The UF Supreme Court ruled Thursday night that campaign-like activity is allowed throughout the year.
Sen. David Bradshaw petitioned the court to clarify the meaning of the election code that states “campaigning begins on the first day of the active election cycle.”
Bradshaw said the code was vague and could be left to numerous interpretations. He said it could be interpreted as fact and therefore be irrelevant in the codes. It could mean that restrictions only apply to the election cycle, he said, or it could mean that campaigning can only happen during the election cycle.
The court ruled that election codes still apply to campaign action, and if facts implicate a political party, it will be held responsible even if the party does not exist.
UF political parties are only registered as student organizations for about six weeks each semester. They are unregistered one week after elections, according to the Student Organization Handbook.
Bradshaw said this raised the issue that because the party does not exist, it cannot be held responsible if someone associated with the party violated the election codes.
Chief Justice Matt Michel was not aware that political parties did not exist outside of the election cycle. But he said that in some fashion, political parties do exist throughout the year.
After the slating process starts, the Election Commission could look back at actions that already happened and rule on it, Michel said after the hearing.
Bradshaw said he was pleased with the court ruling for now.
“The court found that [legislation] needs to be done in the Senate,” he said.
Contact Samantha Shavell at sshavell@alligator.org.
