The Student Government Election Board denied a student’s request Monday to hold a new election for University College Center for Freshman Year senators.
Meredith Smith, a mass communication freshman, filed a complaint with the election board Friday, saying her name was left off last Wednesday’s general election ballot.
Smith was not present at the election board’s hearing, but biological sciences freshman Ralph Johnson spoke on her behalf.
“I know myself and others intended to vote for Meredith and were unable to do so,” Johnson said.
During the election filing period, Smith filled out a form indicating her intention to run, and SG officials took her photograph and personal statement for the SG Web site. Johnson argued those actions made Smith a candidate for Student Senate.
However, Smith failed to sign her name as it would appear on the ballot to a binder with all candidate’s names and colleges. Election board officials said that step was key to the filing process.
“If you have the initiative to become a senator, then I would hope you have the initiative to read and be responsible,” said board member Margret Atkinson.
Atkinson was referring to a section of the SG election code that states candidates must verify their eligibility by the election board, which includes making sure their names appear on the sample ballot.
SG Elections Commissioner Zach Howser said he posted a sample ballot outside the SG office before absentee voting, but Smith did not notify officials her name was not there.
“I don’t feel the election board should be the babysitters of candidates here,” said Jeremy Griggs, former Student Senate speaker and petroleum engineering senior. Griggs said it was Smith’s responsibility to make sure she filed correctly.
Johnson did not know if Smith received a receipt
verifying her candidacy, as did the others who ran for office.
The board unanimously ruled to keep the last Wednesday’s UCFY election results and proceed with runoffs this Wednesday.
Rachael Buller, Garrett Chassee, Paul Coussan, Trey Dykes, Adam Johnson and Mallory Mayeaux are campaigning for the three remaining UCFY senate seats.
Johnson said he did not know if Smith would appeal the board’s ruling to University Court.