Section 1. Eligibility:
A. Members may seek office within these guidelines:
1. Any member as defined in Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution is eligible to run for any office.
2. A potential candidate must file a petition with the Elections Committee. Petitions are available from the Elections Committee and must consist of the signatures, printed names, ID numbers, and telephone numbers of at least 50 members registered during Spring Semester of the election. Potential candidates for President must run with a potential candidate for Vice President as a single ticket, with a joint petition containing at least 100 signatures.
3. The names of all candidates shall be published in the Montana Kaimin immediately after the validation of petitions by the Elections Committee. The names of the winners of a primary election, if one is held, shall be published immediately following the election. Notices of special elections shall be conspicuously printed in the Montana Kaimin at least four times before the elections, including two issues immediately preceding the election.
4. Any member as defined in Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution is eligible to run as a write-in candidate. Write-in candidates shall not be printed on any ballot or participate in any ASUM-sponsored pre-election activities. Write-in candidates must adhere to the same campaigning and budget restrictions as recognized candidates. Write-in candidates need not be recognized by the Elections Committee.
Section 2. Campaigning:
A. Campaigning, with the exception of primary petition signing, is defined as any activity which promotes the candidacy of one or more individuals for an office. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to: scheduling appearances; lobbying a voter; posting, publication or distribution of advertisements, correspondence or literature.
B. Posting signs for place-holding before the start of campaigning is not permitted.
C. The Elections Committee shall sponsor at least two (2) forums: one (1) for the Senate candidates, and one (1) for the Executive candidates, plus one Presidential-Vice Presidential debate following the primary, if there is one.
D. The Elections Committee may choose to sponsor two (2) forums at the COT: one (1) for Senate candidates and one (1) for Executive candidates.
E. No door-to-door campaigning is permitted in the residence halls, University Villages, or the Lewis and Clark Village. Campaigning is permitted elsewhere on campus, including the Lommasson Center and classrooms with permission of the professor.
F. Posters may be placed on campus according to these rules:
1. General Buildings: Only on appropriate postering areas.
2. Residence Halls: Only on appropriate bulletin boards or dorm doors and windows with the approval of the dorm resident. All posters must be approved by the Residence Life office.
3. University Center: Must be approved by the University Center Administration. Banners will be allowed only inside the University Center and must be approved by The Source prior to being hung in the UC Atrium, Posters must be placed according to the following guidelines:
a. only on interior windows that have been designated and clearly marked for postering;
i. each Senate candidate will be assigned at least one (1) and no more than two (2) half-pane window areas in the UC, assigned by random lottery, and subject to placement by the UC Administration and the ASUM Elections Chair;
ii. each Executive candidate and team will be assigned at least one (1) and no more than two (2) full-pane window areas in the UC, assigned by random lottery, and subject to placement by the UC Administration and the ASUM Elections Chair;
iii. any remaining panes will be considered common, public postering areas and will not be exclusive to one (1) candidate;
b. not be allowed on windows of offices, retail businesses, painted surfaces, doors, elevators, display cases, bulletin boards, the atrium kiosk, etc., or in any location that clearly conflicts with the spirit of these guidelines;
c. will be allowed only on the first and second floors, and,
d. any found in violation of any of the aforementioned guidelines will be removed by UC Staff and submitted to the ASUM Elections Chair.
4. Outdoors: Only on kiosks.
5. No posters may be put on exterior doors of any building on campus.
G. Campaign expenditures, including donations, by each candidate or write-in candidate shall be limited to these amounts:
1. President-Vice president team: The maximum expenditure allowed is $150, with or without a primary election.
2. Business Manager: The maximum expenditure allowed is $100, with or without a primary election.
3. Senators: The maximum expenditure allowed is $75, with or without a primary election.
4. Candidates may choose to be reimbursed for campaigning expenditures to the amount of $10, dependent upon receipts following the General Elections. Expenditures exceeding $10 will be matched 50% by ASUM. Total ASUM contributions shall not exceed $37.50 for Senate candidates, $50 for Business manager candidates and $75 for President/Vice President candidates. All claimed expenditures for reimbursement must have receipts. Expenditures without receipts will not be matched by ASUM.
