By Emily Wiley, Editor-in-Chief
Students might not be seeing candidates for Student Government Association at voting places anymore.
The old language on the campaign rules for SGA allowed candidates and their staff to stand at the voting places with iPads and other devices asking passing students to vote. With the new language proposed, this would become illegal and would disqualify the candidate.
“The old language was not sufficient, but with these voting places we always had a good voter turnout,” said Chance Johnson, chief of executive staff, said. “We are trying to change the language so that we will still have voting places and good voter turnout but so that students won’t be put in a bad place with a person from the ballot standing there.”
The new language proposed states, “to prevent coercive voting, the use of electronic devices by a candidate, campaign staff member, or current SGA member for the purpose of personally obtaining electronic votes from eligible students for election to an OCU-SGA position is prohibited on Election Days.”
This means that any SGA member who is on the ballot must not be at these voting places while students are voting.
“No changes have been made yet but the election committee is in the process of reviewing the proposed language,” Johnson said.
The election committee is composed of Student Court and SGA’s advisor Lesley Black, assistant dean of students.
Students will still be able to vote via Orgsync from wherever they are.
“It won’t change the way people vote which will be good,” said Senator Monica Hiller, elementary education freshman. “It helps them feel better about who they are voting for.”
Students who have concerns or any ideas about voting are encouraged talk to Student Senate, Johnson said.
“We want students to know that we are there to listen to them if they have any questions or concerns,” Johnson said.
Student Senate will vote on the proposed language Feb. 24.
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