Student Government Association Election Code

Student Government Association Election Code Student Life and Development Office MT. SAN JACINTO COLLEGE 1499 N. State Street, San Jacinto, CA 92583 Rm. 1114

P a g e 2 Table of Contents Article I. Elections... 3 Article II. Elections Committee... 4 Article III. Candidate Qualifications... 5 Article IV. Write-In Candidates... 6 Article V. Campaigning... 7 Article VI. Election Packets... 9 Article VII. Violations And Appeals... 10

P a g e 3 ARTICLE I. Section 1 ELECTIONS Election Types a. General Elections Yearly elections held at the end of each spring Semester to select the following Academic School Year s SGA Officers; b. Student Trustee Elections Yearly elections held in conjunction with General Elections, or when the Office of the Student Trustee is Vacant; c. Constitutional Referendums Elections held as a result of the SGA Amendment Process; d. Student Fee Referendums Elections held as needed to amend the kinds or amounts of specific student fees at MSJC; e. Initiative or Recall Referendums Elections held as a result of the SGA Initiative or Recall Process. Section 2 Initiation of Elections a. General Elections may be initiated by Approval of the SGA Legislature and can be held any time during the last six weeks of each spring Semester; b. Student Trustee Elections will be initiated simultaneously with General Elections, or by 2/3 Approval of the SGA Legislature if the MSJC Student Trustee Office is Vacant; c. Constitutional Referendums may be initiated via the Amendment Process found in Article XIX of the SGA Constitution; d. Student Fee Referendums may be initiated with Approval of the SGA Legislature; e. Initiative or Recall Referendums may be initiated via the Initiative or Recall Process found in Article XVIII of the SGA Constitution. Section 3 Election Procedure All SGA Elections will adhere to the following procedure: a. Elections will comply with the SGA Election Code; b. An Elections Committee will be created by the SGA Legislature on the 15th week of the fall Semester, and as needed; c. Stations will be established electronically via MSJC student email account; d. All currently registered students may each submit one vote anytime during the designated election period;

P a g e 4 e. Results of the balloting will be posted on the school website the Monday immediately following the election; f. In case of a tie, a runoff vote will take place within ten school days following the first election. The runoff election candidates must follow the procedures outlined in this document; g. Senator Seats will be filled by candidates receiving the highest number of votes, in descending order, for each type of Senator; h. The candidate receiving the most votes will fill all other positions. ARTICLE II. Section 1 ELECTIONS COMMITTEE Authority The Elections Committee s only authority will be to conduct SGA Elections and enforce the SGA Election Code. Section 2 Membership The Membership of the Elections Committee shall adhere to the following guidelines: a. The Elections Committee shall consist of at least three members of the SGA Legislature and MSJC Student Body; b. No member of the Elections Committee may become an election candidate for SGA Office in the same Academic School Year; c. The Elections Committee shall be chaired by the Elections Commissioner, who shall be the Commissioner of Institutional Effectiveness or their appointee; d. The Elections Commissioner may vote in Elections Committee meetings if and only if their vote would break a tie; e. To become a part of the Elections Committee after initial appointments have been made, the appointee must be approved by a 2/3 vote of the Legislature; f. Members of the Elections Committee may be removed from their position with a simple majority vote (50%+1) by the SGA Legislature; g. If three candidates for the Elections Committee cannot be found or if membership in the Elections Committee drops below three members for any reason, the Student Life and Development Program staff will assume all of the duties and responsibilities of the Elections Committee.

P a g e 5 Section 3 Duties and Responsibilities The SGA Elections Committee shall: a. Maintain and enforce the rules and regulations in this document; b. Work in conjunction with the Director of Student Life to establish an Election Timeline, and assist in the creation of the Election Packets; c. Be responsible for all publicity regarding the elections, including but not limited to: notification of the election to be held, any offices available for election, any application deadlines, and the dates of the voting period; d. Notify the MSJC Student Body of the results of the election; e. Investigate any and all complaints regarding SGA Elections; f. Investigate any and all suspicious activity regarding SGA Elections; g. Call for the disqualification of a candidate, in accordance with Article VII, should they be found in violation of the rules and regulations in this document; h. Host at least two Candidate Orientation Meetings per campus to assist with the explanation of materials in the Election Packets; i. Oversee the posting and distribution of all campaign materials to ensure compliance with Article V; j. Work in conjunction with the Director of Student Life to create the content of the election ballot; k. Oversee the removal of all campaign materials within 72 hours from the end of the polling period; l. Work in conjunction with the Director of Student Life to interpret any unclear language found in SGA election documents; m. Form verdicts on all SGA election matters not explicitly addressed in this document. ARTICLE III. Section 1 CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS Requirements for Candidacy All election candidates for SGA office must meet the following requirements: a. Be an Active Member of SGA; b. Be enrolled in at least 12 units at MSJC; c. Have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 for the previous Semester and an overall GPA of at least 2.0;

