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Students call for new rules

SUNDEEP MALLADI/Herald photo

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by Carl Jaeger

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The issue of voting authenticity and unofficial polling locations for student elections came to a head Monday night at the Associated Students of Madison Student Judiciary meeting.

The committee is looking to improve the voting system for student government elections after experiencing heated controversy during last fall's student elections.

Though no specific incidents were investigated, Student Judiciary Chief Justice Josh Tyack said individuals and student groups set up unofficial polling stations during the last elections, posing as official ASM voting booths.

Tyack suggested the Student Judiciary establish rules prohibiting such activities for the fall 2007 ASM student elections.

"It's not good that this was allowed to happen," Tyack said. "We need to safeguard the integrity [and] help legitimize the election."

One Student Judiciary justice, Laura Dunn, suggested labeling official ASM voting places to help mend the problem.

"Voting polls that aren't ASM [sponsored] need to be clearly posted that way," Dunn said, adding that not abiding by this stipulation should be considered a voting violation.

Dunn defended individuals who set up unofficial voting stations, saying they helped increase student turnout.

Student Judiciary Justice Sol Grosskopf, who questioned the proposed regulation, said individuals or groups setting up unofficial voting booths caused little harm and were acting with the "best of intentions."

"Groups of people are trying to get people to vote," Grosskopf said. "No one is forcing them to vote at their booths."

Tyack said the goal of the unofficial voting-booths regulation would be to give the Student Judiciary the tools to punish violators, but "keep the floor open."

The new regulation will officially become part of Student Judiciary's Election Committee policy at a later meeting.

Overall, Tyack said he felt positive about fall 2007 elections.

"I just think that it is great that we have an online voting system again and that this one will be solid and will not break down like the last one did," Tyack said, referring to the spring 2006 elections, which were cancelled multiple times due to technical problems.

During Monday's meeting, Grosskopf was also installed as the new vice chief justice, taking over for Amber Hodgson who previously held the position.

"[Grosskopf] has shown commitment to all parts of ASM … and would do an excellent job in the leadership position," Student Judiciary member Leah Moe said.

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