# Bylaw 320: Elections, Plebiscites, and Referenda



# BYLAW 320: ELECTIONS, PLEBISCITES, AND REFERENDA

#### **01. Mandate**

1. This bylaw shall govern the conduct of the following elections:
1. Executive
2. Undergraduate Board of Governors Representative
3. Students’ Council
4. General Faculties’ Council
5. Plebiscites and Referenda of the Students’ Union
6. Plebiscites for University Mandatory Non-Instructional Fees


#### **02. Election Dates**

1. See [Regulation 320.02 - Election Dates](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-iii-elections/page/regulation-32002-election-dates) for dates of Students’ Union Elections.

#### **03. By-Election - Executive Committee and Board of Governors**

1. Where another Election is required by virtue of [Bylaw 230](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-i-governance/page/regulation-11005-executive-and-board-of-governors-replenishment), the new Election shall be conducted.
2. The Campaign for the new Election shall begin a minimum of five (5) days prior to the commencement of voting as set out in Section 02.
3. The nomination deadline for the new Election shall occur a minimum of fifteen (15) days prior to the commencement of voting as set out in Section 02.
4. The voting for the new Election shall occur on two (2) consecutive weekdays to be determined and announced by the C.R.O. at least twenty-one (21) days in advance.

#### **04. By-Election – Students’ Council**

1. Where vacancies exist in positions filled under this bylaw on August 15 of any year, the C.R.O. shall call a Business Day to take place in September or October of that year for all those positions vacant on August 15.
2. Notwithstanding Section 04(1), if positions become vacant between August 15 and one (1) Business Day prior to the release of the nomination package, those positions shall also be included in the Business Day.
3. Where the total voting Membership of Students’ Council falls below two-thirds (2/3) of total number of voting seats threshold, the C.R.O. shall call a By-Election to occur not more than one month past the date that the threshold in no longer met.
4. Except as otherwise stipulated in this bylaw, there shall be no By-Elections to fill positions filled under this bylaw.
5. The deadline for the nomination of Candidates in any By-Election shall be determined and announced by the C.R.O. at the same time as the date of the By-Election is announced.
6. The commencement of the Campaign for any By-Election shall be determined and announced by the C.R.O. at the same time as the date of the By-Election is announced, such commencement occurring not less than five (5) days prior to the election.
7. Except as otherwise stipulated in this bylaw, any By-Election shall be conducted in accordance with the rules governing the election.
8. Where vacancies exist following the fall By-Election procedures outlined above, Vacancy Petitions, as outlined in [Regulation 110](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-i-governance/page/regulation-11006-students-council-replenishment), shall be used to fill these seats.

#### **05. Nomination Deadlines - Executive, Board of Governors, General Faculties Council, and Students’ Union Council Elections**

1. The C.R.O. shall determine and announce the nomination deadline no later than November 30.
2. The C.R.O. or Elections Staff shall make available to every Member nomination packages not fewer than thirty (30) days before the nomination deadline.

#### **06. Initiation and Acceptance of Plebiscites and Referenda**

1. Students’ Council shall approve a question which meets the criteria set out in [Regulation 320.06 - Plebiscite and Referenda Procedure](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-iii-elections/page/regulation-32006-plebiscite-and-referenda-procedure) unless the question would cause Students’ Council to breach its fiduciary responsibility to the Students’ Union.
2. Students’ Council shall have the authority to call a plebiscite or referendum without a petition.
3. Where a valid petition bearing the names, signatures, and student identification numbers of at least five percent (5%) of the total Membership of the Students’ Union as of February 1 of that academic year requesting a plebiscite on a given Students’ Council-approved question is submitted to the C.R.O., then a plebiscite shall be held on that question as set out in Section 6, provided that the names, signatures, and student identification numbers were all collected within ninety (90) days of submission of the petition.
4. Where a valid petition bearing the names, signatures, and student identification numbers of at least fifteen percent (15%) of the total Membership of the Students’ Union as of February 1 of that academic year requesting a referendum on a given Students’ Council-approved question is submitted to the C.R.O., then a referendum shall be held on that question as set out in Section 6, provided that the names, signatures, and student identification numbers were all collected within ninety (90) days of submission of the petition.
5. Where a valid petition is submitted to the C.R.O., that Member’s deposit shall be refunded.

#### **07. Candidate Nominations**

1. The C.R.O. shall make available to every Member nomination packages, not fewer than thirty (30) days before the nomination deadline as set out in Section 05.
    
    
    1. Requirements of nomination packages are detailed in [Regulation 320.07 - Nomination Procedure](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-iii-elections/page/regulation-32007-nomination-procedure).
2. No Member shall be nominated for more than one (1) of the positions contested in each election.
    
