Posted on March 15, 2006
In an emergency meeting March 1, the SGA Student Senate decided to extend the student body major elections polling period from one to two days.
“This was the first emergency session held in about seven years,” Senate Speaker Stephanie Genco said.
Genco called the emergency meeting after the Feb. 27 regular SGA meeting was dissolved because the body did not meet quorum — the number of senators needed to vote on proposed legislation. Quorum is met when a minimum of two-thirds of all senators are present at the weekly meeting.
Despite the concern that quorum would not be met in the emergency session because it was called so close to Spring Break, enough senators were present. A voice vote majority during the emergency session secured the success for this elections policy amendment.
Sen. Sarah Piñeres (Jr.), a member of the 2007 Elections Commission, was in favor of the two-day polling period.
“The SGA has not had positive feedback in previous years about the elections, and I am hoping that the two days will make voting easier and encourage students to vote,” Piñeres said.
Piñeres added that she also expects the election extension to allow voters to research candidates and vote according to issues and campaign platforms. She said, “Students need to choose candidates that will represent them the way they want to be represented.”
One of the Election Commission’s first objectives in lengthening the polling period is to motivate the student body to become more active in SGA this election year. The Elections Commission will strive to increase student participation by appearing at various organization meetings until the week of elections.
Sen. Matt Winer (Jr.), co-chair of the Elections Commission, said: “SGA is for the entire JMU community. Hopefully by going to different organizations and getting the information out there, we can encourage other JMU students to get involved in SGA, and not just recycle SGA members.”
As a result of the election extension, major election candidates’ campaigns will start March 28 and continue until the first week of April. Elections will be held April 4 and 5 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The 2007 election packets can be electronically downloaded from the SGA Web site at sga.jmu.edu, but candidates have to print their packet and turn it into the SGA Office in Taylor 403 no later than March 28.
