CHAPTER 700 STUDENT GOVERNMENT ELECTION CODE (75- 122, 75- 188, 76- 177, 76- 118, 76- 119, 76- 120, 76- 121, 76- 127, 76- 160, 76- 165, 76- 174, 77- 132, 78- 122, 78- 128, 78- 170, 78- 190, 79- 129, 79- 159, 79- 180, 80- 129, BOM Petition 100280, 81- 131, 81- 203, 81- 108, 81- 147, 81- 157, BOM Petition 03582, 82- 104, 82- 146, 83- 164, 83- 172, 83- 199, 84- 101, 84- 171, 85- 159, 86- 148, 87- 153, 87- 160, 88- 129, 88- 143, 89- 103, 90-144, 90- 163, 91-119, 91-126, 92-109, 92-113, 94-103, 94-123, 95-107)
700.01 This section and all sections through 799.32 inclusive shall be known as and may be cited as the "Student Government Election Code".
700.02 The Student Senate shall be prohibited from passing, on final reading, changing Title VII of the Student Body Statutes in the three (3) weeks prior to an election.
700.03 The Student Government Election Code shall be arranged by subject matter in nine (9) parts, each composed of numerically designated sections, according to the following scheme:
Part I (Sections 700.01- 700.099) General- Definitions
Part II (Sections 701.01- 700.199) Supervisor of
Elections- Duties
Part III (Sections 700.20- 700.299) Student Election
Commission- duties
Part IV (Sections 700.30- 700.399) Qualifying for Election
Part V (Sections 700.40- 700.499) Political parties
Part VI (Sections 700.50- 700.599) Election finances
Part VII (Sections 700.60- 700.699) Campaigning
Part VIII (Sections 700.70- 700.799) General Elections
Part IX (Sections 700.80- 700.899) Canvassing and validation
700.04 The following words and phrases when used in this code shall have the meaning as ascribed to them in this section:
1. "Fall General Election" means the election held on the seventh Tuesday and Wednesday of classes of the Fall semester for the purpose of filling Student Government offices and voting on proposed constitutional amendments, initiatives, or referendums.
2. "Spring General Elections" means the election held on the first Tuesday and Wednesday after the second Monday in April in the Spring semester for the purpose of filling Student Government offices and voting on proposed constitutional amendments, initiatives, or referendums.
3. "Spring Run-Off Election" means the election held on the first Tuesday and Wednesday after the third Monday in April of the Spring semester involving only the top two recipients where no candidate has received a majority of the votes cast for one of the campus-wide Student Government offices.
4. "Special Election" means an election called by a majority vote of the Student Senate or by ten (10) percent of the Student Body by petition filed with the Chancellor of the Student Honor Court not less than fourteen (14) days prior to the date of such special election for the purpose of voting on constitutional amendments or referendum questions. Such petitions must state the purpose of the special election.
5. "Elector" means an individual enrolled as a student at the University of Florida at the time the election is held, and the term is synonymous with "qualified elector (voter)".
6. "Absent elector" means any qualified elector who:
a. Due to physical disability is unable to attend the polls on the date an election is held;
b. Is serving as an election official, director of elections, or other individuals unable to vote at their proper polling place as a result of their duties in conducting the election.
c. Due to university classes or other requirements is unable to attend the polls on the date an election is held.
7. "Voting Machine" means the device used for the purpose of recording votes.
8. "Paper Ballot" means that printed sheet of paper containing the names of candidates, or a statement of proposed constitutional amendments or any other questions or propositions submitted to the electorate at any election on which sheet of paper an elector casts a vote. A "paper ballot" may also be a computer card used by an elector to cast a vote in conjunction with a computerized voting system.
9. "Write- in candidate" means any person who could have met the qualifications of the office before the deadline set by the Supervisor of Elections, yet who has not qualified as a candidate and whose name is not printed on either paper ballots or included on voting machines, but for whom a vote is cast on a write- in ballot. 10. "Write- in ballot" means that sheet of paper or ballot frame on a voting machine provided for the purpose of an elector casting a vote for a write- in candidate by hand inscription.
11. "Supervisor of Elections or Election Supervisor" means the officer responsible for supervising and conducting the elections.
12. "Poll Worker" means an individual hired by the election director to assist in the duties of conducting the election at a particular precinct or polling place.
13. "Election Official" means those individuals designated by the Elections Director to supervise the poll workers and conduct the election at a polling place or precinct; also includes the term "polling place supervisor".