    
    1. Notwithstanding Section 07(2), Members may be nominated for both Students’ Council and General Faculties Council within the same election.
3. For Executive and Board of Governors Elections:
    
    
    1. 1. In order for their nomination papers to be valid, Members of Students’ Council and its standing committees are required to take a leave of absence from their duties for the period beginning with the nomination deadline and ceasing with the conclusion of voting of the election in which they are contesting a position. The following exceptions apply:
            
            
            1. Any Member of Students' Council contesting an executive position when the race is uncontested;
            2. For the purpose of this section, any race solely contested by a joke Candidate shall be considered uncontested.
4. For General Faculties’ Council and Students’ Union Council Elections:
    
    
    1. In order for their nomination papers to be valid, Members of the Executive who are running in contested Councilor races are required to take a leave of absence from their duties for the period beginning with the nomination deadline and ceasing with the conclusion of voting of the election in which they are contesting a position. The following exception applies:
        
        
        1. An executive contesting a Councilor position when the race is uncontested,
    2. For the purpose of this section, any race solely contested by a joke Candidate shall be considered uncontested.
5. Where a Member submits a valid set of nomination papers, as set out in Sections 07(3), 07(4), and [Regulation 320.07 - Nomination Procedure](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-iii-elections/page/regulation-32007-nomination-procedure), and prior to the nomination deadline as set out in Section 03, the C.R.O must within two (2) Business Days reject the Member as a Candidate in the race(s).
    
    
    1. Where a Member resubmits a valid, complete and acceptable nomination package as set out in Sections 07(3), 07(4), the C.R.O must, within two (2) Business Days, accept the Member as a Candidate in the race(s) to which they were nominated and notify the Candidate to that effect.
    2. Where a Member fails to resubmit a valid, complete and acceptable nomination package as set out in Sections 07(3), 07(4), the Candidate must be permanently rejected as a Candidate in the race(s) to which they were nominated.
6. Should a Member submit valid nomination papers, they shall be designated a Candidate at the nomination deadline.
7. Should a race be uncontested, the Elections Office shall extend and publicize the nomination deadline until the race is contested, up to a maximum of two (2) Business Days.

#### **08. Candidate Registration Meeting**

1. The C.R.O. shall hold a meeting for all Candidates, referenda, and plebiscite sides following the nomination deadline but prior to the commencement of the Campaign.
1. The details of the time and content of the meeting are outlined in [Regulation 320.08 - Candidate's Meeting](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-iii-elections/page/regulation-32008-candidates-meeting).

3. Where a Candidate or side manager contravenes [Regulation 320.08 - Candidate's Meeting](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-iii-elections/page/regulation-32008-candidates-meeting), that Candidate or side manager shall be disqualified.

#### **09. Forums**

1. The elections office shall host at least (1) one Forum during the Executive Committee and Board of Governor Elections, and it shall be called the Myer Horowitz Forum.
1. The C.R.O. shall determine and announce the location of the Myer Horowitz Forum, to occur after the commencement of the Executive Committee and Board of Governors and Plebiscite/Referendum Campaign activities, prior to the end of November of each year.

3. The elections office may choose to organize any Forums they deem appropriate.
4. The elections office shall enforce [Regulation 320.09 - Forums](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-iii-elections/page/regulation-32009-forums) for all Elections Office Forums.
5. No Candidate or side shall participate in any externally organized Forum unless each Candidate or side in their race has received at least one (1) Business Day notification of the Forum and will be afforded an equal chance to speak at it.

#### **10. Candidate Listings**

1. A joke Candidate shall be designated as such at the nomination deadline.
1. Where a Candidate has been designated as a joke Candidate, and that Candidate does not wish to be a joke Candidate, that Candidate may provide to the C.R.O. a new signed statement indicating the preferred name under which they wish to appear on the ballot, within two (2) Business Days of the nomination deadline.
2. Where a Candidate who has been designated a joke Candidate exercises their right to submit a new name under which they wish to appear on the ballot, and where the new name is, at the discretion of the C.R.O., a reasonable derivative of that Candidate’s legal name or their preferred name, that Candidate’s designation as a joke Candidate shall be reversed.

3. Candidates with the Same or Similar Names
1. Where two (2) or more Candidates submit names that are either identical or so similar as to be effectively indistinguishable, the Candidates shall provide the C.R.O with their preferred names for the ballot within two (2) Business Days of the nomination deadline. The preferred name must be a reasonable derivative of the Candidate’s legal name, be a name they use regularly, or be a name they have registered with the University.
2. Where the C.R.O. is not provided with a preferred name by the Candidate, the C.R.O. shall determine and announce what name each of the two (2) or more Candidates shall use.

