The original version of this article contained an error and has been changed. See the bottom of the article for additional information.
The Undergraduate Students Association Council will vote on two proposals Tuesday to reform the elections endorsement process.
While both have merit, the proposal brought forward by the Election Board best solves the problem at hand. Given past breakdown of council votes, it seems unlikely that the Election Board’s plan will pass, but we urge councilmembers to carefully consider both proposals.
The loophole that the proposals are trying to fix was exploited last year when student groups were misrepresented in the Election Board’s official endorsements.
Members of Bruins United submitted student group endorsements to the Election Board which erroneously endorsed some of the slate’s candidates without the authorization or consent of those student groups.
The proposal from USAC’s nonpartisan Election Board will close this loophole by limiting the endorsement process only to registered group signatories, or to representatives that the signatories appoint in writing.
The proposal will also increase the accountability of the system by having the Election Board communicate with the student groups throughout the endorsement process to ensure that the correct candidates are being endorsed, said Eena Singh, vice chair of the Election Board.
This proposal solves the problem in the most efficient way by taking direct steps to ensure that what happened last year does not happen again.
In contrast, the proposal brought forward by USAC President David Bocarsly may open the door to even more problems without solving the issue at stake.
Bocarsly’s proposal aims to limit Election Board oversight of the endorsement process. Under his proposal, candidates and slates would list their endorsers on their websites, which is also allowed under the current system. Student groups would also not be required to register with the Election Board for their endorsements.
This board is concerned about Bocarsly’s proposal because it simply cuts out the oversight of the endorsement process – a process that has proven problematic in the past. The proposal relies too strongly on student groups and candidates self-policing themselves and acting honorably.
Still, Bocarsly’s proposal makes a good effort to address the bureaucracy surrounding the endorsement process that often makes it difficult for student groups and individual students to participate and voice their opinions.
These parts of Bocarsly’s proposal should be considered for future election reform. The Election Board could work toward combining some of Bocarsly’s ideas into the election code.
This board supports the implementation of the Election Board’s proposal, but also urges both the Election Board and all USAC representatives to continue to work toward a better and more efficient endorsement system.
Correction: Eena Singh is vice chair of the Election Board.