UF Student Senate gave its final approval to Student Government elections rule changes during Tuesday night's meeting. The changes passed in time to affect the spring elections in February.
After a meeting on Sunday, the election codes revisions committee amended several of the changes read during the meeting held the week before. No one outside the committee submitted amendments, which can be made between the preliminary and final approval votes.
"I think the changes are very comprehensive, and we completed the goals that the committee set out to accomplish," said committee co-chairwoman and Unite Party Sen. Katie Waldman after the meeting.
The changes come after the results of the Fall 2011 elections were questioned, and the UF Supreme Court investigated the elections procedures. UF's new electronic voting system was put in place for the fall semester, and Waldman previously said the amended codes were tailored to fit the new system.
As part of the changes, UF's Supervisor of Elections must present a contingency plan to the Senate two weeks prior to the elections cycle.
Students Party Sen. Carly Wilson disagreed with the wording of the new amendment. She said the Senate should approve the contingency plan, not just hear a presentation.
"[The Supervisor of Elections] can present something, but we can't do anything about it," she said.
The Supervisor of Elections will also have to make the election codes and other regulations available on the SG website. He or she must post a list of polling locations on the SG website and through at least two other venues. The Supervisor of Elections was previously required to post the list in student dorms.
The codes now enable the Supervisor of Elections to add or change a polling location if one becomes unavailable. The locations must be approved by the Senate, and a replacement location must be the closest available building to the original polling spot. The change will be posted at the original location.
Senators also voted to push back elections by a half hour. They will run from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m,. instead of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Complaints must be submitted on the second day of voting before midnight with no exceptions.
Spring SG elections will be held Tuesday, Feb. 21 and Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Student Body President Anthony Reynolds and former Student Body President Ben Meyers address the Student Senate meeting Tuesday night.
