CAMPAIGN GUIDELINES
BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT SENATE OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION OF CARSON-NEWMAN UNIVERSITY HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:
Section 1. Any and all election activities shall heretofore be overseen by the elections officer assigned the duties of Chairperson of Elections as well as the Director of Student Activiites.
Section 2. The Elections Committee will be composed of the Chairperson as well as members of the Student Senate who will not be running for election in the General Elections during the Spring Semester. The Chairperson of Elections with oversight from the Director of Student Activities shall ensure that all elections are conducted in a manner in keeping with the mission of the University and that all rules are followed to the letter.
Section 3. The Subcommittee shall be responsible for all further additions or amendments to elections and campaign rules subject to final approval by a simple majority of the Student Senate in conjunction with Director of Student Activities and the Vice-President for Student Affairs.
Section 4. All candidates must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible to run and hold an office.
Section 5. All candidates running for President and Vice President of the Student Government Association must be a full-time student for the entire 2020-2021 academic year. Full term is defined as being taking at least 12 credits and being on-campus throughout the academic year. Those doing internships more than 40 miles from Jefferson City during any semester during the acadmeic year are not eligible to run for this position.
Section 6. The Chairperson of Elections shall enforce and interpret the law throughout the election. The Chairperson of Elections shall confidentially collect and review online applications and submit them to the Director of Student Activities for verification of all eligibility requirements. Once eligibility is determined, the Chairperson of Elections and Director of Student Activities shall contact all candidates to inform them of their eligibility status.
Section 7. Potential candidates must attend the information session prior to the beginning of campaining to get the campaign rules and office requirements. Upon completion of your electronic application submission, eligiblity will be checked for verification.
Section 8. The SGA President, the Chairperson of Elections, along with the Advisor and the Vice-President of Student Affairs, if available, shall meet immediately following the election in order to authenticate electoral returns.
Section 9. Should there be a dispute in electoral results, the disputer shall file the Election Dispute Form with the Chairperson of Elections no later than (2) two business days following the closure of elections. The Chairperson of Elections and the subcommittee shall work with the Advisor and Vice-President of Student Affairs to find reasonable cause for dispute. Should the election be deemed invalid, a new election shall be held within (5) five calendar days of their finding. If proof of cheating is established, for the individuals found guilty and/or involved, that is grounds for disciplinary action with the Student Affairs Office and if the individual is on a ticket, the ticket will be thrown out with a new election taking place no later than five school days following the closure of the dispute.
Section 10. Presidents and Vice-Presidents will run on the same ticket hereafter.
Section 11. Campaign finance rules shall be limited to the following:
Presidential/Vice-Presidential Campaigns: No Candidate for President or Vice-President of the Student Body shall spend over $500 as a ticket.
Cabinet/Delegate Campaigns: No candidate for any other position shall spend over $250.
The Campaign spending cap will be reviewed by the Director, Vice- President of Student Affairs, within (3) three days after receipts are due.
Section 12. Each candidate may employ the services of a campaign manager, publicity representative, or other students to conduct or assist in the campaign. Fliers and other campaign materials may not be posted in any location that college policy prohibits and must be approved by the Chairperson of Elections in conjunction with the Director of Student Activities before being displayed. All materials must be removed two days after the election.
Section 13. Persons running for office must be able to present a financial report of all election expenditures upon request from the Subcommittee. Electoral Procedures Act Bill 1112-04
Section 14. A debate shall be held prior to election day for all persons running for cabinet positions. The Chairperson, with assistance from the current SGA President, shall moderate the debate. Candidates may only debate those they are running against. The Subcommittee will determine the format of the debate.
Section 15. All officers shall assume the powers and duties of their office for the upcoming school year upon Inauguration Day which will come at the designation of the Director of Student Activities.
Section 16 No form of campaigning before final confirmation from the Director of Student Activities will be tolerated or allowed. Should a candidate begin their campaign in any form, including but not limited to, any type of social media sites or physical forms of campaigning such as posters or signage, that candidate will be warned first to cease all forms of campaigning and then upon the second violation that candidate will be disqualified. In the case that the violation is identified after the campaign has ended, the Subcommittee will resolve the issue in conjunction with the Director of Student Activities and Vice-President of Student Affairs.
Section 17. Candidates are permitted to use social media sites to campaign. Candidates are expected to campaign for themselves only and are not permitted be negative in any way towards other candidates. All candidates are expected to follow the values and mission of Carson-Newman University.
Section 18. Candidates and campaign associated with them may not approach students or set up voting booths/stations with personal property or utilize personal devices or accounts to coherce votes.
Section 19. Candidates and campaign associated with them are not permitted to send out a direct link with endorsement of candidate attached to EagleNet, through text messaging,e-mail distribution lists and through social media personal messaging including, but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, GroupMe, and YouTube.