USA Elections Board disqualifies 3 USAC candidates for failure to submit documents
Mitchell Stevens II (left), Johanna Vu (center) and Maya Wertheim (right) speak at debates. The three candidates for Undergraduate Students Association Council positions were disqualified Wednesday. (Left to right: Zimo Li/Photo editor, Aidan Sun/Assistant Photo editor, Aidan Sun/Assistant Photo editor)
By Prannay Veerabahu
May 7, 2025 5:50 p.m.
This post was updated May 7 at 10:23 p.m.
The USA Elections Board disqualified three candidates from the upcoming Undergraduate Students Association Council elections Wednesday.
The candidates, Maya Wertheim, Mitchell Stevens II and Johanna Vu, were disqualified for failing to submit required documents to the elections board by Tuesday night, according to notices of disqualification issued by the board.
Wertheim, a former Daily Bruin Opinion intern who is running for general representative, was disqualified for failing to submit an expense account form, while Stevens – who is running for Cultural Affairs commissioner – and Vu – who is running for Student Wellness commissioner – failed to submit the expenses form and sources of funding forms, according to the notices.
Stevens’ and Vu’s disqualifications leave Divine Trewick and Hannah Yip unopposed in their races for CAC and SWC, respectively.
Failure to submit required expense and funding source reports is grounds for a candidate’s disqualification, according to the USA Election Code. The board previously disqualified Christina Morcus and Abrar Alzabin – who were running for USAC president and Academic Affairs commissioner, respectively – on April 24 for failing to submit required funding disclosures.
According to the USA Election Code, candidates may appeal their disqualification to the USA Judicial Board within 24 hours of their disqualification.
Wertheim said in an emailed statement Wednesday that she was disqualified because of a “miscommunication regarding a financial deadline” and added that she will appeal the decision.
Vu also said in a written statement Wednesday that she intends to appeal to the judicial board and added that she has proof that she submitted her expense forms.
USA Elections Board Chair Sujana Sridhar also said in a written statement Wednesday that the board “communicated clearly and accurately throughout the entire form submission process.”
Stevens did not respond to requests for comment on their disqualification.
Contributing reports by Shiv Patel, campus politics editor.
