emails, text messages, websites, radio/newspaper advertisements, and pamphlets/brochures 9. Write-in candidates will be defined as a candidate whose names do not appear on the ballot; the name and so must be written on the ballot by the voters. 10. Voters will be defined as registered credit students within the schools. 11. Witnesses will be defined as persons who furnish evidence. 12. Experts will be defined as persons within the schools with demonstrated skills or knowledge in a certain area(s) that pertains to the election process. Section 2: Student Government Association Election Code 1. Student Government Association Senate elections shall be conducted according to the procedures and guidelines set forth in the Election Code. 2. The Election Code shall be reviewed by the Election Committee prior to and after the election. 3. The Election Code may be revised by the Election Committee, subject to the approval of the Office of Student Life. Section 3: General Elections 1. Voting will be held prior to the end of the Spring Semester. 2. Include all Student Senator positions as listed: A. President B. Vice President C. Executive Secretary D. Financial Secretary E. Event Coordinator F. University Partnership Representative G. Learning Center Representative 3. Shall be conducted by the Election Committee Section 4: Election Judge 1. The Election Judge will be the current Event Coordinator of Student Senate. In the case that the current Event Coordinator runs in the General Election, the Manager of Student Life will appoint the Election Judge. 2. The Election Judge may appoint a Co-Chair as needed to assist with the duties. 3. The Co-Chair will perform duties as delegated from the Election Judge. 4. Duties of the Election Judge: 3 P age
A. Execute the election rules as outlined in the Election Code. B. Assign the particular tasks and responsibilities to members of the Election Committee. C. Conduct a meeting for all candidates following the nomination petition filing deadline to review the Student Government Association Senate Election Code and related rules and regulations. D. Have the Office of Student Life verify that no candidates are on academic or disciplinary probation. In addition, have the Office of Student Life verify that all candidates meet the other requirements necessary to qualify for the candidate s desired position. E. Ensure the establishment of polls on campus. F. Provide all materials needed for ballots. For paper ballots, materials needed include, but are not limited to ballet boxes, writing instruments, and paper ballots. For electronic ballots, materials include, but are not limited to designated computers for voting in computer labs and the library and an election link on the LCCC s website. G. Ensure the supervision of ballot counting by a member of the Office of Student Life. In the case of electronic balloting, election results are determined by the online balloting system administered by the LCCC Web Portal team. Election results will be accessed by the Office of Student Life, or their designee, following the close of the online polls. Once accessed, the results will be provided to the Election Judge. H. Investigate and initiate penalties against candidates who violate Election Code rules and regulations. Any such decision may be appealed by the candidate to the Manager of Student Life, or his/her designee. I. Certify election results within the next business day after the election with the Manager of Student Life using the appropriate paperwork. Section 5: Election Committee 1. The Election Committee will consist of a minimum of five (5) persons and a maximum of twenty (20) persons. 2. The Election Committee shall be formed by the Manager of Student Life, or his/her designee. 3. The Manager of Student Life, the Election Judge, and/or designee, shall form the committee. Membership will come from within the campus community and should consist of a majority of current student s; members may also include staff and faculty. 4. All Election Committee members must be in, good standing, with the schools by meeting the following criteria: A. Not on disciplinary probation B. Not on suspension C. Does not have any academic violations placed against them D. Does not have any conduct infractions placed against them 5. Election Committee members shall sign an agreement, in the affirmation, to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner in accordance with the Election Code, the Student and Campus Codes of Conduct, College policies, procedures and guidelines. Failure to sign the agreement will result in the removal of the Election Committee member. 4 Page
6. The Election Committee will assist the Election Judge in his/her duties and will work to ensure the proper conduction of the elections. 7. Members of the Election Committee are not allowed to run as candidates for election or to work on another candidate s campaign committee during the semester in which he/she serves. 8. Election Committee members must remain neutral by not endorsing or assisting the candidacy of any student in the election cycle over which he/she presides. Doing so will result in his/her removal from the Election Committee. 9. Any conduct by Election Committee members that violates any candidate s rights, shall be removed from the Election Committee and subject to the Student and Campus Codes of Conduct. 10. The Election Committee shall meet at least once (1) per week during the election period (the time from when the committee is formed to the end of the Spring Semester), but may meet more often if needed. 11. All deadlines and dates relative to filing, campaigning, and election days for the General Elections will be established by the Manager of Student Life in accordance with the academic calendar. The Office of Student Life will notify the campus community of the timelines. 12. Changes in dates relative to filing, campaigning, and election days for the General Election shall be approved by the Manager of Student Life, or his/her designee. 13. The Election Committee will place sample ballots on the bulletin boards within one (1) week after the filing deadline. Establishment of polling places for the election will be made public at least one (1) week prior to the elections. 