UC Seal Campus Elections

Student Union Assembly Elections Code
As revised:
    ARTICLE I         Elections Commission

      SECTION A. Purpose: Enforcement of the SUA election code is to ensure a fair and open election for the undergraduate body of UCSC.

      SECTION B. Composition:
      1. The Elections Commission shall consist of one SUA representative from each college as well as the SUA Chair and the Elections Commissioner (Section X)
      2. The members of the Elections Commission shall not be candidate nor shall they support or oppose any campus candidate, party, or referenda while serving on the Commission. Any member of the EC so doing may be removed from the EC by the Commissioner or by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the EC. The appropriate college government will be asked to appoint a new representative.
      3. In the event that an SUA Representative from a college is running or had run for an SUA elected position, or is the author or co-author of a measure on the upcoming ballot, then that Representative shall be ineligible and the respective college council must appoint another representative to the Commission as soon as possible.
      4. Commissioners must uphold confidentiality in all matters reviewed by the EC. Failure to do so will result in removal from the EC and action by the SUA.

      SECTION C. Responsibilities and Powers:
      1. Responsible for working with the Elections Commissioner to enforce the SUA Elections Code.
      2. The Elections Commission may, after a hearing has been held, sanction, censure, or disqualify a candidate for violations of the Elections Code.
        1. In considering whether to disqualify a candidate, the Commission may consider a candidate's willfulness and intention to violate the Elections Code and the seriousness of the violation.

    ARTICLE II         Elections Commissioner

      SECTION A. Appointment:
      1. The SUA shall appoint the campus-wide Elections Commissioner, who must be an undergraduate enrolled at UCSC that is familiar with campus regulations and student concern, who will be in Santa Cruz winter and spring quarters.
      2. The campus-wide Elections Commissioner is responsible for coordinating the campus-wide Elections Commission, which consists of the college- level election commissioners who are appointed by the college council who oversee the college elections process.
      3. The campus-wide Elections Commissioner shall be paid a total of $1000.00 for his or her work. He or she shall receive half of the payment at the mid-point and half upon satisfactory completion of the job.
        1. If it is decided by two-thirds (2/3) of the Assembly that the campus-wide Elections Commissioner is not doing a satisfactory job, the second $500.00 can be withheld.
      4. The campus-wide Elections Commissioner can be recalled by two-thirds (2/3) of the Student Union Assembly. In the event that this should occur, the Assembly can vote not to pay the former Elections Commissioner the second $500.00 if they believe it is appropriate given the quality of the individual's work.
      5. The campus-wide Elections Commissioner should begin working on the elections as soon as possible.

      SECTION B. Responsibilities and Powers:
      1. The Elections Commissioner is responsible for overseeing the elections process and coordinating the campus-wide Elections Commission in order to ensure a fair and open election for the undergraduate body of UCSC.
      2. The Elections Commissioner will meet and coordinate with the Student Affairs representative responsible for campus elections.
      3. The Elections Commissioner may sanction, censure, or issue an order to candidates to end actions that are in violation of the Elections Code or University policies and regulations.

    ARTICLE III         Procedures, Campaign Rules and Regulations

      SECTON A. General Procedures:
      1. The official website for SUA elections will be
        http://elections.ucsc.edu
      2. The SUA will not recognize "slates" or "parties" in the election process such that, the election ballot will not name, list or acknowledge party affiliations, slate names, party or slate identifications or any other distinguishable affiliations.
      3. The ballot shall be non-partisan
      4. All positions shall be both available and advertised for at least twenty (20) working days prior to the deadline for Petitions for Nomination.
      5. In the event that more than one candidate for the same position receives the same number of votes, a run-of election shall take place.
        1. The election shall take place three (3) school days after the election results announcement. The Commissioner shall hold an additional day of balloting for the contested position.

    ARTICLE IV        Candidate Rules and Regulations:

      SECTON A. Nomination & Qualification:
      1. Any enrolled member of the undergraduate student body who wishes to run for an officer position within the SUA shall be required to submit a Petition for nomination signed by a minimum of fifty (50) enrolled members of the Undergraduate student body, with at least three (3) students from each of the colleges, by a specified deadline set by the Elections Commissioner as well as a Candidate Statement not to exceed 150 words.
      2. Duplicate signatures on petitions by candidates for the same position will be void.
      3. The Commissioner shall verify the candidate's qualification and eligibility within five (5) school days of the Mandatory Orientation Meeting.
        1. The Candidate must be an enrolled member of the Undergraduate student body to be eligible.
        2. No candidate shall hold or run for more than one elected position within the SUA.
      4. All candidates must attend a Mandatory Orientation Meeting conducted by the Commissioner at which time the Elections Code and campaign rules will be fully reviewed.
        1. a. If for any reason a candidate is unable to attend this meeting, they may send a representative (with a letter of confirmation from the candidate). Failure to attend this meeting or send a representative shall cause the candidate to be disqualified.
      5. A candidate may withdraw their nomination petition at any time during the Election Process.
        1. a. If the Candidate withdraws after the deadline to declare candidacy, the candidate may not run for any other position during that same election.

      SECTON B. Write in Candidates:
      1. The SUA will allow write-in candidates for positions in the election.
        1. Write-in candidates must be enrolled members of the Undergraduate student body.
        2. A space on the SUA Elections Ballot will be provided for write-in candidates.
        3. Write-in candidates are not allowed to submit a Candidate Statement.
        4. To be placed on the ballot, write-in candidates must gather 100 undergraduate signatures in the same format as the Petition for Nomination excluding the restriction of three (3) students from each college. The petition must be submitted at least 7 days before the election.
        5. All campaign and financial rules of the Election Code apply to write in candidates.

