Editorial: USAC should not restrict times for online voting

A newly released review of online undergraduate student
government elections proves students would have benefitted from the
opportunity to cast their votes 24 hours a day in last year’s
ballot.

The Undergraduate Students Association Council voted last year
to block students from voting on MyUCLA between midnight and 7 a.m.
The ostensible reason given for the restriction was that it would
make UCLA’s voting process more like a real election.

But since when has an online student government election had
anything to do with a real state or federal election?

In 2003, 603 votes ““ about 10 percent of the total ““
were cast between midnight and 7 a.m. Clearly, students want the
right to cast their votes whenever they choose to do so.

Both USAC and MyUCLA should take precautions to prevent bloc
voting at off-campus locations, but the basic concept behind online
voting promotes democracy and involvement.

USAC should take it upon itself to revise the election code to
ensure UCLA students have a chance to vote online, from any
computer, at any time of the day.