5. Within two (2) Business Days of the nomination deadline, the C.R.O. shall post the preferred name of each Candidate as it will appear on the ballot.
6. The name must be:
1. a reasonable derivative of the Candidate’s legal name; or
2. a preferred name, for which the Candidate has provided satisfactory evidence to the C.R.O. showing it is a name they regularly use; or
3. a name they have registered with the University.

8. Where no derivative or preferred name is provided to the C.R.O., the C.R.O. shall use the legal name(s) of the Candidate(s)

#### **11. Campaign Procedures**

1. Each Candidate or side manager shall act reasonably and in good faith, and specifically shall
1. ensure that each Volunteer engaging in Campaign activities on their behalf is aware of all bylaws, rules, regulations, and orders;
2. ensure that each Volunteer is in compliance with all bylaws, rules, regulations, and orders while engaging in Campaign activities on their behalf; and
3. report any contravention of a bylaw, rule, regulation, or order to the C.R.O. immediately.

3. Each Candidate or side manager shall owe the C.R.O. and all other election staff a duty of utmost honesty throughout the entirety of the election process.
4. The C.R.O. shall determine and announce, prior to the end of November, the time and date of the commencement of Campaign activities
1. The commencement of Campaign activities shall occur no fewer than five (5) days before the commencement of voting
2. In the event of a By-Election, the announcement shall be prior to the end of September

6. No Volunteer, Candidate, or side shall engage in Campaign activities between the nomination deadline and the commencement of the Campaign.
7. Any Campaign Activity involving social media or internet activity shall not commence or exist between the nomination deadline and the commencement of the Campaign or Students’ Council initiation of a plebiscite/referendum. Social media and internet activity with the sole purpose to prepare Campaign activities, Campaign Material, or to solicit Volunteers may be undertaken during the Pre-Campaign period, so long as it is kept private.
8. A Candidate or side in a Students’ Union election may distance themselves from a third party in the event the third party effectively conducts Campaign activities under the following conditions:
1. the Candidate or side must demonstrate to the C.R.O. that the third party acted without the consent of the Candidate or side; and
2. the Candidate or side must demonstrate to the C.R.O. that steps have been taken to distance themselves from the third party and to attempt to halt unauthorized Campaign Activity by that third party.

10. Should a Candidate or side demonstrate the conditions specified under Section 12(5) to the C.R.O.’s satisfaction, the Candidate or side would not be subject to punitive fines as a result of the third party’s actions, but could still be subject to counterbalancing fines.
11. No Candidate or side shall, without the permission of the C.R.O., engage in any Campaign Activity
1. in any business or service operated by the Students’ Union;
2. in a University library;
3. in a classroom during a class, unless the Candidate or side first obtains the permission or the professor responsible for that class;
4. in any residence; or
5. in any building or on any land not owned or operated by the University or the Students’ Union.

13. Candidates, sides, or Volunteers associated with their Campaign, shall not:
1. provide Voters with an electronic device on the day of the election for the purpose of voting;
2. solicit, touch, or otherwise handle a Voter’s electronic device on the day of the election for the purpose of voting;
3. solicit, steal, borrow, use or otherwise handle another students’ CCID or password for the purpose of voting.

15. All Candidates or sides are free to pursue campus-based media as determined by the C.R.O.; however, are restricted from contacting external media sources. All external media must be directed through the C.R.O.
16. Members shall be allowed to volunteer for a Candidate or a Side.
17. Non-members who are involved in an organization funded by a Dedicated Fee Unit shall be able to volunteer for a Side. Non-members are not allowed to volunteer for a Candidate.

#### **12. Endorsements**

1. Any Member, with the exception of the C.R.O., the D.R.O.s, and incumbent Members of the Executive Committee who are not also Candidates shall be free to endorse or Volunteer for any Candidate.
2. Notwithstanding Section 12(1), regulations regarding the endorsement of and Volunteering for Candidates by Students’ Union employees not referenced in Section 12(1) shall be subject to the Students’ Union operating policy.
3. Incumbent Members of the Executive Committee and the incumbent Board of Governors Representative are allowed to endorse sides in a Students’ Union referendum or plebiscite.

#### **13. Campaign Materials**

1. The cost of all Campaign Materials shall be approved by the Elections Staff before being used in Campaign activities. Candidates or sides shall provide the Elections Staff with:
1. a written or electronic estimate of the cost of the proposed Campaign Material, including the source of that cost; and
2. the complete contents of the proposed Campaign Material.

3. The Elections Staff shall provide in confidence a written or electronic approval or refusal of Campaign Materials within one (1) Business Day of receiving a request as set out in Section 13(1).
4. Where a Candidate or side contravenes Section 13, the offending Campaign Materials shall be destroyed, and the C.R.O. may assess an additional penalty to that Candidate or side, as set out in Section 17.
5. The Elections Staff is forbidden from approving Campaign Materials that:
1. cannot be removed at the end of the Campaign; or
2. are likely to permanently damage or alter property.

