Electoral and Referendum Bylaws: Difference between revisions
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{{Template:BylawInfobox|1=2008-02|2=2017-10|3=https://drive.google.com/open?id=19rfkxxD0rWrMMyNMjTiJRBOS1heuVPUR}} | {{Template:BylawInfobox|1=2008-02|2=2017-10|3=https://drive.google.com/open?id=19rfkxxD0rWrMMyNMjTiJRBOS1heuVPUR|4=The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' outlines the practices for holding an election or [[referendum]] in the EUS. It outlines the responsibilities of [[Elections EUS]], how to form a "No" Campaign, how to hold candidates accountable, what forms of communication can be used, and more.}} | ||
===Article 1: Definitions === | ===Article 1: Definitions === | ||
:1.1 The [[Engineering Undergraduate Society]] of McGill University (hereinafter referred to as “EUS”) is the registered name of the non-for-profit corporation representing the engineering and architecture undergraduate students at McGill University | :1.1 The [[Engineering Undergraduate Society]] of McGill University (hereinafter referred to as “EUS”) is the registered name of the non-for-profit corporation representing the engineering and architecture undergraduate students at McGill University | ||
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===Article 2: Purpose === | ===Article 2: Purpose === | ||
:2.1 [[Elections | :2.1 [[Elections EUS]] shall be supervised, although not superseded, by the EUS [[President]]. | ||
:2.2 Elections EUS shall administer Official Elections, and shall be the sole body to do so. Elections EUS shall be synonymous with the “Office of the [[ | :2.2 Elections EUS shall administer Official Elections, and shall be the sole body to do so. Elections EUS shall be synonymous with the “Office of the [[Chief Returning Officer]].” | ||
:2.3 Elections EUS shall be responsible for enforcing these Bylaws in all Official Elections. | :2.3 Elections EUS shall be responsible for enforcing these Bylaws in all Official Elections. | ||
===Article 3: Responsibilities === | ===Article 3: Responsibilities === | ||
:3.1 [[Elections | :3.1 [[Elections EUS]] shall: | ||
::3.1.1 Act as the final authority in Official Elections, subject only to appeal by the Board of Governors; | ::3.1.1 Act as the final authority in Official Elections, subject only to appeal by the Board of Governors; | ||
::3.1.2 Guarantee all Official Elections are accessible to [[Regular Members]]. | ::3.1.2 Guarantee all Official Elections are accessible to [[Regular Members]]. | ||
::3.1.3 Promote the Official Elections to the members of the Engineering Undergraduate Society, encourage electoral participation, and provide support to members who wish to partake in Official Elections; | ::3.1.3 Promote the Official Elections to the members of the Engineering Undergraduate Society, encourage electoral participation, and provide support to members who wish to partake in Official Elections; | ||
::3.1.4 Facilitate the flow of information in regards to Official Elections by the use of the [[VP Communications|EUS communication channels]] | ::3.1.4 Facilitate the flow of information in regards to Official Elections by the use of the [[VP Communications|EUS communication channels]] | ||
::3.1.5 Elections EUS shall develop and present the [[Electoral | ::3.1.5 Elections EUS shall develop and present the [[Electoral Calendar]] to the EUS [[Board of Governors]] for ratification by a simple majority at its second session of the Summer. After ratification, the Electoral Calendar must be made public in the next week. | ||
::3.1.6 Elections EUS shall distribute the nomination forms for positions contested in Regular Elections and make them available to all [[Regular Members]]. | ::3.1.6 Elections EUS shall distribute the nomination forms for positions contested in Regular Elections and make them available to all [[Regular Members]]. | ||
::3.1.7 Elections EUS shall create and distribute a guide to the elections with information regarding each position contested in Regular Elections, references to the responsibilities of each portfolio, and information about the procedures, timelines, and regulations of the Elections. | ::3.1.7 Elections EUS shall create and distribute a guide to the elections with information regarding each position contested in Regular Elections, references to the responsibilities of each portfolio, and information about the procedures, timelines, and regulations of the Elections. | ||
::3.1.8 Elections EUS shall organize a candidate debate for the positions contested in Regular Elections. | ::3.1.8 Elections EUS shall organize a candidate debate for the positions contested in Regular Elections. | ||
