SUGGESTIONS FOR ELECTION POLICY CHANGES FOR THE 1991-92 SENATE:
Article I, Section 7:
a) to oversee the work of the Commission
b) to represent the Committion before the SGA and the Administration
c) to call and chair meetings of the Election Commission.
Article I, Section 8a. the chairperson's actions may be reviewed by, and if necessary, overturned by a majority vote (with 7 members present) of the Commission.
Section 8b. The Commission chairperson may carry out only those actions which have been decided by an affirmative majority vote of the commission.
Article III, Section 1: an individual or an organization will be considered an afent of a candidate (s) or a ticket in any case where the person or organization has publically endorsed a candidate(s) or a ticket or when a majority of the Election Commission has sufficient reason to rule that a person or an organization is acting as an agent of a candidate (s) or a ticket. In any case where a person or organization is acting as an agent of a candidate or a ticket, they shall fall under the same regulations applicable to candidates. Organizations are required to register their endorsement with the Election Commission or the SGA Secretary. Student publications are exempt from endorsement registration.
Article IV, Section 4: In cases where a commissioner has directly witnessed a violation, he/she must report the alleged violation to the Election Commission in writing. The candidate must receive written notice of his/her alleged violation, signed by the commission chairperson before a hearing on the matter can be held. The candidate charged with a violation is entitled to due process under the law, and has the option to defend himself/herself in the presence of the commission and to provide witnesses for further defense. If guilt is established by a majority affirmative vote of the quorum (quorum= 2/3 of commission), the procedure will be as follows;
1) Upon first offense, a written warning will be issued, signed by the commission chairperson, to the candidate;
2) Upon second offense, the commission has the right to suspend certain campaigning privileges.
3) In order to charge a 3rd violation, any commissioner having witnessed said violation must forward the written charge to Judicial Board for decision.
Any and all charges brought against a candidate must be forwarded in writing to the Judicial Affairs officer.
Article IV, Section 6b: Immediately following that hearing, should a majority of a quorum of the Commission feel that the charges appear valid and repetitious and/or severe in nature, a written reduction and substantiation of the charges must be forward to the Judicial Affairs Officer of the Judicial Board. In cases where organizations have failed to work the polls, such organizations will have charges against them immediately forwarded to the Judicial Affairs Officer. Notwithstanding other SGA laws to the contrary, the Election Commission may, by a unanimous voice, choose to meet in closed session when acting in this capacity, in accordance with Article 76A, Section 9-12 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
Article IV, Section 6d: with the exception of the privilege suspending powers outlined in Article IV, Section 4, neither the election Commission of Judicial Board may punish violations of this policy. Violations of this policy may be ........