7. Where a Candidate or side uses a forbidden Campaign Material, the offending Campaign Materials shall be destroyed, and the C.R.O. may assess an additional penalty to that Candidate, as set out in Section 17.
8. No two (2) or more Candidates or sides shall jointly use any resources, including tables, posters, banners, and budgets, but excluding Volunteers.
9. The C.R.O. shall make arrangements for space to be available on the University campus to all Candidates or sides for the purpose of the storage of Campaign Materials.
10. The C.R.O. shall be kept privy to elections-related social media and public internet ventures undertaken by Candidates or sides, and reserves the right to penalize Candidates or sides for any violation of this bylaw or related regulations.
11. No Candidate or side shall have more than one (1) banner on display in any given building at any given time.
12. Where a Candidate or side contravenes Section 13(9), the offending banners shall be destroyed, and the C.R.O. may assess an additional penalty to that Candidate or side as set out in Section 18.
13. No poster shall be displayed in such a way as to obscure another Candidate’s or side’s Campaign Materials.
14. In any given building, at any given time, a Candidate or side shall have no more than ten (10) posters.
15. The C.R.O. shall set a minimum distance between posters or signs that are placed outside belonging to the same Candidate or side.
16. Where a Candidate or side contravenes Sections 13(11) through (13), the offending posters shall be destroyed, and the C.R.O. may assess an additional penalty to that Candidate or side as set out in Section 17.
17. All printed Campaign Materials shall be purchased at official list price costs from SUBprint.
18. Where a Candidate or side contravenes Section 13(15), the offending Campaign Materials shall be destroyed, and the C.R.O. may assess an additional penalty to that Candidate or side, as set out in Section 17.
19. Where a Candidate or side chooses to print Campaign Materials on paper deemed to be sustainable by the CRO and where that Candidate or side demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the C.R.O., that this choice resulted in an increased cost being incurred to it, then the amount of this increased cost shall not count against the limits set out in Section 15.
20. No Candidate, side, or Volunteer shall damage or destroy any other Candidate’s or side’s Campaign Materials unless specifically authorized to do so by the C.R.O.
21. All Campaign Materials shall be removed by 9:00 PM on the last day of voting.

#### **14. Universal Materials**

1. No individual Candidate or side shall make use of any materials, products, or resources that are not:
1. accounted for as part of that Candidate’s or side’s Campaign budget; or
2. a Universal Material

3. Universal Materials shall be defined as basic materials provided by the Elections Office within the Candidate workroom.
1. Candidates or sides shall be permitted to use these supplies in the creation, dissemination, and/or distribution of their Campaign Materials.

5. These supplies shall not be counted against the Candidate’s or side’s Campaign budget.
6. The C.R.O. shall purchase or supply whatever basic materials they deem appropriate. The elections office shall replenish these Universal Materials as they become depleted during the elections period, where feasible.
7. Basic materials that shall be provided include, at a minimum:
1. Staples; and
2. Tape; and
3. Lawn signs; and
4. Push pins;
5. Any other basic materials the C.R.O. chooses to provide.

9. The C.R.O. shall provide a list of Universal Materials in the Candidate nomination package.
10. Excluding Universal Materials physically provided by the elections office, all other materials must be included in the Candidate’s or side’s Campaign budget with costs, receipts and/or fair market assessment included.
11. Where a Candidate or side contravenes Section 14, the C.R.O. shall assess a punitive fine and take any other recourse as prescribed under Section 17.

#### **15. Expenses**

1. Candidate and Side expense amounts, Expense Reporting Procedure, and Fair Market Value Procedure can be found in [Regulation 320.15 - Campaign Expenses](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-iii-elections/page/regulation-32015-campaign-expenses).
2. Each Candidate or side shall keep an up-to-date and accurate record of all Campaign Expenses they incur, and shall be responsible to the C.R.O. for all such Campaign Expenses.
3. Fair Market Value shall be determined by the C.R.O. within two (2) Business Days using the price recommended by the Candidate or side or the price that any other Candidate or side would have to pay for a comparable product or service.
4. All donations must undergo either a universal resource designation or a Fair Market Value assessment.
5. For purposes of this section, general labour and any expertise had by a significant portion of the population, including, but not limited to, poster design, web page design, and web page programming, shall be considered to have a Fair Market Value of zero.
6. Candidates running in multiple coinciding elections for the General Election of Faculty Councilors will be considered separate Candidates for Campaign Expenses, balloting, and penalties apply to a Candidate per contested part of the Election and not to the Candidate between multiple parts of the Election.
1. All other rules concerning nominations, Campaign Materials, and Campaign activities apply per Candidate in both coinciding elections.