      SECTON C. Financial Reporting:
      1. The Student Union Assembly recommends but will not enforce, that students spend no more than a total of $250.00 of their own money or usual source of income including donations of funds and in kind contributions on their campaigns.
      2. Each candidate must save all receipts for costs of their campaigns in the event of an audit.
      3. The Commissioner may issue an audit for a candidate's campaign at anytime or at the request of two-thirds (2/3) of the Assembly.
      4. If receipts are not presented when asked, the candidate may be eligible for disqualification.
      5. Candidates may receive contributions to their campaigns but receipts of contributions must be saved. Contributions may not exceed $15.00.

      SECTON D. Campaign Rules:
      1. The following campaign rules are established to ensure that each candidate is afforded an opportunity for election equal to that of any other candidate for that office.
      2. Candidates may be sanctioned or disqualified by the Elections Commission for a violation of any of the following campaign rules:
        1. Any violation of this Election Code or University policies and regulations.
        2. Willfully violating a lawful order from the Elections Commissioner or Commission;
        3. Intentionally falsifying information on any SUA Elections forms;
        4. Knowingly and actively campaigning within 20 feet of the any SUA or College government polling location, provided that the polls are properly marked off;
        5. Altering the screen appearance of the official University on-line voting site
        6. Badgering or intimidating the Commissioner or members of the Commission;
        7. Failing to appear before the Elections Commission after receiving 24 hour prior notice; except if he/she can provide a valid medical excuse, out of town commitment, death in the family, or prior employment obligation. It shall be the Commission's right to determine the validity of any claim as to the above.
        8. Obstructing an investigation by the Elections Commission;
        9. Willfully destroying, defacing, covering, moving or removing from their places elections-related posters, signs, banners, leaflets or flyers;
        10. Filing frivolous or bad faith appeals charges against any candidate or party or engaging a third party to file such charges;
        11. Committing, according to established legal standards, libel or slander against another candidate or party;
        12. Claiming an endorsement of an individual, group, or party without his/her/its consent. Candidates should, but are not required, to obtain endorsements in writing.

      SECTON E. Disqualification Procedures & Process of Appeal:
      1. All candidates have the right to file a complaint regarding infractions of this Elections Code. This right is forfeited twenty-four (24) hours after the close of voting.
        1. A complaint must be written, no longer than 500 words, and submitted by email to the Commission's email address (to be announced at Candidate Orientation).
      2. The Commissioner may take immediate action on a complaint and issue an order or sanction without a meeting of the Commission. The order or sanction must be issued to the email address(es) established by the candidate(s) involved. All Commissioners will also receive an email copy simultaneously.
      3. The Commission will meet to review a complaint and hold a hearing only under the following circumstances:
        1. The Commissioner determines that the complaint warrants a meeting of the Commission.
        2. Four members of the Commission determine that the complaint warrants a meeting of the Commission and notify the Commissioner within twenty-four (24) hours of receiving the complaint.
      4. Meetings of the Elections Commission:
        1. The Commissioner shall give a minimum twenty-four (24) hour notice to all members of the Commission.
        2. Quorum of the Elections Commission shall be five (5) members plus the Commissioner.
        3. The Commissioner shall give a minimum twenty-four (24) hour notice to the author of the complaint and the accused.
        4. If the accused fails to attend and does not give the Commissioner notice of a valid reason before the meeting (valid medical excuse, out of town commitment, death in the family, or prior employment obligation) the Commission will proceed. If notice is given before the meeting and accepted as valid by the Commission, a second and final meeting will be called to hear the author and accused.
        5. At the meeting, the author of the complaint and the accused shall be given no more than 10 minutes each to present and 5 minutes to rebut.
        6. Deliberations of the Commission shall be closed. Neither the author of the complaint, the accused, or others may be present.
        7. The Commission may request the presence of the SUA's University Liaison or counsel.
      5. Decisions by the Commission
        1. If a decision by the Commission does not involve disqualification, the Commission needs only a simple majority vote (50% + 1)
        2. If a decision involves disqualification, the Commission needs a 2/3's majority vote
        3. Abstentions will count to quorum, but not to the vote (neither positive nor negative)
        4. Decisions made by the Commission shall be considered final by the SUA.
        5. The Commission shall render a decision regarding a complaint within four (4) calendar days from receipt of the complaint unless a delay is caused for valid reasons. Decisions will be sent to the email address(es) established by the candidate(s) involved.
      6. Appeal
        1. All candidates have the right to appeal a decision made by the Elections Commission. This right is forfeited twenty-four (24) hours after the decision is received.
        2. Appeals must be written, no longer than 500 words, and submitted by email to the Commission's email address (to be announced at Candidate Orientation).
        3. Appeals will be reviewed at the next regular meeting of the SUA.
        4. Decisions of the Commission may be overruled by a 3/4 vote of the SUA body.
      7. In the event that all candidates are disqualified, the position shall be available for appointment by the SUA according to procedures listed in the Constitution and Bylaws.
Campus Elections Home Page

If you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding the content of the fee referenda portion of this ballot, please contact Lucy Rojas, Elections Commissioner, Student Affairs, at 459-1676 or larojas@ucsc.edu.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding the content of the Student Union Assembly officer elections portion of this ballot, please contact the Student Union Assembly at (831)459-4838 or suaofficers@ucsc.edu.

For technical questions contact: hansendl@ucsc.edu.