Constitution

Article IX. Elections

Section A. Voting

Any active member of the Black Student Alliance may vote.

Section B. Election of Officers

1. Any active member may run for an elected office. If the Corresponding Secretary decides that he/she is running for a position in the BSA elections, then he/she shall turnover his/her position as head of the election committee.
2. The President shall announce the date of elections at the first week of March.
3. The offices of President, Vice-President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary and Treasurer have the option of keeping their office, if it is voted upon by the General Body.
4. Chairpersons shall be elected by their respective committees and the Executive Board for the following year. Only those sitting on the respective committees may either run or participate in the election of the new chairperson.
5. Nominations will be taken from the floor at the General Body meeting prior to elections.
6. All nominees must accept/not accept at the General Body meeting in which they were nominated.
7. Newly elected officers assume power at the last General Body meeting of the semester.

Section C. Absences

In the event of an absence of an officer, the officer directly subordinate to the absent shall assume both positions on a temporary basis.

Section D. The Election Committee

The Election Committee shall:

1. Be established during the spring semester by the Corresponding Secretary.
2. Consist of not more than seven BSA members.
3. Maintain records of the elections.
4. Publicize the positions at the meetings and around campus.
5. Oversee the committee elections of Chairpersons.
6. Tabulate results along with the President and Vice President.
7. Make each potential candidate aware of his/her rights as a candidate and the duties of the officers.
8. Oversee and maintain the rules concerning the elections of new officers.

Section E. Election Rules

Election Rules include:

1. Any person who is an active member may vote in the election.
2. The President, Vice-President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary and Treasurer—if the officers have chosen not to for another term—shall be nominated in the latter half of the spring semester. No later than April 1st, will the new officers take office. The new officers will shadow the current administration during the remainder of the semester at all Executive Board and General Body meetings.
3. A candidate for any elected office must submit an application, due at least ten days before the voting date. A candidate must be an active member by that date. Each candidate must attend a candidates’ meeting, which shall be scheduled at the discretion of the Corresponding Secretary.
4. No campaigning is allowed before the candidates’ meeting. Mass e-mailing and slandering other candidates by any Black Student Alliance members are strictly prohibited and may result in the surrendering of candidacy if deemed appropriate by the Corresponding Secretary.
5. No candidate shall be considered for more than one office simultaneously.
6. The old and new Executive Board members – if different – shall interview and appoint all vacant positions by the end of the spring semester.