14. "Disqualification" as applied to a candidate means that removal from the ballot of a candidate or failure to forward that candidate's name to the Senate for approval because of violations of the Election Code or from that candidate being ineligible to qualify or other such things as would infringe on that person's ability to hold office.
15. "Canvassing" means the counting of votes cast and the determination of their accuracy as reflected in the total verified versus the number cast.
16. "Tallying" means the compilation of vote totals as received from various polling places.
17. "Validation" means when the Student Senate, sitting at a regular meeting and after canvassing, formally accepts the vote totals of the canvassed election.
18. "Amendment" means a proposed amendment to the Student Body Constitution be it proposed by the Student Senate or petition.
19. "Referendum Question" means that question proposed by the Student Senate or by petition and which is not an amendment but is to be placed on the ballot.
20. "Qualify as Candidate" shall mean the filing of the necessary candidate affidavit and oath (or affirmation) with the election director.
21. "Election Period" beginning at the close of the meeting as defined in 700.1925 and ending one week after validation of the election.
22. "Campaigning" means any action in support of a candidate or a party for elective student body office, including, but not limited to distribution of literature, posting of materials. The simple wearing of a campaign shirt, button, emblem and the like, unaccompanied by the dissemination of campaign literature or in the making of a campaign speech to solicit support for a candidate, party or issue in a Student Government election, is not to be construed as "campaigning" for the purpose of this chapter.
23. "Candidate" refers to any person who has expressed firm intent to qualify or who has qualified to have his/her name placed on a ballot for elective office in a Student Government election, or any qualified person seeking election to such office by write- in votes.
24. "Door- to- door Campaigning" means any campaigning which requires the attracting of a resident's attention by knocking on the door or requesting entry into the room.
25. "Informal Campaigning" means any action in support of a candidate or a party with intent to qualify for an elective student body office. During this period, potential candidates shall be limited to verbal campaigning. Publishing and distribution of printed materials, and any media advertisement shall be prohibited during this period.
700.1 There is hereby created the position of Supervisor of Elections, and said position shall be filled by recommendation of a majority vote of the Student Government Executive Committee; subject to the approval of a two- thirds vote to the Student Senate. The Supervisor shall have served on the Elections Commission for at least the period covering one campus- wide election or shall have served as an assistant supervisor.
700.12 The Supervisor of Elections shall be appointed as specified in Section 700.1 Student Body Statutes twenty- eight days (28) after the Student Body President assumes office in the Spring, and shall serve for a period of one year.
700.121 Charges of misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, nonfeasance, neglect of duty, or incompetence on the part of the Supervisor of Elections shall be brought to the Chancellor of the Student Honor Court. Misconduct shall be defined as persistent violation of statutory guidelines in association with any political party, or failure to carry out the assigned duties of the office. The Chancellor shall decide if probable cause exists, he must submit his findings in writing to the Judiciary Committee of the Senate. The committee may then direct, by a majority vote, that the Chancellor take the case to the Board of Masters. The Board of Masters may order remedial action or remove the Election Supervisor from office for misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, nonfeasance, neglect of duty or incompetence.
700.122 In the event of a vacancy in the office of Supervisor of Elections, after the completion of the elections process, a new Supervisor shall be chosen in accordance with 700.1.
700.123 In the event of a vacancy in the office of Supervisor during the election process, the Chancellor shall appoint a Supervisor of Elections from the current Assistant Supervisors. That supervisor shall take office effective upon notification of his appointment by the Chancellor.
700.13 No person, while serving as Supervisor of Elections, or as an Assistant Supervisor, shall hold any position of affiliation with any Student Government political party nor hold any other position or office in Student Government. Additionally, the Supervisor may not be an executive officer of any Student Government funded organization.
700.14 The Supervisor of Elections shall conduct and supervise all general and special elections of the Student Body and faithfully execute those duties and responsibilities as designated by this code and other duties and responsibilities designated by law or deemed necessary to the proper conduct of an election.
700.15 The Supervisor of Elections must appoint a minimum of four (4) Assistant Supervisors and any additional Assistant Supervisors deemed necessary by the Supervisor. The Assistant Supervisor's term shall end in conjunction with that of the Supervisor. Such Assistant Supervisors are subject to a two- thirds approval of the Student Senate.
700.16 The Supervisor of Elections shall be responsible for receiving the qualifying papers of the various candidates and political parties, distributing necessary information concerning this election code and the election to the same. Such information should include all deadlines, campaign rules, and other information as it applies.
