Students, USAC discuss election code at open forum

About 30 students – predominantly affiliated with the undergraduate student government – proposed and discussed possible reforms to the Undergraduate Students Association Council election code at an open forum held by the USAC Election Board Thursday evening.

The main subject raised at the forum was the reformation of the candidate endorsement. The randomization of candidate order on ballots and means of increasing publicity and student involvement in elections to boost voter turnout were also discussed.

No changes were confirmed at the forum. But Election Board chair Dana Pede said she plans for any changes to election code to be confirmed by the end of the quarter.

The forum was partly prompted by controversy surrounding the candidate endorsement process in last spring’s elections. During last spring’s elections, Theta Xi fraternity, UCLA Circle K and Moneythink UCLA filed official complaints to Election Board claiming they had been misrepresented during the endorsement process. The three student organizations were listed as endorsing Bruins United candidates in the Daily Bruin without their consent,.

The Election Board, which oversees USAC elections, hoped the forum would help them to understand problems with the elections process and engage in a constructive conversation about possible reforms, Pede said.

“Our purpose is to gain an understanding of issues facing the elections process,” Pede said. “Some discussion of events from last year is appropriate. That being said, tonight is truly about moving forward.”

USAC General Representative Michael Starr began the discussion by saying he thinks individual students, instead of student groups, should endorse candidates, because the current process fosters division on campus.

An alternative to group endorsements could be an open forum, not necessarily overseen by Election Board, where students can come ask questions, said USAC President David Bocarsly at the forum. Student groups could still unofficially endorse candidates through the same methods – primarily social media – they have used previously, Bocarsly said.

Other students expressed concern that the elimination of official endorsements by student groups could make it difficult for students to learn about candidate platforms.

“(Student group endorsements) convey what candidates certain groups would be best represented by, and force candidates to engage with student groups,” said Taylor Bazley, a third-year political science student who ran for USAC Financial Supports Commissioner in spring, at the forum.

Pede said she thinks endorsements allow the Election Board to have more control over the elections process, and allow student groups to express their platforms and support in an official manner.

Another proposed reform was the randomization of the order in which candidates are listed on voter ballots to increase fairness, something that has been proposed in previous years. Students at the forum said studies suggest candidate order has a significant effect on voter decisions.

Pede said randomizing the ballots is a priority, but that obtaining the necessary funding and altering the voting software on MyUCLA by this year’s elections is not feasible.

The ballot randomization process requires collaborating with MyUCLA administrators for a time span greater than one Election Board chair’s year, she said.

“Our goal is to begin those conversations (with MyUCLA) and facilitate some concrete progress,” Pede said.

Penelope Chen, a third-year undeclared student, initiated a conversation about low voter turnout – which is typically around 30 percent – in the elections. She said she thinks the Election Board should set up a voting station on campus to increase voting accessibility for students. Students could only vote using MyUCLA in past elections.

The Election Board will consider Chen’s proposal and other ways to increase student interest in running for office and voting in elections, Pede said. The board has also contemplated publishing an official voter guide to increase voter knowledge.

Carly Calbreath, a member of the Office of the External Vice President’s media team, said she thought the forum was educational, but she wished more students had attended.

“It’s frustrating because there is still a feeling of inaccessibility, but USAC has made an effort to reach out more,” Calbreath said.

The Election Board met Monday to evaluate topics raised during the forum and to deliberate about implementing changes.

“This week we are focusing on refining details and determining if, or what, we need to change in the election code,” said Election Board vice chair Eena Singh.

The Election Board plans to consult Election Board adviser Kris Kaupalolo further and present ideas to the USAC Constitutional Review Committee during fourth week, Singh said.