SiMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
MEMORANDUM
Previously numbered
S.82-49
COMMIT
TEE
ON AGENDA
AND
RULE.
PROPOSED CHANGES TO PROCEDURES
AND
Subied..^Vj.t^^. PF SENATE RELATING TO
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..........
ELECTION OF STUDENTS T
*
O SENATE AND
Date.
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y..
20 ...
j .g 82
...................................
MOTION: ?
That Senate approve a change to the Rules of Senate
relating to student elections to Senate and to the
Board of Governors as follows:
F.l. Delete (i) and (ii) and subsequent paragraph
beginning "For the purposes of these elections
and replace with:
F.l. 1) Those registered in at least one credit course
on the main Burnaby campus of the University
in fifre'snester in which nominations are due;
ii) Those graduate students registered in the
• ?
semester in which nominations are due other
than those with "on leave" status.
F.2. Delete and replace with:
F.2.
?
For the purpose of being a candidate in the election
of full-time students to the Board or to Senate the
undergraduate student must be registered in nine or
more semester hours in the semester in which nomina-
tions are due, or be in good standing and have been
registered in nine or more semester hours of credit
at the close of the immediately previous semester and
certify that he/she intends to register in the immedi-
ately forthcoming semester in not less than nine
semester hours.
A graduate student must be duly registered as a
graduate student other than one who currently is
designated with on-leave status.
J.3. Delete and replace with:
1.3. ?
The period for casting of ballots shall be not less
than ten days nor longer than fifteen days in the case
of elections by and from the faculty members and by and
from members of staff who are not faculty members. It
shall be not less than fourteen days nor longer than
twenty-eight days in the case of elections by Convocation
. to Senate and of the Chancellor. It shall be not less
than two days nor longer than five days in the case of
elections by and from students.
These changes are consistent. with Option 1 in Paper s.82-65, where fuller
details of procedures are given. A 2/3 majority vote is required for approval.
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
?
MEMORANDUM
*TO ......
SENATE COMMITTEE oN AGENDA
.
AND
P.
ULES
...
From ....
.
.
JT!
M
?
.pIRE
.
cTPR
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........
SECRETARIAT AND OFFICE SERVICES
PROPOSED CHANGES TO PROCEDURES AND
Sub1ect. . ULES OF SENATE: ELECTION OF STUDENTS
?
Date..... ?
6,
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2 ?
.................
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TO SENATE
'
A
'
ND BOARD OF .GOVERNORS
INTRODUCTION
The objective of this proposal is to reduce the current high cost of running
student elections without unduly reducing voter participation.
Current procedures are based on
a)
University Act
b)
Rules of Senate (see Appendix A)
c)
Procedures adopted by the Registrar
The scope of any changes to election procedures will exclude the University
Act.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Two alternatives are presented:
. ?
1. Re-define the student body for electoral purposes to include only those
students currently registered in on-campus courses. Conduct all balloting
in-person on campus for approximately three days. Elections to be held
only during a semester.
2. Continue with present student electorate, but discontinue mail distribution
of ballots except at specific request of any individual voter. Use limited
advertising to draw election to the attention of off-campus voters.
Cost savings:
?
$
Average annual cost of student elections (2 elections p.a.) Current
?
15,000
Average annual cost of student elections (2 elections p.a.) Option 1
?
3,600
?
Average annual cost of student elections (2 elections p.a.) Option 2 6,100
Annual cost savings
?
$8,900 to $12,400
PROCEDURES CURRENTLY IN USE
For the past several years, the procedures used to conduct annual elections
have been as follows. (Similar procedures apply to by-elections.)
Approx. February 15: Call for nominations issued with distribution on campus and
limited campus advertising
March 4: If sufficient nominations have been received for the election to
be contested, ballots and associated material are mailed to all
. ?
eligible voters (approximately 13,500). The Rules allow 14 - 28
days for return of ballots.
March 25: Ballots, counted, results announced.
April 15: Deadline for completion of elections, prescribed in the Rules.
?
June 1: Terms of office begin for new or re-elected representatives.
-2-
1l;c &liglblc to vote are all students (graduate or undergraduate) who are:
a)
registered in at least one credit course in the current semester;
b)
in good standing who ere registered in at least one credit course in the
previous semester and who certify that they intend to register again before
missing two consecutive registrations;
c)
registered graduate students except those on leave in the current semester
The existence of the trimester system is acknowledged by the present "Rules
of Senate" by permitting students to vote who are in regular attendance except for the
current semester. This feature is unusual and has the consequence that unless ballots are
mailed to home addresses, some eligible voters might be disfranchised.