#### **16. Complaints**

1. Complaints on the violation of Bylaw during an election, plebiscite, or referendum can be submitted to the C.R.O. through the complaint form, detailed in [Regulation 320.16 - Complaint Procedure](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-iii-elections/page/regulation-32016-complaint-procedure).
2. The C.R.O. shall provide a copy of the complaint form, with the complainant’s student identification number blacked out, to each respondent.
3. Elections Staff shall report any witnessed violation of bylaw through the process outlined in [Regulation 320.16 - Complaint Procedure](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-iii-elections/page/regulation-32016-complaint-procedure).
4. The C.R.O. shall investigate and rule upon every contravention of this bylaw or any other bylaw, rule, or regulation related to the election, plebiscites, or referenda.

#### **17. Penalties**

1. Where a Candidate, Volunteer, or side has contravened a bylaw, rule, or regulation, regardless of the cause or the intent of the parties involved, and that contravention has provided an unfair advantage to a Candidate or side, the C.R.O. shall assign a penalty that
    
    
    1. fully counter-balances any advantage gained; and
    2. where the contravention was intentional, penalizes the Candidate, Campaign manager, or side manager who was or whose Volunteer was guilty of the contravention.
2. Penalties available to the C.R.O. shall include
    
    
    1. a fine to be counted against the Candidate’s or side’s Campaign Expenses;
    2. the confiscation or destruction of Campaign Materials; and
    3. limits, restrictions, and prohibitions on any type of Campaign activities for any period of time up to the commencement of voting.
    4. disqualification; where the candidate is guilty of a contravention that; 
        1. Cannot be counterbalanced by a lesser penalty; or
        2. Is malicious or substantially prejudicial to another Candidate or side; or
        3. Involves tampering with ballots, voting procedures, or counting procedures; or
        4. A conscious and egregious breach of Bylaw 320.11.1 and/or Bylaw 320.11.2;
3. The C.R.O. shall draft a schedule of fines and penalties as an appendix to the rules and regulations concerning this bylaw and it shall be included and well defined in the nomination package.

#### **18. D.I.E. Board**

1. All Members have the right to appeal rulings of the C.R.O. to the D.I.E. Board.

# Regulation 320.02: Election Dates

#### **01. Winter General Election**

1. The nomination package shall be published at least 30 (thirty) days prior to the nomination deadline;
2. The Winter General Election period shall be between the Thursday immediately before Winter Term Reading Week and the second Thursday following the Winter Term Reading Week;
3. The nomination deadline shall be at 6:00pm on the Thursday immediately before the Winter Term Reading Week;
4. The Candidates meeting shall be at 6:00pm on the Friday immediately before the Winter Term Reading Week;
5. The Campaign period shall begin at 9:00am on the first Monday following the Winter Term Reading Week and conclude at 6:00pm on the second Thursday following the start date of the Campaign period;
6. The voting period shall begin at 9:00am on the second Wednesday following the start date of the Campaign period and conclude at 6:00pm on the following Thursday;
7. In the event of any unforeseen circumstances delaying the commencement of or impeding the balloting process, the voting period shall be extended by an equal amount of time as the delay rounded up to the nearest fifteen (15) minutes;
8. The conclusionary meeting shall be at 7:00pm on the second Thursday following the start date of the Campaign period; and
9. The announcement of unofficial results shall be no later than three hours following the end of the voting period.
10. Candidates have two (2) Business Days after the results have been announced to file any complaints or appeal any C.R.O. rulings; and
11. Students’ Council shall ratify the results of the election at its next meeting following the election.

#### **02. Winter Council Election**

1. The nomination package shall be published at least 30 (thirty) days prior to the nomination deadline;
2. The nomination deadline shall be at 6:00pm on the third Monday following the Winter Term Reading Week;
3. The Candidates meeting shall be at 6:00pm on the first Wednesday following the nomination deadline;
4. The Campaign period shall begin at 9:00am on the first Thursday following the nomination deadline and conclude at 6:00pm on the following Thursday;
5. The voting period shall begin at 9:00am on the second Wednesday following the nomination deadline and conclude at 6:00pm on the following Thursday;
6. In the event of any unforeseen circumstances delaying the commencement of or impeding the balloting process, the voting period shall be extended by an equal amount of time as the delay rounded up to the nearest fifteen (15) minutes;
7. The conclusionary meeting shall be at 7:00pm on the second Thursday following the nomination deadline; and
8. The announcement of unofficial results shall be no later than noon on the second Friday following the nomination deadline.
9. Candidates have two (2) Business Days after the results have been announced to file any complaints or appeal any C.R.O. rulings; and
10. Students’ Council shall ratify the results of the election at its next meeting following the election.

