Page 137 - Smith College Student Handbook 16-17

SECTION 7. RUNOFF ELECTIONS

A. A runoff election shall take place within the week following the release of the official results from the Elections and Appointments
Committee.
1. Runoff elections shall take place in the event of a tie or when the Elections and Appointments Committee deems it
necessary due to extenuating circumstances (i.e. campaign slander, the unexpected drop out of a candidate).
2. No form of campaigning will be allowed for a runoff election; the student body shall be notified by the SGA of the new
election.
a. The position(s) for which the student body shall vote will be included in said email.
3. As no campaigning is allowed, no budget forms shall be required for candidates.
B. The polls for the runoff election shall be open from 9AM-9PM of one day.
C. This timeline is at the discretion of the Elections and Appointments Committee.
D. In the event that “Abstain” wins a race over the student(s) running:
1. If “Abstain” wins in the Spring Elections the position will be deferred to the Fall elections.
2. If “Abstain” wins in the Fall Elections the candidate with the most votes will win the position
3. For Class Cabinet positions, “Abstain” can still win in the Fall, as elections within the Student Representatives from
houses can still occur to fill positions.
4. This will be up to the discretion of the Elections and Appointments Committee

SECTION 8. HONOR CODE AND RESPONSIBILITY

A. It is the responsibility of each candidate to see that they run a fair and honest campaign.
B. A serious breach of election rules can result in a College Conduct Board referral.
C. A student may not run for or hold an elected position while on Academic Probation.

SECTION 9. FAILURE TO COMPLY

A. Failure to attend the mandatory candidates’ meeting, or to send a proxy in the event of a candidate’s absence, will result in the
disqualification of the candidate.
B. Failure to comply with any campaign regulations as stated in these guidelines will result in a strike from the Elections and
Appointments Committee in the form of an email.
C. The Elections and Appointments Committee must be notified of all campaigning violations throughout the campaigning and
voting period. Subsequent action is at the discretion of the Elections and Appointments Committee.

SECTION 10. PROXIES

A. Proxies are only allowed in the event that the candidate is running from abroad.
B. Proxies are subject to all rules and regulations regarding campaigning; the proxy is fully responsible for the respective candidate’s
campaign.
1. In essence, the proxy and the candidate are one and the same during campaigning. Any violations from either end will
result in the same consequences as any other candidate.

SECTION 11. STRIKE SYSTEM

A. Strikes are to be given out at the discretion of the Elections and Appointments Committee, in the event campaign violations.
B. Candidate will be notified of strikes via email. Only three strikes will be given. In the event of a third strike, the candidate will be
disqualified. Strikes cannot be disputed, unless they result in the disqualification of the candidate. In the event of a
disqualification, an appeal may be filed if the candidate sees fit.
1. If a disqualified candidate is reinstated via the Board of Appeals, then upon their first strike, they shall be disqualified
indefinitely.
C. The strike system does not apply to breaches of Smith College Policy, as outlined above.

SECTION 12. APPEALS

A. If a candidate has reason and just cause to believe that they have been disqualified unfairly, the student may submit a written
statement to that effect to the Elections and Appointments Committee within 24 hours of the notification of the disqualification.
1. The Elections and Appointments Committee will meet within 24 hours of the receipt of said statement to review and
reconsider the case in question.
B. If the Committee cannot come to a decision, or if the candidate wishes to make a second appeal, a SGA Board of Appeals,
convened for this purpose, will hear the case. The Board shall consist of the SGA President, SGA Vice-President, SGA Secretary,
SGA Treasurer, the Conduct Board Chair, and the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Elections and Appointments Committee.

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