COSTS OF HOLDING ELECTIONS
Under current procedures, costs are as follows (March '82 figures, assuming
First Class Mail used) for one election:
?
$13,175
If there had been fewer candidates, less paper, postage and preparation time
wo,ild have been required for an approximate total cost of $ 8,000
Using lower priority mall (le Bulk rate 3rd. Class) costs would be approximately
$3,000 and $1,700 lower, respectively. However, in March '82 these advantageous rates
were used, and extremely slow 'delivery of ballots was experienced.
The details of costs of the March, 1982 elections are given in Appendix B.0.
OUTCOMES OF SOME RECENT ELECTIONS
a)
?
Senate
From February, 1975 to March, 1982 there has been a total of four Regular elections
and eleven By-elections or second calls for unfilled positions. Of these, eleven were
by ncciamat:ton (73%). Voter response in the four contested elections was as follows:
Approx. Ballots
?
Ballots returned % Voting
mailed out
March '79 (;econd call ?
11,200
?
576 ? 5
regular election)
?
October '79 (by-election) ?
11,200 ?
. ?
757 ?
7
?
February '80 (second call
?
11,875
?
516 ? 4
regular election)
March '82 (regular election) ?
13,525 ?
756
?
6
b) ?
Board of Governors
?
.
From'Febriary, 1979 to March, 1982 there were four Regular elections and one
By-elert9on. 01 these, two were by acclamation.
Voter response in the three contested elections was as follows:
January '80 (by-election)
January '80 (regular election)
March '82 (rcp,tilar election)
Approx. Ballots
?
Ballots returned ?
% Voting
mailed out
?
11
?
0
11,875 ?
673 ? 6
11,875
?
661 ? 6
13,525 ? ' ?
762
?
6
-3-
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF VOTERS
In March, 1982 the student electorate was distributed by contact address
as follows:
Undergraduate
?
Graduate ?
Totals
Lower Mainland of B.C.
Elsewhere In B.C.
Elsewhere in Canada
U.S.A.
Overseas
Incomplete/not classified
9,700
1,127
10,827
?
(80%)
1,000
125
1,125 ?
( 8%)
100
13
113 ( 1%)
100 est.
6
106 ( 1%)
75
4
79(1%)
1,275
-
11275 (lO%)
_J
Totals
?
12,250 ?
1,275
?
13,525 (100%)
Because of the time constraints of the balloting and also in consideration
of air mail costs, ballots were not sent overseas, i.e. outside continental
North America, in the March, 1982 elections.
RATE OF RETURN OF MAIL BALLOTS
•
The following data were obtained from analysis of March, 1982 election
returns.
Ballots mailed to voters
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13,525 (100%)
Ballot envelopes returned by hand
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634 ( 5%)
Ballot envelopes returned by mail
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146 ( 1%)
Ballots received by mail from outside Lower Mainland
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14 (0.1%)
The out-of-town group of voters display significantly lower participation
than the students who have local contact addresses, as follows:
Lower Mainland voters
?
10,800
?
(100%)
Lower Mainland voters' ballot returns
?
750 ?
(• 7%)
Other voters (excluding unclassified and
?
1,350 ?
(100%)
overseas)
Ballots returned
?
14
?
C
1%)
ía
ANALYSIS AND COMMENTS
The above data show:
(i)
high cost of running an election by mail
(ii)
general low voter response
(iii)
significantly lower voter response from voters outside the Lower
Mainland
-4-.
Neither the Act nor the Rules requires that ballots be mailed to
students.
Therefore, the current mail ballot procedures are desirable only to enfranchise
those students who are not
c
urrently registered or are out-of-town, and who cannot
be
in March
expected
'82
to
from
vote
out-of-town
in-person
voters,
on campus.
it can
Since
he assumed
only fourteen
that the
ballots
current
were
costly
received
?
-'
procedures benefit very few students.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Option 1 - This proposal is intended to minimize the costs of running
student elections without unduly diminishing the total number
of students who are entitled to vote. It is believed that the
total number of votes cast will remain similar to those obtained
under current procedures.
- Discontinue distribution of ballots by mail
- Re-defIne "student" for electoral purposes to include
i)
those registered In at least one credit course offered
at the Burnaby campus of the University in the semester
in which nominations are due.
ii)
those graduate students who are registered in the semester
in which nominations are due, other than those who have
"on leave" status
- Any eligible voter may cast ballots in person at a polling
station on campus.
- Balloting period to be reduced from the current 14 - 28 days
to 2 - 5 days.
- Elections to be conducted and completed within the same
semester.