5. All contributions to ASUM candidates must be from individuals. Money from corporations and Political Action Committees is strictly prohibited. There is no such thing as ‘in-kind’ contributions, and all contributions must be counted in the aforementioned total expenditures.
H. Each candidate, write-in candidate, or candidate team must document expenditures for the Elections Committee and made public by filing an expenditure form, complete with receipts, by 3 p.m. one day prior to the first day of the general election. Expenditure forms must be filed even if there are no expenditures. Each candidate, write-in candidate, or candidate team is subject to disqualification, upon recommendation by the ASUM Elections Chair and confirmation by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate, if expenditures are filed late or if total expenditures exceed the aforementioned limits according to Article 5, Section 2.G of ASUM Bylaws.
I. Candidates may not align to combine campaign expenditures and efforts by forming parties or slates. Any effort to do so will result in sanctions according to Article 5, Section 6.D of ASUM Bylaws.
J. No ASUM sponsored organization shall be allowed to finance the campaign of any candidate for ASUM office, nor may any individual finance the campaign of a candidate in the name of an ASUM-sponsored organization.
K. All campaign materials must be accounted for on the expenditure form, including but not limited to : posting and publishing materials, advertisements, holding charity events such as concerts, rallies or other social gatherings, distributing literature.
L. The buying of votes with money, gifts, or alcohol is prohibited.
Section 3. Elections:
A. The Elections Committee shall adhere to the following procedures:
1. The online polls for the general election shall be open at 12:01am Wednesday until 8:00pm Thursday, according to the Election schedule according to ASUM Bylaws, Section 7. Polls for a primary election shall be open for at least one day, a Wednesday, for twenty-four hours each day. Online balloting mechanisms used shall provide for the integrity of the student’s ballot through effective measures ensuring that no student casts a vote in the name of another student and that no student’s right to a secret ballot is compromised. The ASUM Office Manager will have access to all elections results in order to provide for human oversight to prevent election fraud. In the case that grievances are filed concerning the election process, the Elections Committee is authorized to review all election-related documents while in executive session.
2. In the case of any administrative or technical errors occurring with online voting, the system will be re-started as soon as humanly possible, and any votes cast prior shall be nullified. Voting will continue at the schedule according to Article 5, Section 3A-1 of the ASUM Bylaws.
3. A primary election shall be held for each Executive position having more than two (2) candidates. If a primary election is held, the two (2) candidates for each position with the highest number of primary votes will enter the general election.
4. The ballots for a primary election will consist of the names of the candidates for the two (2) officer races consisting of more than two (2) candidates or teams of candidates.
5. A primary election shall be held for Senate candidates if there are over forty (40) individuals seeking office.
6. The ballots for the general elections shall consist of no more than two (2) Executives or Executive teams for each executive position and no more than forty (40) Senate candidates with positions for write-in candidates (with the exception of a tie vote in the primary as per section 4E of Elections Bylaws.)
7. All students who are registered for one (1) credit or more are allowed to vote in any ASUM election. In a primary election, each student may vote for as many candidates as may advance to the general election. In a general election, each student may vote for one (1) candidate for each executive position and for as many as twenty (20) senate candidates.
Section 4. Counting:
A. Upon closure of the polls, the Elections Committee shall count the ballots, to be done in the presence of the faculty advisor(s). No candidate is allowed to assist or view the counting of the ballots.
B. Write-in votes do not need to be spelled correctly if the intent of the voter is clear.
C. Any improperly completed ballot, as decided upon by the Elections Committee, shall not be accepted.
D. If the number of votes received by a winning candidate is within three (3) percent of that received by a losing candidate, a recount of the race shall be made.
E. A tie vote in a primary election shall result in the names of those candidates involved to be included on the general election ballot, provided that the number of votes cast would qualify each candidate in the absence of a tie.
F. A tie vote in a general election shall result in the Election Committee providing for a special election to determine a winner, provided that the tie results in the position not being filled.
G. A plurality of the total ballots properly cast for all eligible executive candidates for a given position shall be required to elect any candidate.
H. Official results of primary, general, and special elections require the signature of the Elections Committee chair, the outgoing President, and the faculty advisor, or their designees.