14. Election Committee members shall be responsible for the daily monitoring of the election process, including but not limited to the review of bulletin boards for inappropriate campaign articles, vandalized campaign articles, or campaign articles found in prohibited areas. If such articles are found, an Election Committee member shall remove them and inform the candidate, subsequently notifying the Election Committee as well. 15. An Election Committee member must escort candidates who wish to enter polling places to vote and ensure that they and the candidate do not violate campaigning rules. 16. The Election Committee reserves the right to limit campaign materials equally amongst all candidates. 17. The Election Committee will post election results within twenty-four (24) hours of the closing of the polls through the campus media. Section 6: Nomination Qualifications 1. Determination of the eligibility of candidates seeking office will be conducted by the Office of Student Life. The qualifications are: A. Must have completed at least twelve (12) credit hours through Lorain County Community College and/or the University Partnership to be eligible to run for office B. Must be currently enrolled for no less than six (6) credit hours during campaigning and if elected to office, during each semester (excluding the Summer Semester). The University Partnership Representative must be enrolled in a partnership program. 5 P age
C. Must have an accumulated Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.25 or higher, and must retain a GPA of 2.25 or higher if elected to office. D. Must be willing to assume the roles and responsibilities of a Student Senator on start date. E. Must understand both the Student Government Association Senate Constitution and By-laws F. Must be a student in good standing with the schools by meeting the following criteria: 1. Not on disciplinary probation 2. Not on suspension 3. Does not have any academic infractions placed against them 4. Does not have any conduct infractions placed against them 5. Does not have any prior felony convictions G. If a person s eligibility to serve in the Student Senate appears to be in question, the Manager of Student Life shall apprise the Election Committee of the information. H. The Election Committee shall confer with the Manager of Student Life, Life or his/her designee, to make a decision concerning the action to be taken. I. The final decision will be made by the Manager of Student Life. J. Candidates for the Student Senate may only run for one (1) position per election cycle. Section 7: Nomination of Candidate 1. Every candidate is required to have a copy of this Election Code, Election Campaign Packet, and the Election Nomination Packet. These can be found: A. In the Office of Student Life B. On the Student Senate s website 2. Submission of a completed Nomination Packet is required by the Office of Student Life prior to the filing deadline, as designated by the Election Committee. 3. A candidate will be disqualified for failure to fulfill all qualifications or for fabricating or falsifying information and the name will not appear on the ballot. 4. Write-in candidates must follow all of the same rules as other candidates, except collect the one-hundred (100) required Student Body signatures as found in the Nomination Packet. Section 8: Campaigning of the Candidate 1. Campaigning will commence within one (1) week after the Election Nomination Packet submission deadline and concludes on the final day of elections. 2. Write-in candidates cannot begin campaigning until the business day after the write-in submission deadline has passed. 3. All campaigns are to be run on an individual basis. 4. Pooling of candidate resources through forming a ticket is not permitted. 5. Each candidate must oversee and participate in the creation of their campaign articles. 6 P age
6. Candidates must have all campaign articles approved by the Election Committee and the Office of Student Life prior to public release. 7. The following restrictions will be placed on the candidate s campaigning: A. Each candidate, his/her campaign committee, and/or businesses has a donation cap of There will be a five-hundred ($500) dollars cap that can be the candidate and his/her campaign committee and/or businesses may donated to their his or her own senatorial campaign. B. A candidate must submit all receipts from donations and expenditures to the Election Committee for review as they are incurred. C. All costs incurred by the candidate are their sole responsibility. D. Each candidate must keep an accurate and up-to-date financial record of all campaign receipts of donations and expenditures to be available for public inspection. E. Campaign articles will not be permitted within fifty-feet (50) of polling places. In addition: 1. There will be no obstruction of traffic. 2. There will be no displaying or wearing of campaign articles. 3. There will be no tampering, harassment or conversation pertaining to the election 4. Special circumstances will be considered by the Election Committee and the Manager of Student Life F. Candidates will be restricted to one (1) yard sign per authorized outdoor 1. The yard sign size will not exceed 18 x 26. 2. Yard signs may be made by the Office of Student Life. 3. Candidates must replace any yard signs damaged while displayed at outdoor locations. G. Candidates may have one (1) flyer posted inside campus buildings, per specified bulletin boards in the section properly labeled Elections. 1. Flyers may location and no more than twenty (20) yard signs on the LCCC main campus not exceeds 8.5 x 11. 2. All flyers must be approved by the Office of Student Life. 3. If candidates want to use the resources of the Office of Student Life, they must complete a Publicity Request Form and supply all necessary information to complete the flyers in accordance with the Election Code. 8. In case of any violations of the Election Code: A. Violations include, but are not limited to: 1. Tampering, removing, damaging, vandalizing or destroying another candidate s articles by one candidate or his/her campaign committee members. 2. Leaving campaign articles on vehicles 3. Negative campaigning 4. Campaigning in the classrooms without permission 5. Campaigning in any administrative or academic offices B. Upon first violation, the Election Committee will decide the actions to be taken against the offending candidate. 7 P age