P a g e 6 d. Has not held the SGA Office sought in two or more Academic Sessions, if a candidate to an SGA Office that is a voting member of the Executive Council; e. Be eligible to enroll into or have completed a college-level English class, if a candidate to an office that is a Voting Member of the Executive Council; f. Must attend at least one Candidate Orientation Meeting on either the San Jacinto Campus or the Menifee Valley Campus; g. Must be available to attend mandatory SGA retreats and other training activities should they be elected; h. Comply with the standards, rules, and regulations of the SGA Election Code, Administrative Regulations, and Board of Trustees/District policies. Section 2 Probation A student who has been placed on academic or behavioral probation at MSJC will be ineligible for candidacy or appointment until one semester after he/she is reinstated as being in good standing. Section 3 First Semester MSJC Students Any first Semester MSJC student who does not have completed course work on their MSJC transcript will be exempt from all grade point average (GPA) qualifications. Section 4 Other Requirements For any additional requirements for candidacy, please refer to the corresponding year s Election Packets. ARTICLE IV. WRITE-IN CANDIDATES Write-in Candidates shall be defined as students who actively campaigns for SGA Office, but did not submit an Election Packet by the deadline. All write-in candidates shall: a. Not have their name placed on the election ballot; b. Meet the same eligibility requirements as listed in Article III Section 1; c. Accumulate a minimum of fifty (50) votes to be eligible for office; d. Be exempt from the requirements listed in Article V Section 2; e. Comply with the campaigning regulations found in Article V Section 3;

P a g e 7 f. Be exempt from the total campaign expense limit of $250 as listed in Article V Section 3 Line f. ARTICLE V. Section 1 CAMPAIGNING Campaigning Definitions Campaigning for SGA Office will be defined as: a. Distributing flyers; b. Talking to students about a candidate and their campaigning platforms; c. Making speeches; d. Posting signs and posters; e. Making signs, posters, banners, flyers, or any other campaign materials available to students; f. Leaving such materials in locations available to students; g. All forms of paid or unpaid publicity, including advertisements in the student newspaper. Section 2 Requirements for Campaigning No official candidate for SGA Office may begin campaigning until the following occurs: a. The student is deemed qualified as a candidate; b. The Office of Student Life and Development confirms that the candidate has filled out all necessary paperwork as defined in Article VI; c. The candidate receives Written Notice from the Director of Student Life that they may begin campaigning. Section 3 Rules and Regulations All candidates for SGA Office must comply with the following rules and regulations: a. No dual or ticket campaigning is permitted; b. All candidates and their supporters shall use the highest standards of ethics when campaigning and discussing other candidates; c. Candidates may not harass or push students to vote per MSJC Board Procedure AP 5500 (Standards of Student Conduct); d. No campaigning is permitted within 50 feet of any polling station; e. All candidates must receive permission from the instructor or professor to campaign in a classroom;

P a g e 8 f. Total expense for campaign materials per individual candidate must not exceed $250, including all donated campaign materials; g. Any campaign materials not purchased will have their price estimated by the Elections Committee according to fair market value; h. No candidate may receive financial assistance from any college club or organization; i. No candidate may utilize any equipment to post campaign materials, except that which is required to secure the materials in place; j. No candidate may be endorsed by any member of college administration, staff, faculty, or the SGA; k. Each candidate is responsible for furnishing their own campaign materials; l. No candidate may use an SLDP Office s printers or resources for campaign materials; m. All campaign materials must be approved by the Director of Student Life or their designee; n. Each candidate may only produce and post the following amounts of 8½ x 11 posters on each campus: 30 posters on the San Jacinto Campus, 30 posters on the Menifee Valley Campus, 5 posters on the San Gorgonio Pass Campus, 5 posters on the Temecula Education Complex, and 5 posters on the Temecula Higher Education Center; o. Each candidate may only produce and post 2 (larger than 8½ x 11 ) banners each on the San Jacinto Campus and Menifee Valley Campus, but they may only be posted on ground-level locations, off the second floors of the 300, 400, and 600 buildings on the Menifee Valley Campus, and off the second floor of the 100 building on the San Jacinto Campus; p. Posters may be placed on a stake driven into the ground, two-sided posters are acceptable; q. Candidates may only post campaigning materials in the designated Student Life areas located on the San Jacinto Campus and Menifee Valley Campus, or in the appropriate areas defined by any other MSJC campus; r. No more than two campaign materials for one candidate may be posted adjacent to one another, or on any one side of a bulletin board or campaigning area; s. Campaign materials may not be posted on vehicles parked on any campus;

P a g e 9 t. Each candidate may only produce and pass out a total of 1000 flyers (smaller than 8½ x 11 ), but they must not be left unattended on any campus; u. No campaigning materials may be posted in any campus computer lab, nor shall any campaigning activity block student access to computers in any way; v. Destruction or removal of another candidate s campaign materials is prohibited under all circumstances; w. All online and social media campaigning must adhere to Line f, and must adhere to MSJC Board Procedure AP 6517 (Social Media Procedures) found on the MSJC website; x. All social media pages created specifically for campaigning purposes must be approved and co-administrated by the Director of Student Life and/or their designee; y. If the Director of Student Life or their designee request a post to be deleted, it must be done no later than 24 hours from the issue of the request; z. Each candidate is responsible for ensuring their campaign materials are removed within 72 hours after the polling period ends. Section 4 Other Campaigning Rules and Regulations For any additional rules and regulations, please refer to the corresponding year s Election Packets. ARTICLE VI. Section 1 ELECTION PACKETS Contents of the Election Packets Any official candidate for SGA office must complete an Election Packet in its entirety in order to be listed on the ballot. All Election Packets will contain the following core documents: a. A copy of the Election Timeline; b. A copy of the SGA Purpose Statement and a list of requirements for the office being sought; c. A copy of Article V of this document; d. A Declaration of Candidacy and the Candidate s Platform Statement; e. An Acceptance of Packet and Acknowledgement of Responsibility;