::3.1.9 Elections EUS should organize a public forum for discussion between all referendum committees the format of which is to the discretion of the [[ | ::3.1.9 Elections EUS should organize a public forum for discussion between all referendum committees the format of which is to the discretion of the [[CRO]]. | ||
::3.1.10 Elections EUS, alongside the [[Information Technology Committee]] of the EUS, shall be responsible for the technology infrastructure of the Official Elections, including but not limited to the Online Voting System and the official website for the election. | ::3.1.10 Elections EUS, alongside the [[IT Committee|Information Technology Committee]] of the EUS, shall be responsible for the technology infrastructure of the Official Elections, including but not limited to the Online Voting System and the official website for the election. | ||
::3.1.11 Elections EUS shall facilitate and staff at least one (1) polling station set in one of the engineering buildings to provide accessibility for Official Elections. | ::3.1.11 Elections EUS shall facilitate and staff at least one (1) polling station set in one of the engineering buildings to provide accessibility for Official Elections. | ||
::3.1.12 Elections EUS shall ensure proper communication between the CRO, the Deputy Returning Officers and the Electoral Coordinators. | ::3.1.12 Elections EUS shall ensure proper communication between the CRO, the Deputy Returning Officers and the Electoral Coordinators. | ||
::3.1.13 Elections EUS shall write a comprehensive exit report outlining the success and failures of the Official Elections along with recommendations for the future Elections EUS team. The exit report shall be submitted to the EUS President by May 15th of that year. | ::3.1.13 Elections EUS shall write a comprehensive exit report outlining the success and failures of the Official Elections along with recommendations for the future Elections EUS team. The exit report shall be submitted to the EUS President by May 15th of that year. | ||
===Article 4: Accountability to the Electorate=== | ===Article 4: Accountability to the Electorate=== | ||
::4.1.1 [[EUS Council]] or the [[Board of Governors]] may, at any time, request a report on any matter pertaining to Official Elections or the conduct of Elections EUS. The CRO, representing Elections EUS, shall have at least forty-eight (48) hours to present the report to the relevant entity at their next meeting, or at a special meeting called for this purpose. | ::4.1.1 [[EUS Council]] or the [[Board of Governors]] may, at any time, request a report on any matter pertaining to Official Elections or the conduct of Elections EUS. The CRO, representing Elections EUS, shall have at least forty-eight (48) hours to present the report to the relevant entity at their next meeting, or at a special meeting called for this purpose. | ||
:::4.1.1.1 Any [[Regular]] | :::4.1.1.1 Any [[Regular Member]] who suspects that an irregularity has occurred during an Official Election may petition: | ||
::::4.1.1.1.a their [[Class Representative]] to request a report to Council, or | ::::4.1.1.1.a their [[Class Representative]] to request a report to Council, or | ||
::::4.1.1.1.b the Chair of the [[Board of Governors]] to request a report to the Board of Governors. | ::::4.1.1.1.b the Chair of the [[Board of Governors]] to request a report to the Board of Governors. | ||
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===Article 5: Membership === | ===Article 5: Membership === | ||
:5.1 Elections EUS shall be composed of: | :5.1 Elections EUS shall be composed of: | ||
::5.1.1 The [[Chief Returning Officer]]; | ::5.1.1 The [[CRO|Chief Returning Officer]]; | ||
::5.1.2 The [[Deputy Returning Officer]]s; | ::5.1.2 The [[DRO|Deputy Returning Officer]]s; | ||
::5.1.3 Electoral Coordinators; | ::5.1.3 Electoral Coordinators; | ||
:5.2 The Chief Returning Officer shall act as the chair and financial officer of Elections EUS and have final say in its decisions. | :5.2 The Chief Returning Officer shall act as the chair and financial officer of Elections EUS and have final say in its decisions. | ||
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::14.12.2 If an alternative Online Voting System cannot be implemented a paper ballot system shall be enacted, at which point the voting period shall be further delayed by the amount of time necessary to set up the paper ballot system. | ::14.12.2 If an alternative Online Voting System cannot be implemented a paper ballot system shall be enacted, at which point the voting period shall be further delayed by the amount of time necessary to set up the paper ballot system. | ||
===Article 15: Vote by Paper Ballot=== | ===Article 15: Vote by Paper Ballot=== | ||
