The Associate Students of Madison Student Judiciary Committee passed a list of 10 rules and regulations Thursday that will govern the Feb. 23 and Feb. 24 ASM elections.
The list dictates proper campaigning etiquette, exact timelines for the vote and restrictions on campaigning within 100 feet of the designated polling places, including keeping candidates from publicizing in university-owned computer labs.
The committee also confirmed that any campaigner, interest group or affiliate who fails to observe all election rules may be removed from the ballot and/or receive a lesser punishment decided upon by the Student Election Committee.
The committee also discussed amendments to constitutional bylaws.
“We all know how overwhelming the bylaws can be, especially to a new justice,” said SJC Vice Chief Justice Ben Beduhn, who confirmed Feb. 13 as the final deadline for new justice applications. “I cut off approximately seven pages worth, but there can be more that can be taken off.”
Debate was sparked over appropriate timelines to handle complaints filed about decisions made by the SJC. The committee ultimately decided a complaint must be filed within five school days of an adverse decision. The SJC must then select a three-justice panel to hear the complaint within another five school days.
That panel then has 10 school days after the complaint was filed to hold a hearing and must publish a decision on the case within 10 school days of the complaint hearing.
Chief Justice Tre Darby agreed with the decision.
“When we assigned panels in the past, they weren’t assigned within the week,” Darby said. “In my opinion, I just don’t like having those weekends counted as workdays that can be included within your deadline.”
Although the SJC did not make any permanent decisions, they changed and clarified bylines regarding procedural complaints and removed confusing wording in an effort to make the bylines clear and concise.
SJC will reconvene next Thursday to take a final vote on the constitutional amendments.