Elections

In all instances, candidates and members of a candidate's campaign shall, in addition to this Constitution, candidates must observe and abide by the following general rules and regulations:

• All campaign materials should be approved for posting by the Student Government office. Please bring the original and then make copies, as necessary.
• No campaign materials are to be posted on any trees on campus
• No posters are allowed on any emergency and/or exterior doors on campus
• No sheets or posters can be hung from residence hall windows
• No campaign materials are allowed on any public exterior window
• No campaign materials are allowed on windows adjacent to outside doors
• Campaign materials may not be distributed on any vehicle (i.e., windshield, etc.) in any parking lot.
• Candidates may not go door to door in any residence hall campaigning, nor can they slip campaign material under any residence hall door, per college policy.
• Candidates and/or their representatives must not deface, remove, or destroy any campaign material of another candidate.

1. The Election Commission reserves the right to monitor all posting of materials. If the Elections Commission deems a posting inappropriate, they reserve the right to remove it without notifying the candidate.
2. Candidates are responsible for removing all campaign materials after the election is over. Candidates are responsible for disposing of materials properly per any College environmental sustainability initiatives.
3. In keeping with the tradition of King's College, honesty and integrity are a crucial part of holding a student government position; therefore, the slandering of any candidate will not be tolerated. This includes any social media outlet.

• Phone calls or text messaging may only be directed at individuals who have a pre-existing relationship with the candidate or the campaign member performing the contact.
• No candidate may campaign through any listserv or webpage operated by the College.

• Candidates wishing to reserve tables for their campaign shall do so through the Elections Commission. Tables may only be booked on the election days and one day during the campaign period prior to the election.
• Candidates or members of a candidate's campaign may not solicit student organizations to set up speaking times until that candidate has filed for office.
• Candidates or members of a candidate's campaign are prohibited from soliciting off-campus residences, including private homes, condominiums, or apartment complexes.

An Election fraud shall be defined as any willful act, deed, or conspiracy that violates the integrity of the electoral process during the voting period. Election fraud shall include the following acts committed by the candidate or members of their campaigns:

1. Attempting to vote or voting in place of another
2. Attempting to procure or procuring - by the payment, delivery, or promise of money or another article of value - another to vote for or against any particular candidate or ballot measure
3. Attempting to procure or procuring - by the use of threats or intimidation - another to vote for or against any specific candidate or ballot measure
4. Attempting to make disparaging assertions with the intent to defame by slander, libel, or another injurious process against other candidates or campaigns
5. Attempting to influence or influencing a voter who is in the process of voting Attempting to monitor or monitoring a voter who is in the process of voting

Election fraud shall include any acts of the Elections Commissioner that deviate from the election's procedures defined in the Student Government Constitution.

1. Filing. Any student, faculty member, or staff member can file a complaint of an alleged election violation or election fraud.
2. Any complaint of an alleged election violation must be filed with the Elections Commission at any time up until two (2) business days following the conclusion of the final voting period for the particular race in question.
3. Any complaint of alleged election fraud must be filed with the Elections Commission during regular business hours and within two (2) business days of the incident in question.
4. The person filing the complaint must:
   • State in that complaint who was involved, what was done, where the act occurred, and any other known, relevant information.
   • Be informed that they may be asked to testify before the Elections Commission or at any other level of the appeals process.
   • Be informed that their names could be made publicly available per governmental regulations at the time of filing the complaint.
5. Response. The Elections Commission shall, in a timely manner, inform the person filing a complaint of an alleged election violation or election fraud that the report has been received. The Elections Commission must send an email to all candidates by 6:00 P.M. each business day during which campaigning is allowed, detailing any complaints received and the date and time at which the Elections Commission will convene to consider the complaint.
6. Hearing. The Elections Commission shall convene to consider a complaint no later than two (2) business days after the complaint is filed, not including days in which the College is closed. During the hearing of a complaint, the candidate against whom the complaint was filed has the right to be present at all times during which the complaint is being considered and to witness all documentation against themselves, except for any period reserved solely for deliberation by the Elections Commission or Office of Student Affairs, which shall not include any candidates or campaign members.
7. Decision. The Elections Commission shall announce its decision in response to a complaint immediately following the hearing of the complaint. As a result:
   • The Elections Commission may disqualify any candidate who does not comply with the rules and regulations. Written notifications of disqualification must be filed with the Director of Student Government Affairs as they are forwarded to the candidates.
   • The Elections Commission shall refer violations of College policy concerning general student conduct to the Office of Student Affairs. In the event that a person found to have committed an election violation or election fraud is not a member of a campaign, the candidate will be referred to the Office of Student Affairs.
   • The Elections Commission shall conduct a new election for each race significantly affected if it is determined that election fraud has occurred and has had a significant impact on the election result.
8. Appeal. A candidate may appeal any decision of the Elections Commission but must do so within one (1) business day of the Elections Commission's decision. Any appeal of a decision by the Elections Commission, if determined to have sufficient merit to warrant consideration, shall be heard by the Director of Student Government Affairs.
   • The Elections Commission may, by a majority vote of its total membership, forward responsibility to rule on any decision directly to the Director of Student Government Affairs without making an initial ruling.
   • A candidate may appeal any decision of the Director of Student Government Affairs but must do so within one (1) business day of the Director's decision.
   • Any appeal of a decision by the Director of Student Government Affairs, if determined to have sufficient merit to warrant consideration, shall be heard by the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.
   • The outcome of any decision by the Elections Commission or Director of Student Government Affairs shall be postponed until the appeals process is complete.