#### **03. Fall Election**

1. The nomination package shall be published at least 30 (thirty) days prior to the nomination deadline;
2. The nomination deadline shall be at 6:00pm on the third Monday following Labour Day;
3. The Candidates meeting shall be at 6:00pm on the first Wednesday following the nomination deadline;
4. The Campaign period shall begin at 9:00am on the first Thursday following the nomination deadline and conclude at 6:00pm on the following Thursday;
5. The voting period shall begin at 9:00am on the second Wednesday following the nomination deadline and conclude at 6:00pm on the following Thursday;
6. In the event of any unforeseen circumstances delaying the commencement of or impeding the balloting process, the voting period shall be extended by an equal amount of time as the delay rounded up to the nearest fifteen (15) minutes;
7. The conclusionary meeting shall be at 7:00pm on the second Thursday following the nomination deadline; and
8. The announcement of unofficial results shall be no later than noon on the second Friday following the nomination deadline.
9. Candidates have two (2) Business Days after the results have been announced to file any complaints or appeal any C.R.O. rulings; and
10. Students’ Council shall ratify the results of the election at its next meeting following the election.

#### **04. Plebiscites and Referenda of the Students’ Union**

1. Where the C.R.O. receives a valid petition or where Students’ Council initiates a plebiscite or referendum, then the plebiscite or referendum in question shall be held on the dates of the next general election of the Executive Committee and Undergraduate Board of Governors not occurring within thirty (30) days of receipt of the valid petition or initiation by Students’ Council of the plebiscite or referendum in question.

# Regulation 320.06: Plebiscite and Referenda Procedure

#### **01. Initiation**

1. Where a Member wishes to initiate a plebiscite or referendum via petition, that Member shall submit to the C.R.O.:
1. the intent of the question;
2. whether the question is a plebiscite or a referendum;
3. the name, faculty, and student identification of that Member;
4. a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) deposit in the form of cash or a certified cheque or money order payable to the Students’ Union.

3. Upon receipt of a submission meeting the requirements in Section 01(1), the C.R.O. shall immediately forward the intent of the question to the Bylaw Committee.
4. The Bylaw Committee shall approve within fourteen (14) days from receiving the intent of the question from the C.R.O., a petition question which:
1. fully reflects the intent submitted by the Member;
2. if carried and acted upon, would not violate any Students’ Union bylaws or any federal or provincial law;

6. Students’ Council shall, at the meeting following the drafting of the petition question by the Bylaw Committee, approve a question which meets the criteria set out in Section 01(3) unless the question would cause Students’ Council to breach its fiduciary responsibility to the Students’ Union.
7. Sections 01(3) and 01(4) notwithstanding, where it is not possible for the Bylaw Committee or Students’ Council to approve a petition question which meets the criteria set out in Section 01(3), neither the Bylaw Committee nor Students’ Council shall approve such a question.
8. Prior to being approved by Students' Council, all plebiscite and referendum questions must be drafted by the Bylaw Committee.

#### **02. Side Selection**

1. At least twenty-eight (28) days in advance of the plebiscite or referendum, the C.R.O. shall schedule and announce a meeting for the registration of sides, such meeting to take place not more than twenty-one (21) and not fewer than fourteen (14) days in advance of the plebiscite or referendum in conjunction with the Candidates meeting;
2. For each plebiscite or referendum, there shall be
1. a “yes” side;
2. a “no” side.

4. Members wishing to register themselves as part of a side shall attend the meeting for registering sides.
5. A Member’s registration for a side shall be accepted when the Member
1. attends the meeting for registering sides;
2. announces their intention to register for a side;
3. provides the C.R.O. with their name, student identification number, and contact information; and
4. the C.R.O. is satisfied that that Member does not aim to falsely represent that side by registering for it.

7. Section 02(4) notwithstanding, no Member shall register for more than one (1) side for any plebiscite or referendum.
8. Each side shall select, from among the Members registered to it, one (1) side manager.
9. Any Member of the Students’ Union Executive Committee is eligible to serve as a side manager of a referenda/plebiscite without taking a leave of absence from their position as an executive.
10. No individual can concurrently be a Candidate for a position and a side manager for a plebiscite/referendum.

# Regulation 320.07: Nomination Procedure

#### **01. Nomination Packages**

1. The C.R.O shall produce nomination packages which shall contain, at minimum
1. complete and current copies of [Bylaw 320](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-iii-elections/page/bylaw-320-elections-plebiscites-and-referenda), relevant Regulations, and the Judiciary of the Students’ Union, [Regulation 140](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-i-governance/page/bylaw-140-student-judiciary);
2. nomination papers soliciting the given and/or preferred name, contact information, and student identification number of the proposed nominee as well as, the position the nominee wishes to contest,
3. contact information for the C.R.O. and D.R.O.s;
4. the time, date, and location for the Candidates meeting;
5. the building code limits on banner size. In the absence of an upper limit, the C.R.O. will specify a size deemed appropriate
6. the attendance regulations outlined in Regulation 110 for General Faculties’ Council and Students’ Union Council Elections.
7. the Student Governance Code of Conduct
8. a list of Universal Materials.
9. a well defined policy on the usage of social media.

