Election By-law

BY-LAW VIII - ELECTION OF COUNCIL

1.         Electoral Committee

The Society shall maintain an electoral committee at all times which shall be responsible for the administration of all elections to fill Council positions.

a)     The electoral committee shall be comprised of:

i)      three (3) members of the Society, at least one of whom is a member of the Council; and

ii)     one (1) member of the staff of the Society.

b)     The electoral committee shall ensure that all elections occur in the manner prescribed by this By-law and the policy of the Society.

c)     The electoral committee shall determine the eligibility of all nominated candidates.

d)     The electoral committee may disqualify a candidate or rule an election invalid for any violation of these By-laws.

e)     The electoral committee shall decide the form of the ballot provided that the nominees for each office be listed in alphabetical order by surname.

f)     The electoral committee shall make, in the event of a strike, circumstance beyond human control, or other event that may delay the electoral procedure, a decision as to how and when the electoral procedure may best be completed.

g)     The electoral committee shall submit a report on the conduct and results of all elections to the Council for ratification.

2.         Schedule of Elections

a)     The Society shall hold:

i)      a general election for vacant Programme Representatives and At Large positions during the first five (5) weeks of each semester, and

ii)     by-elections at such times as deemed necessary

(a) by the Executive; or

(b) the electoral committee in the event that the number of Council members falls below four (4); notwithstanding that elections may be delayed in the event of a lockout, strike, natural disaster or other such occurrence.

b)     The schedule of elections shall include:

i)      a minimum one (1) week period for the submission of nomination forms to the electoral committee;

ii)     a minimum one (1) week period between the close of nominations and the commencement of polling;

iii)    an all candidates' forum not less than two (2) days prior to the commencement of polling; and

iv)    not less than sixteen (16) hours of polling over a period of not less than two (2) days.

c)     The schedule of elections for the Council shall be set by:

i)      the Council; or

ii)     the electoral committee in the event that the number of Council members falls below four (4);

provided that the entire election falls within the periods set out in By-law VIII, Article 2. a).

3.         Notice of Elections

Sufficient notice shall be deemed to have been given by:

a)     the posting, on or about the University, not less than three (3) days prior to the opening of the nomination period, of not less than twenty-five (25) notices, not less than 8.5"x 11" in size, stating:

i)      the positions vacant or expiring;

ii)     the opening and closing date and time of the period for the submission of nominations;

iii)    the location at which nomination forms may be obtained;

iv)    the location to which completed nomination forms are to be submitted;

v)     the period of time allotted to nominees for campaigning; and

vi)    the days on which polling will take place.

b)     the posting, on or about the University, not more than three (3) days after the closing of the nomination period, of not less than twenty-five (25) notices, not less than 8.5"x 11" in size, stating:

i)      the members nominated for vacant positions on the Council;

ii)     the date, time and location of polling stations ; and

iii)    the date, time and location of the all-candidates’ forum.

4.         Eligibility

a)     Nominees for any position on the Council must be members of the Society in good standing.

b)     Nominees for programme representative positions must be enrolled in the University programme corresponding to the representative position for which they seek election.

c)     In order to seek election to the Council, members must be nominated by not less than five (5) other members of the society.

d)     Members of the Society shall not hold or seek election to more than one (1) position on the Council at any one time.

5.         Conduct of Nominees

a)     Nominees for all positions shall limit their campaigning to the period after the close of nominations.

b)     Nominees may campaign during polling, except within fifteen (15) metres of polling stations.

c)     Nominees’ campaign expenses shall not exceed the limit established by the electoral committee.

d)     Nominees shall abide by all other regulations established by the electoral committee.

6.         Voting

a)     Members of the Society may vote only once for each position in an election.

b)     Only international student members may vote for the position of Internationals Students' Commissioner.

c)     Only Aboriginal members of the Society may vote for the position of Aboriginal Students' Commissioner.

d)     Only members enrolled in a particular University programme may vote in the election for the corresponding programme representative position.

e)     If only one (1) nomination is received for a particular office, then the nominee’s name does not have to appear on the ballot and is declared duly elected by acclamation (rev. January 14, 2009)

f)     Sealed ballot boxes are to be returned to the Society’s general office immediately upon completion of voting. The ballots will be counted by the electoral committee. Where positions are contested, the nominees receiving a plurality of votes cast shall be declared duly elected.

g)     Each nominee may appoint a scrutineer to oversee the counting of ballots.

7.         Recounts and Appeals

a)     A nominee may request a recount of votes cast, provided such request is made in writing to the electoral committee within seventy-two (72) hours following the committee’s announcement of election results.

b)     A nominee may appeal any decision of the electoral committee to a Council meeting of the Society.