SG vice-president elect Kelsey Hayes speaks to the Student Government Supreme Court on Thursday evening. Hayes was accused of being within 25 feet of the polling location last Wednesday during the SG election, violating election rules. Hayes was found guilty of violating SG regulations and was fined $25. Photo by Allie Garza | Staff
The Student Government Supreme Court certified last week’s elections Thursday night after a hearing in which a candidate was found guilty of violating SG rules for campaigning.
A complaint filed by Jillian Rogers said vice presidential candidate Kelsey Hayes, who ran with SG President-elect Ryan Smith, had charged her phone within 25 feet of a polling location last Wednesday during voting, a violation of election rules.
Hayes said she had charged her phone near the polling station, but she thought it was okay for her to be near the polling station as long as she didn’t campaign.
“I admit it was a mistake,†she said.
Smith and Hayes won last week’s election by a margin of 148 votes.
The unanimous decision found while Hayes’ conduct was not serious enough to nullify votes or overturn the election, she had violated SG regulations and would be fined $25, the maximum amount allowed.
None of the other four claims filed were found to have enough merit to be fully heard by the court.
A complaint that second-place presidential candidate Colby Khoshreza had given T-shirts to his campaign staff was found to not meet a standard of malice. A second complaint that Khoshreza had misused student fees was withdrawn without being heard.
Separate complaints were filed against Smith and Khoshreza that claimed the candidates had violated a regulation by contacting students more than once through electronic means during the campaign.
The court ruled that the regulation applied only to phone calls and not to other forms of communication.
Smith said he would work to overhaul the elections rules this summer to include e-mail and other electronic communication.
“We want to help clarify this for future elections,†Smith said.
Despite the complaints, SG Supreme Court Chief Justice Anthony Tagavi said the election had run smoothly.
I bet Colin Wheeler went through 3 boxes of Kleenex’s last night. What a sissy.
Colin Wheeler was a stand up individual at the hearing last night, and should definitely attend law school at some point. He presented extremely well.
If he presented so well, why did they lose?
me thunks they should have kicked out smith and put phelps back in office
They actually won. Kelsey had to pay $25.
Seeing as there was no mention of Colin Wheeler in this article I would adventure to guess that Ryan Smith or one of his cronies who were at the hearing last night are behind these petty comments. You know Ben Duncan, I would stop worrying about small victories and instead focus on what you’re going to do when the IFC presidency is snatched out of your fat fratty fingers.