3. A valid, complete, and acceptable nomination packages shall contain
    
    
    1. at least fifty (50) and at most one hundred (100) Members acting as nominators for Executive and Board of Governors Representative Elections; and
    2. at least (20) and no more than fifty (50) Members acting as nominators who at the time of the nomination deadline are currently registered in the same faculty as the nominee for GFC and Students’ Council Elections.
1. a completed Candidate Information and Declaration Form signifying acceptance of the nomination by the proposed nominee;
2. a signed letter from the proposed nominee's faculty confirming that they are in good academic standing under University regulations;
3. papers soliciting the names, faculties, years, signatures, and student identification numbers of at least:
4. for Executive and Board of Governors Elections, a fifty dollar ($50.00) deposit in the form of cash, certified cheque, or money order payable to the Students’ Union.

# Regulation 320.08: Candidate’s Meeting

#### **01: Meeting Requirements**

1. The meeting shall:
    
    
    1. be held on a Business Day;
    2. start no earlier than 6:00pm; and
    3. start no later than 9:00pm.
2. The C.R.O. shall:
    
    
    1. arrive by the scheduled start time; and
    2. take attendance by roll call at the start and end of the meeting.
3. At the Candidate and registration meeting, the C.R.O. shall, at minimum: 
    1. review all relevant bylaws, rules, and regulations, including this regulation, and respond to questions about same;
    2. announce the time and date of any Forums scheduled;
    3. determine and announce which Candidates are joke Candidates;
    4. where two (2) or more Candidates have asked to appear on the ballot under names that are either identical or so similar as to be effectively indistinguishable, determine and announce under what names each of the two (2) or more Candidates shall appear on the ballot;
    5. announce any methods that will be regularly used to communicate with Candidates; and
    6. take attendance for the purpose of verifying compliance with Section 02;
    7. for Executive and Board of Governors Elections, announce the times, dates, and locations of daily meetings; and
    8. create a register listing the Members registered for each plebiscite and referendum side as well as the side manager for each.

#### **02. Attendance**

1. All Candidates or side managers shall either:
1. attend the Candidates meeting in its entirety; or
2. designate a proxy via email to the C.R.O. prior to the scheduled start time of the meeting.
1. A proxy may only be designated to represent one Candidate or side manager and must attend the meeting in its entirety.


3. The C.R.O. shall grant exemptions to Section 01(1) to Candidates or side managers, but shall do so only where the Candidate or side manager:
1. requesting the exemption provides a sufficient reason to the C.R.O. via e-mail at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the commencement of the Candidates meeting; or
2. informs and provides satisfactory evidence to the C.R.O. of absence due to an unforeseen academic circumstance for which no notice could be given; or
3. informs and provides satisfactory evidence to the C.R.O. of an emergency for which no notice could be given; or
4. was nominated under [Bylaw 320, Section 07](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-iii-elections/page/bylaw-320-elections-plebiscites-and-referenda).

5. Where a Candidate or side manager is granted exemption under [Bylaw 320, Section 07](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-iii-elections/page/bylaw-320-elections-plebiscites-and-referenda), they shall refrain from Campaigning until they attend a subsequent meeting with the C.R.O., within a reasonable amount of time, to discuss the content presented at the Candidates meeting.
6. In the event of an extension under [Bylaw 320, Section 07](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-iii-elections/page/bylaw-320-elections-plebiscites-and-referenda) the CRO shall hold an additional meeting for new Candidates or side managers.

# Regulation 320.09: Forums

#### **01: Forums**

1. The elections office shall enforce the following rules at all elections office Forums:
1. at least one of the chairs/moderators of the Forum must be a Member of the Elections Staff;
2. each Candidate or side shall be afforded an opportunity to speak that is equal to the opportunity afforded to each Candidate or side in their race;
3. no objects shall be thrown;
4. no heckling shall occur;
5. no Campaign Materials shall be distributed in the room in which any Forum is being held;
6. no Candidate, side or Volunteer representing a Campaign shall interfere, attempt to stop, limit, or otherwise dissuade a Member from asking a question during an elections office organized Forum;
7. the chair shall prioritize audience questions from Members who have not already submitted a question orally or electronically.

3. The chair of the Forum shall be permitted to set a time limit restricting the length of individual questions and answers during Forums, at their discretion, so long as these details are provided to the Candidates and sides in advance and verbalized at the start of the Forum.
4. Where an individual or Candidate contravenes Section 01(1), the elections office staff shall remove that individual from the Forum before proceeding.
5. Where a Candidate or side contravenes Section 01(1), the Elections Staff has the authority to enforce any disciplinary they deem appropriate, as prescribed under Section 18.