P a g e 10 f. A form requiring the signatures of fifty (50) different students if a candidate to an SGA Office that is a voting member of the Executive Council, or the signatures of twenty-five (25) different students for all other positions; g. A Campaign Expenditure Report. ARTICLE VII. Section 1 VIOLATIONS AND APPEALS Violations Procedure Any candidate for SGA Office proven to have violated any of this document s rules and regulations may be subject to immediate disqualification. Such cases will adhere to the following procedure: a. The complainant will submit written, signed notification of any alleged violation of the SGA Election Code by any active election candidate(s), including any proof, to the Director of Student Life by noon the first School Day after polls close; b. The Director of Student Life will notify the alleged candidate(s) charged in the complaint of the allegations within 24 hours of receiving the notification from the complainant; c. The Elections Committee shall host an open meeting with the Director of Student Life present, in which the candidate(s) charged with a violation shall have an opportunity to refute the charge prior to a decision by the Elections Committee; d. Each charge of an alleged Election Code violation shall be decided by a simple majority vote (50%+1) of a quorum of the Elections Committee; e. If the Elections Committee concludes that the rules and regulations of this document have been violated by a candidate, the committee shall decide upon a penalty by a simple majority vote (50%+1) if it is the candidate s first offense; f. If the Elections Committee concludes that a candidate has violated the rules and regulation of this document on two or more occasions, that candidate shall be automatically disqualified; g. The Elections Committee shall render, in writing, their decision of each allegation within two School Days; h. If an alleged candidate is disqualified and has exhausted the appeals procedure described in Section 2 of this Article prior to the start of the voting, the alleged candidate s name will not be placed on the ballot;

P a g e 11 i. If an alleged candidate is being investigated after the start of the voting, the alleged candidate s name will appear on the ballot and voting shall proceed as described in the Election Timeline; j. If an alleged candidate is disqualified and has exhausted the appeals procedure described in Section 2 of this Article after the start of the voting, all votes cast for the alleged candidate will be voided; k. If any disqualified candidate would have won the election, the candidate with the next highest vote total shall be declared the winner; l. If all candidates for a Student Government Association Office are successfully disqualified for violations of the Election Code, a new election will be held at the earliest convenience. Section 2 Appeals to Violations Any candidate for SGA Office who has been disqualified from an SGA Election through the procedure described in Section 1 of this Article may appeal any ruling by the Elections Committee. Such cases will adhere to the following procedure: a. The candidate will submit a written, signed appeal to the Vice President of Student Services within two School Days of a final ruling by the Elections Committee; b. The appeal must detail the alleged violations by the candidate, the section of the Election Code alleged to have been violated, and the ruling by the Elections Committee that is being appealed; c. A copy of the appeal must be provided to the Director of Student Life within four hours of its submission; d. The Director of Student Life shall notify any student involved in the initial ruling of the appeal within 24 hours; e. The Director of Student Life shall be present for all discussions related to the appeal, including the final decision on the appeal; f. The candidate charged with the violation shall have an opportunity to refute the charge prior to a decision by the Vice President of Student Services; g. The Vice President of Student Services shall have two School Days to rule on the appeal in writing, and notify the candidate of their decision in the matter;

P a g e 12 h. There shall be no further opportunities to appeal any rulings related to Student Government Association Elections following the final decision by the Vice President of Student Services. Section 3 All Other Appeals Any appeals not related to a violation of the rules and regulations of this document by a candidate for SGA Office shall be covered by this section. Such cases will adhere to the following procedure: a. If the Elections Committee is suspected of a violation of procedure, or other students or parties are suspected of attempting to disrupt an SGA Election, the complainant must submit a written, signed allegation, including any proof, to the Director of Student Life by noon the first School Day after polls close; b. The Director of Student Life will deliver the allegation to the appropriate party; c. The allegation will be reviewed in a matter consistent with this Article of the Election Code; d. Any candidate may also request a recount of the votes for the position sought by that candidate in an election to determine the legitimacy of the votes and/or the accuracy of the voting system, but only one recount may be requested for each office; e. To begin the recounting process, a candidate must submit a written, signed request for a recount to the Director of Student Life by noon the first School Day after the polls close; f. The Director of Student Life will deliver the request for a recount to the appropriate party; g. If the integrity of an SGA Election is found to be significantly compromised either by the scenarios defined in line a of this section or by the recount process, the results of all positions in the election affected by the compromise shall be invalidated, and a new election for those positions shall be held at the earliest convenience.