700.161 The Supervisor of Elections shall be responsible for receiving a list of campaign contributions and expenditures from each political party and independent candidate. These lists shall be on public record in the Student Government office.
700.17 The Supervisor of Elections shall submit a complete list of candidates who have qualified to the Office of Student Services, who shall certify back to said officer the names of those candidates who meet all requirements in the Student Body Constitution and Statutes. The Supervisor shall strike from the certified list of names of all persons who fail to meet the requirements of the office for which they are candidates. The Supervisor shall notify said candidate by posting their names at a designated place outside the Activities Center in the Reitz Union. Such a candidate may appeal to the Registrar's Office if he believes he is qualified for office; however, any error on the part of the Registrar must be certified to the Supervisor of Elections no later than noon on the Thursday preceding the election.
700.171 A party may replace a candidate who was disqualified in this manner with another candidate for that office provided that such new candidate has qualified for the office, is not already running for office with another recognized party, and has submitted written approval of his qualification. This must be done no later than noon on the Friday preceding the election.
700.172 The Supervisor of Elections shall post a copy of the corrected list of candidates outside the Student Government office as soon as possible and submit a corrected list of candidates to the Student Election Commission. The Supervisor shall also prepare a list of parties which qualified and contact party chairman of each party for the commission. Each candidate is responsible to insure his/her name is included and correct on the list/ballot by 5pm the Friday preceding the election
700.18 The Supervisor of Elections shall be responsible for the preparation of the ballot and the form of application for absentee ballot.
700.181 The Supervisor of Elections shall supply an application form and an absentee ballot to every qualified elector requesting same, by the Friday immediately preceding the elections.
700.182 The Supervisor of Elections shall list all candidates for a given office in alphabetical order within party groups. For the purpose of listing candidates, all independent candidates shall be grouped together as if they were in a party.
700.183 The order of parties and of candidates listed in 700.33 on the ballot shall be random and determined at a drawing supervised by the Supervisor of Elections after the close of qualifications, but not later than the Friday preceding elections. For the purposes of the drawing, independent candidates of each qualified party shall be notified of the time and place of the drawing and the drawing shall conform to the requirements of the Student Government in the Sunshine Law.
700.184 The Supervisor of Elections shall provide on request a sample ballot and off- campus district map to all campus- wide newspapers.
700.19 The Supervisor of Elections shall be responsible for instructing officials in the proper use and operation of voting machines and shall prepare quidelines and regulations, in accordance with the Florida State Statutes, to be followed in the preparation, sealing, opening, and reading of such machines.
700.191 The Supervisor of Elections shall see that all ballot counting equipment is properly zeroed and tested two days prior to the election and in the presence of the Chancellor of the Honor Court. Only the Supervisor, a representative of each political party, an independent candidate to be selected at the meeting at 700.193 and a member of the Board of Masters of the Student Honor Court and those other persons deemed necessary and approved by the Election Commission upon recommendation of the Supervisor or by the Election Commission itself shall be present at the tallying of the ballots.
700.192 The Supervisor of Elections shall announce publicly the election results.
700.1925 The Supervisor of Elections shall conduct a meeting on the 3rd Tuesday preceding the day of elections. The purpose of this meeting shall be to inform all students wishing to participate in the upcoming elections of the rules, procedures and proper conduct required during the election period. As stated in the SG Elections Code. At the close of the meeting, the Supervisor of Elections shall announce the official commencement of campaigning to begin at the start of qualifying.
700.193 The Supervisor of Elections shall conduct a meeting on the first school day after qualifying ends to notify all candidates of the requirements of the Student Body Election Code. All Candidates must attend or face disqualification. However, the Election Commissioner may excuse a candidate for a good cause shown.
700.2 There is hereby created the Student Election Commission which shall be an independent agency of Student Government overseeing the conduct, canvassing, certification of results, and complaints of Student Government elections.
700.21 The powers of the Commission shall be derived solely from the provisions of the Student Election Code contained in this chapter, chapter 710, and Chapter 720 of the Student Body Statutes. The Commission shall have the power to reprimand or fine those parties or individuals who violated the provisions of this code.
