iUnity challenges Elections Commission’s control of polling locations

iUnity’s attempt to reserve several high-traffic polling locations during the upcoming IU Student Association election was disputed at an IUSA Supreme Court hearing Wednesday night.

The Court heard arguments and will allow evidence to be submitted until 5 p.m. today. A decision will be reached tonight on whether or not to impose an injunction.

iUnity ticket vice president for administration candidate and junior Peter SerVaas, chief of staff Neil Kelty and freshman and campaign manager Barrett Tenbarge argued against Elections Commissioner and senior Andrew Dahlen and the Elections Commission.

The ticket filed a petition seeking injunctive relief on the basis of alleged Elections Code violations by Dahlen and the Election’s Commission. If granted, the injunction would stop the Elections Commission from taking sole control of polling locations from iUnity.

In IUSA elections, each ticket is allowed to reserve polling locations that will be staffed exclusively by ticket members on election day.

The iUnity ticket reserved polling locations at 10th Street and Fee Lane on Feb. 12, and at the Indiana Memorial Union Literature Desk and the Kelley School of Business lobby shortly thereafter.

Tenbarge said the Elections Commission’s attempt to reserve those polling locations itself with congressional approval would stop iUnity from holding sole control over the highly trafficked polling areas.

“It would put us at a huge disadvantage to take those away,” SerVaas said.
Tenbarge went on to say that because these polling locations were not approved by congress until three weeks before the election, the Elections Commission violated the Elections Code.

According to the newly adopted Election Code, congress must approve polling locations at least four weeks before the election.

Dahlen said it was the Elections Commission’s responsibility to choose popular polling locations, and that although Congress’s meeting schedule did not allow them to approve the polling locations within the four week time span, the Elections Commission believed they should still choose polling locations.

“We can’t let one ticket have a stranglehold over the most highly trafficked locations,” Dahlen said.

Kirkwood ticket candidate for president and sophomore Justin Kingsolver responded to the petition by saying it was another example of iUnity’s attempts to use questionable campaign tactics.

Kingsolver said Kirkwood had not reserved polling locations as early as iUnity had because he believed the Elections Commission had to reserve them first. If iUnity was allowed to hold their polling places, Kingsolver said, Kirkwood would be put at a disadvantage.

“I’m asking you to do this in the spirit of a free and fair election,” Kingsolver said.
Dahlen said the Election Commission would support whatever decision the Court reached.

“The Election Commission is charged by Congress to have the most fair election possible, and that’s what I have been trying to do since day one, and we will certainly accept whatever conclusion the Supreme Court makes and hope to enforce it throughout the campaign,” Dahlen said.