Votes were cast and debates were partially concluded regarding the Election Code and trinkets in the Student Government meeting Tuesday night.
To begin SG’s public input portion of the meeting, Billy Wright, former commissioner of elections, proposed changes to the Election Code on behalf of Aimee Simon, current commissioner, who could not be present.
Wright proposed all stipulations related to voting be moved under one article of the Election Code. He also proposed all complaints should be filed in writing and given in person instead of e-mail so that the commissioner and Election Board could take appropriate action easier. His final proposition was trinkets, watercraft and other large forms of campaign paraphernalia should be allowed as long as they are within the spending limits and other things.
The issues of trinkets and complaints were heavily debated. Danielle Rushing, chief justice, said trinkets increase voter turnout.
Carrie Hebert, vice president, said she believes trinkets are least necessary to a campaign, but if they must continue to be had, they should be at a reasonable price.
It was voted that the trinket spending limit be abolished.
T Graham Howell, deputy chief justice, suggested that if complaints to the commissioner of election boards must be sent via e-mail, that the e-mail should be an official LSU e-mail address to deter false names or silly complaints.
Howell also suggested an “s” be added to Election Board and Election Code, making them Elections Board and Elections Code. No objection was raised on this vote.
Another vote for the Elections Board to draft its own complaint form was raised. This, however, failed.
Finally, Emily Anthony, senator of the College of Education, suggested a service project on a broad scale be designed to help increase voter turnout. This would help the campaigns to be more election-centered instead of campaign-centered, she said.
Anthony’s proposal has not been voted on yet.
____ Contact Kristen Frank at [email protected]
Campaign trinket costs heavily debated
June 27, 2012