SGA Constitution Amendment

Prepared for April 2009 Student Elections

Original:

ARTICLE IV
Student Government Association Elections
Sections 2,3,4

Section 2. Election Committee Duties

A. The Election Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Vice-President of the SGA, with a two-
thirds majority vote of the SGA.

B. The Election Committee shall have the following authorities and obligations:

1. To determine the dates of the election. These dates are subject to the approval of the SGA.

2. To publicize ten (10) days prior to the first filing day: the date and place to file for the SGA election,
election dates, polling places, times, and voter identification procedure.

3. Have the power to enforce and produce the election rules.

4. To hold a candidate meeting: the date, time, and place of which will be on the candidacy form.
Every candidate must attend the candidate meeting or have an approved, designated
representative attend in his/her place.

5. To monitor each candidate’s campaign and remove any materials in violation of the election rules.

6. To determine the ballot order, the candidate or the designated representative shall draw the ballot
positions. The ballot positions drawn in the candidate meeting will be recorded by the Election
Committee and placed on the ballot in their respective orders.

7. The Election Committee chair, SGA advisor, and one other member of the election committee (as
appointed by the SGA Executive President) will obtain the final vote count results.

8. The SGA Election Committee Chair shall verify the election. Any irregularities or discrepancies
should be taken to the Rules Committee. NOTE: NO MEMBER OF THE ELECTION COMMITTEE
SHALL BE APPOINTED TO THE RULES COMMITTEE. Immediately following tabulation, a
written report of the final election results posted for the student body. The report must include the
names of each candidate and the number of respective votes cast for each candidate.

9. Election procedures not covered in these provisions are subject to the laws of the State of
Arkansas.

Section 3. Rules Committee Duties

A. No member of the Rules Committee shall be appointed to the elections committee.

B. No member will be allowed to serve on Rules committee who is seeking office in the current
election.

C. The Executive Vice-President, with a two-thirds majority vote of the SGA, will appoint new
members of the Rules Committee.

D. The Rules Committee shall have the following authorities and obligations:

1. The Rules Committee shall be the ruling body on matters concerning campaign violations.
 2. Any irregularities or discrepancies shall be taken to the Rules Committee.

3. The Rules Committee shall submit their final decisions to the SGA no later than one week after
receiving three campaign violations against any one candidate.

E. Any decision of The Rules Committee can be overruled by a 2/3 vote of present SGA senators.

Section 4. Election Procedures

J. Voting shall take place in the designated and advertised area. Adequate facilities shall be provided
to insure secrecy for the voter. SGA elections shall be held through an online voting system unless
otherwise unanimously voted by the Elections Committee and ratified by 2/3 of the Senate.

K. Senators running in elections shall not be allowed to work election booths.

L. Counting of the votes shall begin as soon as the polls close on the last day of voting and continue
until completed.

M. The SGA members elected in the Spring election shall take office one week prior to the first day of
the Spring semester final exams. The SGA members elected in the fall election shall take office at
the next scheduled meeting following the posting of the results.

Amended:

ARTICLE IV
Student government Association Elections
Sections 2,3,4

Section 2. Election Committee Duties

A. There shall be separate exclusive Elections Committees for the Fall and Spring semesters.

1. The Fall Election Committee shall consist of the Executive Board as elected in the previous Spring
election.

2. The Spring Election Committee shall consist of a representative from the Freshmen, Sophomore,
Junior, and Senior classes, a Graduate Senator, and a Senator-at-Large to be appointed by the
Executive Vice-President of the SGA, with a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the SGA.

3. The Executive Vice-President shall chair the Fall Election Committee.

4. The Spring Election Committee shall elect their own chair.

B. The Election Committee shall have the following authorities and obligations:

1. To determine the dates of the election. These dates are subject to the approval of the SGA.

2. To publicize ten (10) days prior to the first filing day: the date and place to file for the SGA election,
election dates, polling places, times, and voter identification procedure.

3. Have the power to enforce and produce the election rules.

4. To hold a candidate meeting: the date, time, and place of which will be on the candidacy form.
Every candidate must attend the candidate meeting or have an approved, designated
representative attend in his/her place.

5. To monitor each candidate’s campaign and remove any materials in violation of the election rules.
 6. To determine the ballot order, the candidate or the designated representative shall draw the ballot
positions. The ballot positions drawn in the candidate meeting will be recorded by the Election
Committee and placed on the ballot in their respective orders.

7. The Election Committee chair, SGA advisor, and one other member of the election committee (as
appointed by the SGA Executive President) will obtain the final vote count results.

8. The SGA Election Committee Chair shall verify the election. Any irregularities or discrepancies
should be taken to the Rules Committee. NOTE: NO MEMBER OF THE ELECTION COMMITTEE
SHALL BE APPOINTED TO THE RULES COMMITTEE. Immediately following tabulation, a
written report of the final election results posted for the student body. The report must include the
names of each candidate and the number of respective votes cast for each candidate.

9. Election procedures not covered in these provisions are subject to the laws of the State of
Arkansas.

Section 3. Election Rules Committee Duties

A. There shall be separate exclusive Election Rules Committees for the Fall and Spring semesters.

1. The Fall Election Rules Committee shall consist of the class Presidents and Vice-Presidents
elected in the previous Spring election.

2. The Spring Election Rules Committee shall consist of one representative from each class plus a
Senator-at-Large and a Graduate Senator to be appointed by the Executive Vice-President, with a
two-thirds (2/3) vote of the SGA.

3. The Election Rules Committee shall elect their own chair.

B. The Election Rules Committee shall have the following authorities and obligations:

1. To be the ruling body on matters concerning campaign violations.

2. To have any irregularities or discrepancies initially distributed to them.

3. To submit their final decisions to the SGA no later than one week after receiving three campaign
violations against any one candidate.

4. Any decision of The Election Rules Committee can be overruled by a 2/3 vote of the SGA senators.

C. No member of the Election Rules Committee shall be appointed to the Election Committee.

D. No member will be allowed to serve on the Election Rules Committee who is seeking office in the
current election.

Section 4. Election Procedures

J. Voting shall take place in the designated and advertised area. Adequate facilities shall be provided
to insure secrecy for the voter. SGA elections shall be held through an online voting system unless
otherwise unanimously voted by the Elections Committee and ratified by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of
the SGA.

K. Senators running in elections shall not be allowed to work election booths.

K. Counting of the votes shall begin as soon as the polls close on the last day of voting and continue
until completed.

L. The SGA members elected in the Spring election shall take office one week prior to the first day of
the Spring semester final exams. The SGA members elected in the fall election shall take office at
the next scheduled meeting following the posting of the results.