USAC’s decision ensures integrity

Enciso is a fourth-year political science and Chicana/o studies
student. He is currently the USAC internal vice president.

By Elias Enciso

As the Undergraduate Students Association Council’s
internal vice president, I am pleased to take this opportunity to
provide perspective on USAC’s decision to preserve our
traditional method of voting and to clarify the misconstruction
conveyed by the USAC president.

To guarantee a fair election, in which all campaigning
regulations can be enforced by the Elections Board, USAC felt
compelled to ensure that polling stations, with actual ballots and
poll workers not be replaced by an online voting method replete
with potential security catastrophes.

Since December, members of USAC have voiced the following
concerns about the online voting method: first, polling stations,
which become locations of an important social event during election
day, would be extinguished. UCLA would lose the traditional
sociopolitical event that brings voters out and brings them
together.

Secondly, since there would not be designated polling stations
on campus, the E-Board would be unable to regulate campaigning.
Every computer would become a polling station with no poll workers
and no one to enforce campaigning regulations, which state,
“campaigning is not permitted within 75 feet, measured in any
direction, of any polling station.” This inability to enforce
regulations facilitates electioneering.

Any one of your roommates could pressure you by looking over
your shoulder and onto your computer screen to make sure you vote
the way he or she wants you to. This happened at a UC campus where
the president of a fraternity coerced all members living in that
house to vote before they were allowed to eat dinner.

Finally, there is the threat of hackers tampering with the
online voting system. This too was the case at a UC campus that
used an online voting method. This security issue is one of the
strongest reasons why the National Science Foundation does not
recommend on-line voting.

Because the resigned E-Board chair did not adequately address
the concerns listed above and because the current USAC president
remained stagnant and uncommitted in the process of ensuring a fair
election, I, as head of the IVP office, engaged David Chaum in
discussion with USAC about online voting methods. Chaum, who has a
doctorate in computer science, affirmed all of USAC’s
concerns and strongly advised against the old on-line voting
method. As such, USAC demonstrated responsibility and leadership by
not rubber stamping the flawed online voting proposal.

I am, however, embarrassed by the immaturity of this
year’s USAC President Elizabeth Houston. She submitted a
viewpoint to the Daily Bruin in which she manipulates and
misconstrues the situation in order to attack members of the USAC
(“Praxis interference behind E-Board chair’s
resignation,” Viewpoint, April 19).

Clearly, her article is a cheap political trick in light of the
upcoming USAC elections. She not only disrespected many student
organizations by misnaming them as power-hungry and manipulative,
but she also ignored the important role that student organizations
play in the success of this university.

Furthermore, I feel it is unnecessary to defend against the
personal attacks made by President Houston. All I have to say is
that the work that came from the IVP office (such as Freedom City,
the USAC Newsletter, the efforts to repeal SP-1 and 2, the drafting
of alternative admissions policies and the upcoming tenant’s
rights week) speaks for itself. By that token, the lack of work
that has came from the president’s office also speaks for
itself.

Beyond being disappointed with her seeming lack of integrity, I
was appalled to discover Houston may be guiding a slate titled
S.U.R.E for USAC elections. After all, her lack of leadership
experience proved detrimental to the functions of the current USAC.
I do believe, however, she, from her own personal experience, can
offer her candidates many examples of mistakes not to be
repeated.

On that note, I implore all students to please take a few
minutes to learn about all USAC candidates and vote for the most
experienced candidates ““ candidates that have been working
and will continue to work toward the empowerment of all
students.