Department of Student Engagement

Article IX: Union Elections

Section 1 – Eligibility for Office

To be eligible to run for an elected Union office, a student must be:

  1. A currently registered undergraduate student of Brandeis University.
  2. Enrolled at Brandeis (on campus or remotely on campus) for the full duration of the desired office.
  3. In cases where positions have yet to be filled in the initial designated election round, the eligibility should be opened to students only able to fulfill part of the duration of the desired office. The Secretary should plan for the special elections necessary to accommodate this altered term.
  4. Agree to uphold the Student Union Code of Conduct as detailed in the Bylaws.

Section 2 – Regular Elections

There shall exist four regular elections for Union offices during the academic year.

  1. Fall Elections shall include:
    1. All residential Senators, including the Senator elected by off-campus residents;
    2. Two First Year Class Senators;
    3. One Transitional Year Program Senator;
    4. One Allocations Board Member to a three-semester seat;
    5. Two Allocations Board Members to a one-year seat;
    6. One Allocations Board Member for Racial Minority Students to a one-year seat.
  2. Winter Elections shall include:
    1. One Midyear Class Senator;
    2. One Allocations Board Member to a three-semester seat;
    3. Two Allocations Board Members to a one-year seat;
    4. One Allocations Board Member for Racial Minority Students to a one-year seat.
  3. First Round of Spring Elections shall include:
    1. President
    2. Vice President
    3. Secretary
    4. Head Treasurer
    5. Junior representative to the Board of Trustees
    6. Junior representative to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee
    7. Two representatives to the Brandeis Sustainability Fund Board
    8. Two representatives to the Community Enhancement and Emergency Fund
    9. Two representatives to the Alumni Association Board
  4. Second Round of Spring Elections shall include:
    1. Two Senators at Large
    2. Two Class Senators from each non-graduating class
    3. Two Senators for Racial Minority Students
    4. Five Associate Justices of the Judiciary
    5. One Senator for International Students

Section 3 – Endorsements

No endorsements shall be made for candidates for members of the Allocations Board or members of the Judiciary or by current members of the Allocations Board or members of the Judiciary at any time.

Endorsements are defined as displays of overt support for specific candidates or campaigns for Student Union Positions. Endorsements include reposting campaign graphics and commenting on campaign-related social media content. Endorsements do not include “likes.” 

The Secretary must announce and explain this rule to all candidates prior to elections and campaigning.

Section 4 – Terms of Office

The terms of office of varying Union positions are as follows:

  1. The term of office for the Union President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Senator at Large, Class Senators, Senator for Racial Minority Students, Transitional Year Program Senator, Senator for International Students, and Associate Justice of the Judiciary shall be one year and shall expire at the Spring Inauguration of the next academic year.
  2. The term of office for the Residential Quad Senators and Off Campus Senator shall be one year and shall expire at the Fall Inauguration of the next academic year.
  3. The term of a Racial Minority Allocations Board member or any other Allocations Board member elected to a one-year seat in the Spring shall be two semesters and expire immediately after the next year’s Spring Elections.
  4. The term of a Racial Minority Allocations Board member or any other Allocations Board member elected to a one-year seat in the Winter shall be two semesters and expire immediately after the next year’s Winter Elections.
  5. The term of an Allocations Board member elected to a three-semester seat in the Spring shall be three semesters and shall expire immediately after the second Winter election of the member’s term.
  6. The term of an Allocations Board member elected to a three-semester seat in the Spring shall be three semesters and shall expire immediately after the second Spring election of the member’s term. 

Section 5 – Holding Office

Is as follows:

  1. No person may hold more than one elected Union Government office simultaneously nor may one person be a candidate for two positions in the same election.
  2. Candidates who ran unsuccessfully for a position in the first round of Spring Elections shall be eligible to run for a position in the second round of Spring Elections.

Section 6 – Ballot Counting

Is as follows:

  1. Students will have one vote per open seat in any ballot.
  2. If any candidate receives a plurality of votes, that candidate shall be declared elected.  If there are multiple seats open, the next candidate with a plurality of votes shall be declared elected.  This process will repeat itself until there are no more open seats.
  3. Abstain shall be an option on all Union election ballots. Abstentions are counted and noted, but not as a “yes” or “no” vote. An abstention does not affect the voting result.
  4. “Vote of no confidence” shall be an option on all Union election ballots. “Vote of no confidence” represents the belief none of the options are satisfactory, and it is a vote AGAINST all candidates or options. The meaning and implication of “vote of no confidence” must be included in the voting option, e.g. “Vote of no confidence (a vote AGAINST all candidates)”. If “vote of no confidence” receives the majority of votes, then there will be a vacancy in the office until the next election, except in the case of the President in which new elections will be held five academic days later.

Section 7 – Chief of Elections

The Secretary shall serve as the Chief of Elections for all Union Elections.

  1. In the event that the incumbent Secretary is a candidate for office in a given election, or unable to serve as the Chief of Elections for any other reasons, the Secretary shall transfer this duty to the Student Union President , who shall assume all powers granted to the Chief of Elections herein.
  2. The Chief of Elections shall establish and make public additional rules and guidelines as necessary for an election campaign in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws. These rules and guidelines shall be binding over all Union members and all candidates participating in the Union Elections.
  3. The Chief of Elections shall be empowered to resolve any and all election disputes in consultation with the incumbent Student Union President. Such decisions may be appealed to the Judiciary.

Section 8 – Elected Representative Resignation

If an elected official can no longer serve the remainder a given term of office for any reason, the official shall be replaced according to Bylaw procedures, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution:

  1. An election must be organized with the registrar’s office within fifteen academic days of the official announcement of the vacancy.
  2. Less than thirty academic days from the end of the official’s term of office, that position shall remain vacant until the next regular inauguration.
  3. In the event of a vacancy in the Union Presidency, the Vice President shall assume the office of President. If the Vice President is unable to serve the remainder of the President’s term, the Vice President shall serve as Interim President until the presidency is filled according to the prior two points. If the Vice President is unable to serve as Interim President, the Executive Senator shall serve in the role. If the Executive Senator is unable to serve as Interim President, the Secretary shall serve in the role. If none of the above are able to serve for the Interim period until the election of a new President, the Judiciary shall be empowered to appoint a member of the Student Union as Interim President. 
  4. When serving in an interim position, an official shall continue to carry out the duties of their elected or appointed role as well as the duties of the interim role.

Section 9 – Appointed Official Resignation

If an appointed official can no longer serve the remainder of a term for any reason, the official shall be replaced in the manner by which the original appointment was made at the discretion of the appointer.

Section 10 – Special Elections

The regulations regarding Special Elections are as follows:

  1. The Secretary and Elections Commissioner(s) can implement a special election for an academic period to fill the seat in the case that:
    1. There is a vacancy in an office seat
    2. There is a tie in a regular election
    3. “Vote of no confidence” wins an election
  2. In the case that “Vote of no confidence” wins two special elections in a row, the Chief of Elections cannot call upon another election for that seat.
  3. Special elections shall follow the same guidelines as regular elections.

 

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