I. Elections results shall be submitted to the Montana Kaimin on the Friday immediately following the election.
Section 5. Suspension of Candidacy:
A. A. Any candidate who violates any of these rules may be barred from candidacy and/or denied from taking office, as recommended by the Elections Committee, and approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Senate. This rule is not suspendable.
Section 6. Grievances:
A. Any member who wishes to file a complaint concerning any action involved with campaigning or the election, including, but not limited to, rules violated by other candidates, voting discrepancies, and other procedures may submit a signed complaint to the Elections Committee no later than 9 a.m. of the second business day following the election.
B. The Elections Committee shall examine the complaint and decide what action, if any, is warranted. All rulings made by the Elections Committee shall be subject to Senate approval by a majority vote. The recommended rulings can only be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate.
C. The Elections Committee may invalidate the results of any election and demand a new election, but the committee must do so before the first Senate meeting following the election, and such a motion to invalidate must be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Senate. The recommended rulings can only be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate.
D. Sanctions include, but are not limited to, censure, the withholding of ASUM campaign funding, manual removal of specific campaign materials, and disqualification.
Section 7. Calendar:
Deadlines and dates shall follow the below schedule, which the Elections Committee may alter as necessary:
Petitions Available: Monday, 6 weeks prior to the General Election
Petitions Due: Wednesday by 5 p.m., 5 weeks prior to General Election
Informational Meeting: Friday at 5:30pm, 5 weeks prior to General Election
Campaigning Begins: Monday, 3 weeks prior to General Election
Senate Primary Forum: Wednesday, 3 weeks prior to General Election
Officer Primary Forum: Thursday, 3 weeks prior to General Elections
Primary Election (if needed): Wednesday, 2 weeks prior to General Election
2nd Senate Forum: Wednesday, 1 week prior to General Election
Executive Debate: Thursday, 1 week prior to General Election
General Election: Wednesday-Thursday, 2 weeks prior to the week of final exams
Section 8. Special Elections:
A. For a special election, polls will be opened online as per Section 3A of Elections Bylaws.
B. All students who are registered for one (1) credit or more are allowed to vote in any ASUM election.
C. Upon closure of the polls, the Elections Committee shall count the ballots, to be done in the presence of the faculty advisor(s).
D. Write-in votes do not need to be spelled correctly if the intent of the voter is clear.
E. Election results shall be submitted to the Montana Kaimin for publication immediately following the election.
F. Any member of the Association who disagrees with any ruling of the Elections Committee may file a complaint concerning any action involved with the election. This member may appear with a signed complaint to the Elections Committee no later than 9:00 a.m. of the second business day following the special election.
G. The Elections Committee shall examine the complaint and decide what action, if any, is warranted.
H. The Elections Committee may invalidate the results of any election and demand a new election, but the committee must do so before the first Senate meeting following the election, and such a motion to invalidate must be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Senate.
I. The necessity for a special election shall be determined by the ASUM Senate, except as provided for in Article 5, Section 4F of ASUM Bylaws.
Section 9. Transition of Executives.
A. The day following the verification of the ASUM elections, the executives still holding office shall start a transition period with the newly elected students.
B. This shall last until the night that the new executives are sworn in.
C. The transition period shall involve the following activities, but is not limited to them: (All items must involve both the outgoing and incoming officer)
1. Office equipment use,
2. Meeting with all Agency directors and classified staff,
3. A discussion and possible outline of pending issues not completed by outgoing ASUM Executive Officer,
4. A discussion of future plans of incoming officer,
5. Meeting with Administrators, and
6. Meeting with ASUM faculty advisors.
D. The time that is spent during the transition shall be written and reported to the ASUM Office Manager. Ten of the 20 hours of work for each week must include the activities outlined in Section 9, Item C of the ASUM Bylaws. These hours must be confirmed by the ASUM Office Manager for payroll.
Section 10.
A. All Student-generated referendum language shall be examined by the Relations and Affairs Committee prior to the collection of signatures, and at a date no later than six weeks prior to the General Election.
B. Referenda which contain patently hateful, false or misleading language, or language which violates university policy, shall be revised by the Relations and Affairs Committee to eliminate such language.
C. If a referendum cannot be revised without substantially changing the intent of the authors, but nonetheless contains language which violates this policy, the Relations and Affairs Committee shall have the right to remand the referendum to its authors for revision, until the language meets the standard established by this policy.