:15.1 A record shall be kept of every person who votes. The method of record-keeping will be determined by the | :15.1 A record shall be kept of every person who votes. The method of record-keeping will be determined by the CRO. | ||
:15.2 Paper ballot polling stations shall be open from from 9:00AM. until 5:00PM, unless the CRO otherwise provides and publishes notice to that effect in the above publications. | :15.2 Paper ballot polling stations shall be open from from 9:00AM. until 5:00PM, unless the CRO otherwise provides and publishes notice to that effect in the above publications. | ||
:15.3 Voting by proxy is prohibited, and any attempts to do so may result in disciplinary measures to be determined by the [[Board of Governors]]. | :15.3 Voting by proxy is prohibited, and any attempts to do so may result in disciplinary measures to be determined by the [[bog|Board of Governors]]. | ||
:15.4 The CRO must cast their ballot before the polls open and seal it under guard of the President and Chair of the Board of Governors. The results of the CRO’s ballot shall be revealed only in the case of a tie. | :15.4 The CRO must cast their ballot before the polls open and seal it under guard of the President and Chair of the Board of Governors. The results of the CRO’s ballot shall be revealed only in the case of a tie. | ||
:15.5 Ballots shall be kept locked in the Society offices for one (1) month following the vote. | :15.5 Ballots shall be kept locked in the Society offices for one (1) month following the vote. | ||
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::15.7.2 The marking, otherwise regular, be placed anywhere but in an intended space. | ::15.7.2 The marking, otherwise regular, be placed anywhere but in an intended space. | ||
::15.7.3 The initials of the EC do not appear on the ballot paper. | ::15.7.3 The initials of the EC do not appear on the ballot paper. | ||
::15.7.4 A ballot may only be rejected with the express authorization of the CRO and at least one other returning officer. | ::15.7.4 A ballot may only be rejected with the express authorization of the CRO and at least one other returning officer. | ||
===Article 16: Announcement of the Results=== | ===Article 16: Announcement of the Results=== | ||
:16.1 Once the online results are available, the CRO shall announce the results to the candidates in person and will then disseminate the results to all members of the Society within one (1) week of the reception of the results. | :16.1 Once the online results are available, the CRO shall announce the results to the candidates in person and will then disseminate the results to all members of the Society within one (1) week of the reception of the results. | ||
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===Article 17: Protest and Repolling=== | ===Article 17: Protest and Repolling=== | ||
:17.1 All complaints, protests or petitions regarding the campaigning or voting procedure must be made to the CRO no later than five (5) days following the announcement of the results. They must be in written form and must be signed by an Official Campaign . Until the five-day period has expired, or until a recount is undertaken or a new election called, the CRO must retain all records and ballots pertaining to the Official Election. | :17.1 All complaints, protests or petitions regarding the campaigning or voting procedure must be made to the CRO no later than five (5) days following the announcement of the results. They must be in written form and must be signed by an Official Campaign . Until the five-day period has expired, or until a recount is undertaken or a new election called, the CRO must retain all records and ballots pertaining to the Official Election. | ||
:17.2 Upon receipt of a protest, the CRO shall forward the case to the [[Board of Governors]], which shall have final say in the matter. The CRO shall aid the Board of Governors . | :17.2 Upon receipt of a protest, the CRO shall forward the case to the [[bog|Board of Governors]], which shall have final say in the matter. The CRO shall aid the Board of Governors . | ||
:17.3 The Board of Governors may call for a re-polling of the electorate based in response to a protest. | :17.3 The Board of Governors may call for a re-polling of the electorate based in response to a protest. | ||
===Article 18: Violation of Campaign Rules=== | ===Article 18: Violation of Campaign Rules=== | ||
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===Article 20: Amendments === | ===Article 20: Amendments === | ||
:20.1 Amendments to this bylaw must be approved by a simple majority vote of the [[Board of Governors]] of the EUS. | :20.1 Amendments to this bylaw must be approved by a simple majority vote of the [[bog|Board of Governors]] of the EUS. | ||
===Article 21: Interpretation === | ===Article 21: Interpretation === | ||