More than 20 students were disqualified from Student Government’s fall election, according to Billy Wright, commissioner of elections.
Wright said he didn’t recall the exact number, but more than 20 were disqualified because they failed to attend one of the two required senate candidate meetings.
Wright said three of the students who were unable to attend turned in valid excuses. One of them was disqualified after failing to attend the make-up meeting. The other two students attended the make-up meeting and are continuing on with elections.
Speaker of the Senate Brooksie Bonvillain said this is a transition election with the new election code, passed by SG Senate earlier in the semester, going into effect for the spring election. Bonvillain hopes disqualifications won’t be an issue for the spring election.
Bonvillain said the election is not as competitive as spring, but the candidates running are qualified to be senators.
“I know campaigning hasn’t been physical, but I feel that students running are qualified,” Bonvillain said.
Wright said there is one seat available and two students running in the E.J. Ourso College of Business, four available seats and five students running for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, four students running for the two available seats in the College of Basic Sciences and 11 students running for seven seats for the University Center for Freshman Year.
Wright said many disqualifications were UCFY candidates. For the future, Wright said he plans to send a reminder e-mail about candidate meetings so there will be fewer disqualifications.
Wright said it’s a shame to see students disqualified, but there are still enough students running for UCFY seats.
“It’s good to see new people run and fresh faces trying to get in SG,” Wright said.
As of Monday, the School of Veterinary Medicine has no senators and no candidates running in the fall election.
Bonvillain said she has met with representatives from the Vet School, and the time commitment required by SG senators makes it impossible to fill the seats.
For election day on Oct. 26, there will be voting stations at Middleton Library, the Student Union and the UREC Student Recreation Complex. If necessary, the run-off election will be held Nov. 2.
Students will also have the option to vote on PAWS.
Wright said he plans to sit down with SG members after the election to discuss possible improvements to the election process before the spring elections.
 
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Contact Celeste Ansley at
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