# Regulation 320.15: Campaign Expenses

#### **01: Campaign Expense Amounts**

1. For Executive and Board of Governors Elections:
    
    
    1. 1. No Candidate shall accrue more than five hundred and fifty dollars ($550.00) in Campaign Expenses, all of which shall be paid by the Students’ Union.
        2. No joke Candidate shall accrue more than two hundred and twenty five dollars ($225.00) in Campaign Expenses, all of which shall be paid by the Students’ Union.
2. For General Faculties’ Council and Students’ Union Council Elections:
    
    
    1. No Candidate shall accrue more than thirty dollars ($30.00), plus six dollars ($6.00) for every one thousand (1,000) students’ in their faculty beyond three thousand (3,000) in Campaign Expenses, all of which shall be paid by the Students’ Union.
    2. Where the number of students in a faculty beyond three thousand (3,000) is not a multiple of one thousand (1,000), the amount of money in excess of the base amount as set out in Section 02(1a), shall be prorated and rounded to the nearest cent.
    3. No joke Candidate shall accrue more than two thirds (2/3) of the expenses set out in Sections 02(1a) and 02(1b).
3. For Referenda or Plebiscites: 
    1. No side shall accrue more than one thousand dollars ($1000.00) in Campaign Expenses, all of which shall be paid by the Students’ Union.

#### **02. Campaign Expense Reporting**

1. Each Candidate or side shall submit to the C.R.O. the record, as set out in [Bylaw 320](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-iii-elections/page/bylaw-320-elections-plebiscites-and-referenda), Section 15(1), no less than two (2) Business Days prior to the end of voting or at the discretion of the C.R.O.
2. No Candidate or side shall incur any Campaign Expenses within two (2) Business Days of the end of voting, except where those Campaign Expenses have been reported in the record submitted to the C.R.O. as set out in [Bylaw 320](https://docs.su.ualberta.ca/books/bylaw-article-iii-elections/page/bylaw-320-elections-plebiscites-and-referenda), Section 15.
3. Where the C.R.O. determines that a Candidate or side has exceeded or falsified its Campaign Expense limit
1. the Candidate or side manager shall be disqualified;
2. that Candidate or side shall be prohibited from engaging in further Campaign activities;
3. notice of this shall be posted with the Campaign Expense records;
4. the violation will be communicated directly to the Candidate or side manager in question;
5. the C.R.O. may recommend to the D.I.E. Board that further action be taken against that the Candidate or side manager, and/or any Volunteers.

5. The C.R.O. shall review all Campaign Expense records, and shall post summaries of the same no more than one (1) Business Day prior to the end of voting.
6. The C.R.O. shall assess a penalty to a Candidate or side who does not submit their expense report as set out in Section 18.

#### **03. Fair Market Value Assessment**

1. A Candidate or side wishing to receive a Fair Market Value assessment in advance shall make a written request to the C.R.O, including:
1. A full and accurate description of the product or service; and
2. The supplier of the product or service, along with contact information for the same; and
3. The Candidate’s or side’s estimation and rationale of the product or service’s Fair Market Value.

# Regulation 320.16: Complaint Procedure

#### **01. Complaint Procedure**

1. The C.R.O. shall prepare and provide a complaint form which shall require complaints to indicate
1. their names and student identification numbers;
2. the specific bylaw and section, rule, or regulation that has allegedly been contravened;
3. the specific individual or group that is alleged to be in contravention;
4. the specific facts which constitute the alleged contravention; and
5. the evidence for these facts.

3. Where a complaint is received within two (2) Business Days of the alleged contravention, and where the original complaint form is provided to the C.R.O., the C.R.O. shall rule on that complaint.
4. Where a complaint is received and is found to be complete as set out in Section 01(1), the C.R.O. shall rule on the complaint within two (2) Business Days of receiving the complaint.
1. If the C.R.O. requires more time to investigate the complaint they shall, prior to the deadline:
1. Notify, via e-mail, the Chief Tribune of D.I.E. Board with:
1. The reason for extension of the investigation period; and
2. The anticipated date and time the ruling will be released, not to exceed 72 hours after the deadline.

3. Provide a carbon copy to the complainant and the Manager of Discover Governance.

3. The C.R.O. shall include this notification as an appendix to the final ruling.

6. The C.R.O. shall post all of their rulings, including
1. a summary of the complaint;
2. a list of parties to the complaint;
3. where the C.R.O. fails to possess jurisdiction, a summary of the reasons for this finding;
4. a listing of all bylaws, rules, and regulations that apply;
5. a finding regarding the facts;
6. a ruling regarding the alleged contravention;
7. the penalty assigned, if any;
8. the time the ruling was posted; and
9. the time limit for appeal.