In an attempt to prevent unofficial polling sites from opening, the Associated Students of Madison Student Judiciary Monday enacted a set of policies for the spring 2007 student election.
In a 3-1 vote following little debate, the committee passed 14 rules regulating actions of student candidates and election campaigning in student elections.
One of those rules bans unofficial polling locations sponsored by specific candidates.
"We made a few changes that streamlined and addressed how we are going to be holding initiative recall and referendum sponsors," Student Judiciary Chief Justice Joshua Tyack said. "We will regulate what people can do in terms of creating unofficial polling locations."
Stressing the importance of addressing the issue of unofficial polling places, Tyack said the new regulations would be in effect for the upcoming spring election.
"People just realize that this is something that could be an issue in the future," Tyack said. "This is something we should have in the rulebooks."
Tyack added the new election rules should in no way inhibit legal campaigning.
Student Judiciary Vice Chief Justice Sol Grosskopf, however, disagreed with the new regulations, arguing no election rule should restrict "a student's ability to campaign in fairness and honestly."
"Its only capability is to stifle debate during ASM elections and to lower an already low voter turnout," Grosskopf said.
Student Judiciary Justice Jeremy Jewett said he agreed with adding an election rule limiting unofficial polling locations, because the unofficial polls caused unfair votes.
"We want the election to be personal, not an election of manufactured votes," Jewett said.
Unofficial polling locations became a point of controversy in the spring 2006 elections after allegations arose of sponsors harassing and intimidating voters. Tyack, however, said the new rules would help address similar problems.
"These rules will ensure that people won't set up their own mass-polling locations that appear to be official ASM polling sites in the future," Tyack said.
Tyack also explained that the rules change annually, and often reflect issues encountered in the previous semester's election.
"The reason we have these rules are to ensure that these elections are fair and responsible," Tyack said. "It's kind of a continuum process where if we see an issue –something that needs to be corrected — we change it, moving towards as fair and responsible election that we can get."
Student Judiciary members also debated issues involving obtaining permission before distributing campaign material that attacked other candidates, and removal of candidates that did not comply by all election rules.
Overall, Tyack said he is satisfied with the changes made to the election rules.
"I'm definitely happy with the changes and where they stand right now," Tyack said. "I think where the election rules are at are very good."
