IUSA proposes new election code

Following last year’s IU Student Association election controversy, leaders are proposing a new elections code that could replace online voting with polling stations to be set up around campus, in an effort to provide more accurate election results.
In last year’s election, the winning Kirkwood ticket was disqualified for violating six election codes.

In the lead-up to that disqualification, there were disagreements between various factions as to who had the right to disqualify candidates.

As it stands, IUSA’s Congress has the ability to overturn the IUSA Supreme Court’s decision to disqualify candidates, said Torrey Kittle, IU senior and IUSA chief policy advisor.

It gives Congress ultimate power, he said, even though the IUSA constitution states the final decision is given to the Supreme Court in order to resolve the situation.

“Last year, the Supreme Court disqualified the Kirkwood ticket, and some people were upset because the elections code says that Congress needs to confirm the decision of the Supreme Court,” Kittle said.

In the proposed elections code, students will no longer vote online through their personal computers, but will have to vote at designated polling stations through registered computers, Kittle said. The polling stations would be located throughout campus and in most of the residence halls.

“With the polling stations, we are hoping to increase awareness of the organization and those seeking offices,” Kittle said. “It will hopefully result in a more accurate reflection of what students want and provide them a greater stake in the election.”

Unmonitored online voting created chaos, and students were holding spaces in the business school and Student Recreational Sports Center to solicit votes,
Kittle said.

Some students had no idea what they were voting for and were voting just to cease the harassment they were receiving. Last year’s election resembled more of a popularity contest than an election, Kittle said.

The polling stations will be run by non-partisan workers who have no stake in the election, Kittle said.

Another provision to the election code is that no campaigning can take place within 50 feet of the polling stations.

Dan Sloat, student body vice president, said the only cost that will be added to the IUSA with this proposal is the pay for the workers.

If a student will not be on campus for the election, then they can participate in provisional voting, Kittle said. Two weeks prior to the election, students may send an e-mail to University Information Technology Services and will get to vote online from their own computer.

If a student registers for provisional voting but also votes at one of the designated polling stations, then the electronic ballot at the polling place will be deemed invalid, Kittle said.

“I think that the situation that occurred last year was difficult for everyone, because there are no guidelines for a situation like that if it arises,” said Elizabeth Retana, IUSA elections coordinator. “The new elections code will make it easier to monitor the election process. It would make my job run more smoothly as well, if they were to pass this.”

IUSA officials said they want the proposed code to make students more informed of the elections.

“In years past, with unmonitored voting, students were mislead as to the nature of their votes,” Sloat said. “When voters are mislead, it warps the spirit of elections, and the participating voice of the people is skewed.”