C. The Election Judge will notify the candidate held in violation of any of the above restrictions within twenty-four (24) hours of the violation. D. Candidates disqualified for violations of the Election Code forfeit their right to hold any Student Senate position, elected or appointed, for one (1) year from their qualification date. Section 9: Campaign Committees 1. Campaign committee members may be utilized to assist with campaign material distribution. 2. Campaign committee members must be registered with the Election Committee. 3. Campaign committee members can only be registered to one campaign. 4. Campaign committee members must sign the Campaign Committee Participation Agreement to conduct themselves in accordance with the Election Code, Student and Campus Codes of Conduct and the College policies, procedures and guidelines. 5. Candidates are responsible and may be held accountable for the actions of their campaign committee members. 6. Campaign committee members shall not receive compensation. Section 10: Campaign Assistance 1. The Election Committee and the Office of Student Life can assist candidates with resources in a manner that is fair to all candidates. 2. Requests for resources must be made to the Office of Student Life and will be distributed based on availability. 3. A list of available resources can be obtained is from included in the Office of Student Life Student Senate Election Nomination Packet. Section 11: Voting 1. Each registered credit student may cast only one (1) ballot. 2. Any portion of the ballot, which is improperly marked, will be voided. 3. Partially completed ballots are permitted. 4. All votes will be counted at the conclusion of the voting process. 5. In the case of online balloting, a student logging into the election system will have his/her identification verified against the school s student information system to determine his/her eligibility. 6. In the case of a paper ballot, students will need to provide his/her name and student number in order to be verified manually on the schools information system. 7. Any individual who attempts to falsify or alter any vote cast will be restricted from participation in any future Student Government Association Senate elections. Authority for restrictions rests with the Manager of Student Life. 8. No absentee or proxy voting will be permitted. 9. The determination by the schools information system will be final. Section 12: Manner of Deciding Elections 1. The Election Committee will set up all regulations, rules, and restrictions governing elections. The Election Judge will act as the authority over all questions and problems arising in the election process. 8 Page
2. All elections will be decided by simple majority vote 3. The total votes for each candidate will be included with the official announcement of the election results. 4. A candidate that wishes to challenge the results must notify the Office of Student Life no later than twenty-four (24) hours following the posting of the results. Candidates may ask for a recount of the votes. 5. In the event that no majority exists, a run-off election will be held between the top two candidates receiving the most votes in the General Election A. Each run-off election will be won by the candidate receiving the most votes B. Write-in candidate names will appear on the ballot in run-off elections. 6. Any candidate desiring to withdraw from the election must notify the Election Judge in writing no later than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the opening of the polls so that the candidate s name can be removed from the ballot. 7. Votes cast for any person, other than official candidates, shall be disqualified. Section 13: Complaint Process 1. Persons wishing to contest any election processes (including, but not limited to, committee members), election results or candidates must adhere to the following procedures: A. The complainant must complete the Election Complaint Form and submit it the Election Judge or the Manager of Student Life. B. The signature(s) of the contesting individual(s) is (are) required on the complaint. C. Any complaint about a specific act should be presented to the Election Judge within two (2) business days of the act being committed. D. No complaint will be accepted past two (2) business days after the posting of election results. 2. The Election Committee will acknowledge a written complaint by adhering to the following procedures: A. The Election Committee will consider written complaints within two (2) business days of being received by the Election Judge. B. The Election Committee may call witnesses and experts as it sees fit to assist in making a decision on the written complaint. C. The Election Committee will render a decision on the complaint within two (2) business days of the complaint being received by the Election Judge. 3. Persons having filed a written complaint and wishing to appeal the decision of the Election Committee must adhere to the following process: A. The appeal must be written to the Manager of Student Life. B. The appeal must be presented no later one (1) business1)-business day after the Election Committee has rendered its decision. 4. Appeal of decision from the Manager of Student Life must follow the College s Student Grievance Procedure. Section 14: Penalties 1. The Elections Committee shall rule on violations of election procedures. 2. Penalties imposed by the Election Committee may include but are not limited to: 3. In the case that the disqualified candidate is the election winner, the next highest vote recipient for the vacant position will be declared the winner. 9 Page
4. If the offender was unopposed, then the seat shall be declared vacant and shall be filled by the Student Senate in accordance with procedures named in the Student Government Association Senate Constitution. 5. The Election Committee shall recommend an appropriate penalty for the specific violation. Section 17: Inductions 1. The Election Committee may assist the Office of Student Life in planning and executing an induction ceremony of new Student Senators after the finalization of the General Election results. 2. A start date, training schedule, and induction information will be shared with new senators after elections. 10 P age