700.22 The Commission shall consist of six (6) members. The Student Body President shall appoint two (2) members; Chancellor of the Student Honor Court shall appoint two (2) students who have completed at least one (1) full year of Law School; two (2) members shall be elected by the Student Senate from a list of nominations from the Information and Investigation Committee. The floor may be opened for further nominations from the list of original applicants that were interviewed by the committee for the position. Each shall make one of their two appointments to the Commission for terms commencing twenty- eight (28) days after the canvassing of the fall and spring elections. Members shall serve for terms of one (1) year. The Chairperson of the Commission shall be chosen from the six (6) members and shall vote only in case of a tie. (No member of the commission may hold any position in Student Government during their time of service on the Commission, nor be a candidate for elective office, nor a member of, or a participant in, any campus political party.
700.221 Vacancies on the Commission, occurring prior to the end of qualifying, shall be immediately filled for the duration of that specific term by appointment by the Chancellor of the Student honor Court, subject to approval by a two- third vote of the Student Senate. Vacancies occurring after qualifying and before the election shall remain unfilled until after the end of the election period.
700.23 The Chairperson of the Commission, with the approval of the Commission, shall determine and list the locations where ballots may be cast along with the respective colleges or living areas for which these locations are established. The Commission must submit copies of these lists not later than the Wednesday prior to an election to the Supervisor of Elections and all campus- wide newspapers. The Supervisor of Elections shall post a copy of the list in a public place as soon as possible and request that the campus- wide newspapers publish the list on the day of the election and the day prior to the election.
700.231 In the event that there are not a sufficient number of operable voting machines for every polling place, the Commission in consultation with the Supervisor of Elections shall designate which polling places should be provided with paper ballots.
700.232 If ballot boxes are substituted for voting machines, the Commission shall seal and sign all ballot boxes prior to their delivery to the polling areas, and no ballot box shall be removed from any polling area except at the close of the polls. At such time the poll supervisor shall sign, seal, and deliver the ballot box and associated equipment to such central place as previously designated by the Commission. At the end of voting, the polling place supervisor shall again, sign, seal, and deliver the ballot box and associated equipment to such central place as previously designated by the Commission. The ballot boxes may then be opened and the votes tabulated as provided for in Section 700.831.
700.233 All voting polls for all Student Government Elections shall open at 8:00 A.M. and close at 8:00 P.M. on each designated day of election. All students in line at the time the polls are scheduled to close will be allowed to vote.
700.24 The Commission shall certify all vote totals and determine the accuracy thereof as well as consider any complaints brought against the correctness of such totals as provided for in 700.85 and 700.851.
700.25 The Commission shall follow rules and procedures as prescribed in Chapter 710 (Student Election Commission Rules and Procedures).
700.3 Any group or individual who wish to qualify as candidates for Student Government offices must comply with the provisions of the Student Election Code and must be responsive to the demands of the Supervisor or Elections and the Elections Commission.
700.31 Candidates for President, Vice President, and Treasurer shall each meet the following qualifications:
1. Registered as a full- time student (SB Const. I- 1, VII- 4) Stud. Rts, Resp., Regs: Acad Regs. II- A)
2. Overall 2.0 Grade Point Average (SB Const. VII- 4)
3. Free of Conduct Probation (Stu. Rts, Resp, Regs: Acad Regs., II- A)
4. Successfully completed at least three (3) terms at the University of Florida (SB Const. VII- 4)
700.311 Candidates for President and Vice President shall run on a joint ticket and shall submit a single supporting petition in order to sustain their candidacy.
700.312 The supporting petition shall bear the names, student numbers, and signatures of not less than 150 currently registered University of Florida students. The text of the supporting petition shall be to the affect that:
"We the undersigned students at the University of Florida, do hereby approve the candidacy _________ for President of the Student Body and ____________ Vice President of the Student Body, and (candidates of the _________ party) independent candidates."
700.313 The supporting petition shall be submitted to the Supervisor of Elections no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday preceding the elections.
700.314 Candidates for Student Senate and Associate Justice of the Student Honor Court shall meet the following qualifications:
1. Registered as a full- time student
2. Free of conduct probation
3. Overall 2.0 Grade Point Average
4. Must be a resident of their living area or enrolled in the college which they seek to represent.
5. Shall not have been previously removed from any Student Government office through the impeachment process.
700.315 Candidates for the BOCC and candidates for College Council positions shall meet the following qualifications:
l. Registered as full- time student
2. Overall 2.0 grade point average
3. Free of conduct probation.
700.316 Candidates for Chief Justice of the Traffic Court shall meet the following qualifications:
1. Registered as a full- time student
2. Overall 2.0 grade point average
3. Free of conduct probation
4. Successfully completed at least three (3) terms at the University of Florida.
700.317 Candidates for Chancellor of the Student Honor Court shall meet the following qualifications:
1. Registered as a full time student at the College of Law (SB Const. I- 1, IV- 3B, VII- 1,4)
2. Overall grade point average at the College of Law, 2.0 or higher (SB Const. IV- 4)
3. Successfully completed or enrolled in the course in Evidence (SB Const. IV- 3B). Successfully completed shall be defined as receiving a grade of C or better.
