Amendment to Bylaws, Article VII. Election, Section 2. ‘Voting’

Resolution 404-2019 — Adopted
Sponsors
2018-19 Governance Committee 
Financial Impact
None
Background
The Governance Committee recommends that ASDA use an electronic system for election balloting and voting on the House of Delegates floor. Electronic balloting would remove the ability of delegates to vote for ineligible candidates; therefore, be it
Resolution
Resolved, that ASDA’s Bylaws Article VII. Elections, Section 2. ‘Voting’ be amended to read:

A.  President and Vice Presidents

The first ballot lists the names of all official candidates for the Executive Committee. Each delegate votes for three different candidates and only ballots with exactly three different candidates selected are valid. The first ballot determines the student members of the Executive Committee and the three candidates receiving the most votes advance to the second ballot. In the case of a tie, more than three candidates will advance to a subsequent ballot containing the remaining candidates’ names. Balloting will continue until the student members of the Executive Committee are determined in the same manner as the first ballot.

Once the student members of the Executive Committee are determined, on each subsequent ballot each delegate votes for one candidate for president. Advancing candidates may be asked questions submitted in advance by the district trustees and selected by the chair as per the Standing Rules of the House of Delegates. A candidate for office cannot serve as chair of the House of Delegates during any portion of election proceedings for that office.

The second ballot lists the names of official candidates advancing from the first ballot. Each delegate votes for one candidate. Only ballots with exactly one candidate selected are valid. The candidate with a majority vote is elected president. The two remaining candidates are elected vice presidents. If no candidate receives a majority on the second ballot, the candidate receiving the least votes of the three does not advance and is elected vice president. If the second ballot does not elect a president, delegates cast a third ballot.

The third ballot lists the names of official candidates advancing from the second ballot. Each delegate votes for one candidate. Only ballots with exactly one candidate selected are valid. The candidate with a majority vote is elected president. If the third ballot does not elect a president, the House of Delegates recesses for the purpose of caucusing. The House of Delegates then reconvenes and delegates cast a fourth ballot in the same manner as the third ballot. If the fourth ballot does not elect a president, delegates cast a fifth ballot in the same manner as the third ballot at the beginning of the next business meeting during that Annual Session.

Only advancing candidates are eligible to receive a vote on subsequent ballots. Any ballot possessing a vote for an ineligible candidate is invalid.

B. Speaker of the House of Delegates

The first ballot lists the names of all official candidates for speaker of the House. Each delegate votes for one candidate and only ballots with one candidate selected are valid. The candidate with a majority vote is elected speaker of the House. If the first ballot does not elect a speaker of the House, the two candidates receiving the most votes advance to a second ballot.

Advancing candidates may be asked questions submitted in advance by the district trustees and selected by the chair as per the Standing Rules. A candidate for office cannot serve as Chair of the House of Delegates during any portion of election proceedings for that office.

The second ballot lists the names of official candidates advancing from the first ballot. Each delegate votes for one candidate. Only ballots with exactly one candidate selected are valid. The candidate with a majority vote is elected speaker of the House. If the second ballot does not elect a speaker, the House of Delegates recesses for the purpose of caucusing. The House of Delegates then reconvenes and delegates cast a third ballot in the same manner as the second ballot. If the third ballot does not elect a speaker, delegates cast a fourth ballot in the same manner as the third ballot at the beginning of the next business meeting during that Annual Session.

Only advancing candidates are eligible to receive a vote on subsequent ballots. Any ballot possessing a vote for an ineligible candidate is invalid.