Voting for the annual fall student elections begins this morning. On the ballot this semester is a proposed alteration to the procedures for amending the University Judiciary Council's constitution, as well as elections for nine positions on the Arts & Sciences, Engineering and Commerce Councils, for which there are 18 candidates.
Steve Yang, chair of the University Board of Elections, explained that these elections are different from the larger-scale elections held during the spring as their purpose is to offer first-year students an opportunity to run for council positions during their first semester. Commerce students entering the school in their third year are afforded the same first-time opportunity.
The proposed referendum regarding the UJC constitution would change the amount of students needed to support an amendment in order for it to pass. "Approval of any amendment shall require at least two-thirds of those full-time students voting, providing that at least 10 percent of full-time students vote on the proposed amendment," the referendum reads.
Currently only a majority vote is required to ratify any UJC constitutional amendment, and there was no stipulation that at least 10 percent of full-time students voted.
UJC Chair Raleigh Anne Blank said the proposed referendum is intended to homogenize the UJC Constitution with that of other student organizations such as Student Council.
"Essentially, it changes the UJC constitution to align with other general constitutional rhetoric, which tends to be more complex," Blank said. "Ours wasn't done that way."
The UBE typically records a low student turnout in fall elections, compared to that of spring elections. Yang explained that the primary reason for this is the greater number of individual races and candidates in the spring; last spring, more than 100 candidates vied for approximately 70 positions.
"Typically, fall elections get about 10 percent student turnout, even amongst undergraduates -- a substantially lower figure than in the spring," Yang said.
However, Yang added that the UBE is expecting higher figures for student voter turnout in these elections.
"We're anticipating a better turnout this fall, due to the fact that we did more advertising to get candidates to register to run for office back in September," Yang said.
Once the polls open, students may vote online through Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m.
Read More
Was Ryan ‘anti-Jeffersonian?’ Historians weigh in after his resignation
By Brendon Bordwine | 10 hours agoWhile the Jefferson Council argues that Ryan violated the University's founding mission, historians suggest that even Jefferson’s own views were far from consistent.
Student Council passes resolution to uphold student voices during presidential search
By Lauren Seeliger | YesterdayThe resolution requests that five students be included on the search committee, and that the Board of Visitors provides key updates to the student body throughout the search process.
Senior VP for Operations Colette Sheehy looks back at her career at the University
By Brandon Kile | 3 days agoSheehy’s role involved overseeing the work of around 2,500 University employees, including custodians, architects and engineers.