4. Free of conduct probation (Stu. Rts., Resp., Regs., ACAD Regs II- A)
5. Membership in good standing in the Student Honor Court Bar Association.
6. Successfully completed at least three (3) terms at the University of Florida.
700.32 All candidates for the offices of President, Vice President, and Treasurer of the Student Body, Chancellor of the Student Honor Court, and Chief Justice of the Traffic Court shall upon qualifying with the Supervisor of Elections certify the following information:
1. name
2. address
3. possesses all qualifications required to be a candidate for the office sought.
4. enrolled as a student at the University of Florida for at least three (3) semesters.
5. not under disqualification from serving that office.
6. independent or party candidate; if a party, name of party.
7. name of campaign manager
8. name of campaign treasurer
9. aware of the provisions of this election code and will be bound by the same.
700.321 All Candidates for election under the Constitution and laws of the Student Body shall be members of the constituencies, classes, or residence areas from which they seek to represent, and qualified to vote in such constituencies, classes, or residence areas. The Registrar's Office record of that person's classification as to the college, or residence area shall be final; provided, that if the Student Election Commission shall discover that a winning candidate was not qualified because of an error in the Registrar's Classification then the office may be declared vacant. The office shall be filled by a majority vote of the Student Senate unless the office was that of the Student Body President, Vice President, Treasurer, Chancellor or the Chief Justice of the Traffic Court, whereas the office shall be subject to general elections.
700.33 No candidate for Chancellor of the Student Honor Court, Justices of the Student Honor Court, BOCC College Council members, or Chief Justice of the Traffic Court may run with or hold a position in any campus political party, or be endorsed, or receive funds from any candidate or party.
700.34 No person's name shall appear on the ballot who fails to qualify as a candidate with the Supervisor of Elections prior to the time of closing which shall be no earlier than 5:00 PM on the second Friday preceding the Spring and Fall General Election. After this time (5:00 PM on the second Friday preceding the Spring and Fall General Elections) said person may not change their registration with a party or change to independent status unless they are not included on the Party list of candidates listed in 700.42. In all cases, only those persons who are not listed on a party slate as described in 700.42 may be reclassified as independent. Parties may not fill originally vacant candidate slots from those candidates originally classified (before 5:00 PM on the second Friday preceding the Spring and Fall General Elections) as independent or non- slated candidates from a different party.
700.341 All candidates may qualify under the name by which they are registered at the University of Florida or under a variation of that name subject to the approval of the Elections Commission. No person shall appear on the ballot under an assumed name. Any attempt to qualify as a candidate under an assumed name shall be a violation of the Student Election Code and shall be punishable under Chapter 710.
700.342 Each candidate upon qualifying must also sign a waiver allowing Student Government to ascertain that each elected person continues to fulfill eligibility requirement for such office during his/her term of office.
700.35 Falsification of information certified as correct to the Supervisor of Elections required in 700.321, Student Body Statutes, may result in disqualification and removal from the ballot. It shall be the responsibility of the candidate to determine that all information is correct prior to his/her qualifying and certifying the accuracy of that information.
700.351 Parties shall not be held libel or punished for individual's falsification of information during the qualifying stages of the election as covered in 700.3 to 700.399. A 24 hour replacement period shall be given to the party. The party must choose a replacement from candidates who had already qualified.
700.36 The following statement must be signed by all candidates upon qualifying: "I understand that failure to comply with election policy for posting of campaign material or failure to correct a violation cited by the Supervisor of Elections within one (1) hour of notification may result in prosecution under the provision of chapter 700 of the Student Body Statutes.
700.361 If after one (1) hour, the Supervisor of Elections or one of his assistants is unable to make contact with the offending candidate or an official party officer, he must proceed to remove campaign material that is in violation of the Chapter 700 Election Codes.
700.362 With the exception of the Supervisor of Elections and/or designee and Elections Commission, no candidate, group of candidates, political party p
Content for this document is in the public record
HTML/Web conversion is
Copyrighted by the
Independent Student Coalition.
This document may not, under any circumstances, be re-used
without
permission.