The Student Government Election Commission dismissed its first election code complaint Tuesday. The commission ruled 4-to-1 to dismiss the complaints filed against the Swamp Party and its presidential candidate Christina Bonarrigo for campaigning.
Campaigning is restricted to one week before the first day of elections and includes election-specific material, according to election codes. The elections are Feb. 19 and Feb. 20.
Students Party counsel Christian Chessman filed a complaint citing five violations Tuesday night after Bonarrigo announced her candidacy for Student Body president on Turlington Plaza on Thursday. In the submitted complaint, the Students Party cited one of the wrong codes.
“The relevant portion of these statutes is clear,” Chessman said. “If you support a specific candidate, you are in violation.”
Swamp Party counsel Ryan Gilbert defended his party by stating that the Swamp Party’s announcement could be considered campaign activity, which is allowed four weeks before elections. Campaign activity includes action in support of a candidate that is not election-specific.
Gilbert said the Swamp Party never intended to violate election codes.
“The point is to not bombard people on campus for a long amount of time,” he said.
The commission ruled that Bonarrigo’s announcement was campaign material, which was allowed at that time.
Chessman will appeal the Election Commission decision to the UF Supreme Court for a hearing. Chessman said the meeting is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 6.
Contact Colleen Wright at cwright@alligator.org.
