STUDENT BAR ASSOCIATION

SPRING 2006 ELECTION
RULES AND REGULATIONS

This listing of rules and regulations is intended to be complete. However, if this list does not explicitly address an activity, please direct questions to the Election Chair and the Election Committee will determine the legality of the questioned activity.

I. Important Dates:

A. Petitions Due: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 by 5:00 p.m.

C. Campaigning Begins: Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at 8:00 a.m.

D. Election Day: Wednesday, March 8, 2005. Voting from 8:50 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

II. Date of Election:

A. Elections for the Executive Board will occur on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 .

III. Positions:

A. The following positions are available: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, & Representative to the ABA .

B. Officers will be elected by a school wide vote. All students currently enrolled are eligible to vote.

IV. Nomination by Petition:

A. A person shall be placed in nomination for a position by submitting a petition to the SBA Vice-President by Tuesday, February 28, 2006 by 9:30pm. It can be submitted via the mailbox or under the SBA Office door.

B. Petitions shall provide the (1) candidate's name, (2) email address, (3) the position sought, (4) slate/affiliation and the (5) signatures of at least twenty (20) students from their constituency.

C. No candidates will be accepted if petitions are not submitted in time.

D. A law student may sign a petition for more than one candidate.

E. Candidates will be placed list on the final ballot by slate, in an order to be determined by the Chair of the election committee.

F. All candidates shall be elected individually.

G. Candidates not declaring slate/affiliation will not be allowed to campaign as such after petitions are due.

V. Election Committee:

A. The election committee shall consist of at least three SBA Officers and/or Representatives.

B. No one who is a candidate for any position may serve on this committee.

C. The chair of the election committee shall be the Vice-President of SBA, unless that person is a candidate for any position. In that case, the Chair shall be the most senior SBA Officer not a candidate for any position.

VI. Determination of Election:

A. Candidates shall be elected by a simple majority of votes cast.

B. A situation may arise in which two or more candidates have obtained the same amount of votes and have tied for the position. In the event of a tie, a run-off election shall occur between the candidates who received that same number of votes.

C. In the event that a run-off election is necessary, such election shall occur on Thursday, March 9.

VII. Polls:

A. The polling place shall be in the hallway on the lower level of the law school.

B. The polls shall be open for elections on March 8, from 8:50 am until 7:00 pm.

C. Voting students must have their name checked against a law school roster in order to receive a ballot.

VIII. Vote Counting:

A. Votes shall be counted by the Election Committee within twenty-four (24) hours of the close of the polling place.

B. Any interested law student may observe the vote tally after the polls are closed.

C. Results shall be posted throughout the law school in a conspicuous manner.

D. Candidates have the right to request a re-count of the votes by making a request in writing within twenty-four (24) hours of the posting results. Written requests must be presented to the Election Committee Chairman, Joshua Davis

IX. Campaign Rules, Advertising, Solicitation:

A. The Election Committee shall provide each candidate a copy of the Election Rules and Regulations.

B. Candidates may begin campaigning for the positions sought on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at 8:00 a.m.

C. A candidate running may have his/her name on the campaign literature of another candidate. In other words, it is permissible to campaign as a ticket.

X. Posters:

A. Each candidate may place his/her name, picture, representation, or party(ticket/slate) images on a poster so as to advertise his/her intention to run for a position as an Officer or Representative. The poster may NOT be greater than 24" by 24" in size.

B. Each candidate is limited to having his/her name picture, representation, or party(ticket/slate) images on two (2) posters.

C. Posters may only be affixed to the bulletin board in the stairwell beneath the law library window, on the bulletin boards in the locker rooms, the bulletin board in the elevator and the bulletin boards on the third floor of the law school.

D. Posters may not appear within fifteen (15) feet of the polling place on Election Day.

E. Posters are not to be placed in the law library or inside any classroom. Posters are not to be placed on any doors or walls throughout the school.

XI. Flyers:

A. Any candidate running for any position may have his name or her name affixed to a flyer.

B. Flyers may be placed in the student mailboxes and distributed in person.

D. No flyers may be distributed inside the classrooms or within fifteen (15) feet of the polling place.

E. Flyers may not exceed 8.5" by 11".

XII. Solicitation:

A. Candidates are free to solicit votes in person, via telephone, e-mail, and in group gatherings, both inside and out of the law school.

B. No candidate may solicit votes on Election Day within fifteen (15) feet of the polling place.

XIII. Financing:

A. Candidates are free to spend up to $25 per person. These funds can be pooled together if running on a declared ticket/slate. Receipts must be turned into the election committee by the time the polls close on the date of the election .

B. Donations should be counted in the spending limit allotment. Documentation for donations should be submitted in the form of a donation affidavit at the time the receipts are due. 

XIV. Meet & Greet:

A. Two "Candidate Meet & Greet" forums will be scheduled in the week prior to the election. Candidates are encouraged to assemble in the Atrium and make themselves available for questions from the general student body. These events will be entirely optional, but attendance is strongly encouraged.

B. Candidates are allowed and encourage to provide attendees with written materials outlining the candidates platform.

C. Candidates will not be able to distribute any food products during these events.

XV. Campaign Violations:

A. Any student may initiate a complaint of campaign violation by submitting such complaint in writing to the Election Committee Chairman, Joshua Davis. The Election Committee may also initiate a complaint of its own.

B. Any complaint must be submitted no later than twenty-four (24) hours after the polls close.

C. All decisions concerning campaign violations lie within the discretion of the Election Committee. The Election Committee shall make its decision in private.

D. Decision of the Election Committee may be appealed only to the SBA General Assembly. Written notice of appeal must be given to either the President or Vice-President of SBA within twenty-four (24) hours after being notified of the judgment of the Election Committee. In that event, the Chair of the Elections Committee shall designate a member of the committee to argue on behalf of the committee's decision. The decision of the Assembly is final.

Any and ALL questions shall be directed to the Election Committee Chairman, Joshua Davis at davisjs@slu.edu or 977-3945, email is preferred. Good Luck.