Cost of annual elections
Assuming two contested elections in one year, the Option
.1 proposal would
result in the following costs:
$
Printing
Voters' lists
Staff
Advertising
Annual Savings
Consequences of Option 1
350
?
10
?
1040
?
400
1800
2 = $3,600
$12,400
The following groups of students will lose voting privi1egs:
(I) students registered in the previous semester, who wi1l
e
be returning
next semester, but who are currently not registered,
(ii)
students enrolled in courses at remote sites,
(iii)
DISC-only students,
(iv)
students in only Downtown courses.
he following group of students will continue to have voting privileges
but will be unable to vote:
?
-
(v)
students registered in courses on campus but conducting.work
(e.g. research) elsewhere
The following groups of students will remain without voting privileges
(vi)
Graduate students who are "on leave" (even if register in the
previous semester)
(vii)
audit, special audit and other students in only credi't-free courses
(e.g. Coop practica)
-5-
Option 2
This option is presented as a compromise solution to the high cost of
providing election material to the existing off-campus electorate. The features
are:
- no change in the definition of the electorate
- increased advertising of elections, directed at off-campus voters
- Voters will be sent ballot packages on individual request whether
they are local or out-of-town
- The balloting period will remain 14 - 28 days for mail ballots, but
in-person voting will take place during the final 2
7
5 days of the
balloting period.
This is expected to reduce the number of ballot packages mailed out
from 13,500 to approximately 500 or less.
Cost of annual elections
On the assumption of two elections per annum, the costs are likely to be
$
Printing ?
500
Voters lists
?
10
Staff ?
1,240
Advertising ?
1,200
Postage ?
100
3,050 x 2 = $6,100
Consequences of Option 2
The main difficulty will be to inform off-campus voters through effective
advertising that an election is in progress and that they may request ballots. The
proposed budget of $1,200 will provide very little newspaper coverage. A realistic
view might be that we could provide information at the University's remote sites and
in DISC material, but that there would be little to be gained in blanket advertising
to include unregistered students, even those who are resident in the Lower Mainland.
It is unlikely that this will result in more than fifty additional votes being cast,
compared with the provisions of Option 1. The marginal cost of each such vote will
therefore be $50 p.a.
Other Options
A selective mailing of ballots is possible for all students
- not currently registered, but registered in the previous semester
- taking only off-campus or DIS courses.
This would result in an an annual cost of $8,700 (based on two elections
per annum), and given the apparent low voter participation of the out-of-town
electorate, it is not an economical solution to the problem.
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE RULES OF SENATE
The changes to the Rules of Senate would apply to elections to Senate and
to the Board of Governors.
-6-
O p
tion 1 Amend Paragraph F.l and 2 from:
F. ?
Studentsudent Association
1. For the purposes of nominations and voting in the election
of students to the Senate and to the Board:
'Student' means a person who is presently enrolled at
the
University in
a credit course or who is designated by resolution
of the Senate as e student; for the purposes of these elections
for undergraduate students it includes
1) Those registered in a credit course or courses in'.the
semester in which nominations are due, or
ii) Those in good standing who were registered in a credit
course or courses in the immediately previous semester who
certify that they intend to register again at Simon Fraser
University before missing two consecutive registrations.
For the purposes of these elections for graduate students it
includes any student duly registered as a graduate student, other
than one who currently is designated with "on leave" status.
'Student Association' means all full-time students who are members
of the alma mater society or the graduate student society of the
University:- for the purposes of the elections to Board and to
Senate it shall be deemed to consist of those students defined
above..
2. For the purpose of being a candidate in the election of full-time
students to the Board or to Senate the undergraduate student must
fulfil the conditions in F 1(i) and be registered in 9 or more
semester hours credit or must fulfil the conditions in F 1(u) and
have been registered in 9 or more semester hours credit at the close
of the semester and certify that he/she intends to register in the
immediately forthcoming semester in not less than 9 semester hours.
A graduate student must be duly registered as a graduate student
other than one who currently is designated with on-leave status.
To:
F. ?
Students; Student Association
I. For the purposes of nominations and voting in the election
of students to the Senate and to the Board:
'Student' means a person who is presently enrolled at the-
University in a credit course or who is designated by resolution
of the Senate as a student; for the purposes, of these elections
for undergraduate students it includes
i)
Those registered in at least one credit course on the main
Burnaby campus of the University in the semester in which
nominations are due;
ii)
Those graduate students registered in the semester f4wh1ch
nominations are due other than those with "on leave" status.
'Student Association' means all full-time students who are members
of the alma mater society or the graduate student society of the
University:- for the purposes of the elections to Board and,-to
Senate it shall be deemed to consist of those students'def4ned
above.
S
-7-
2.
?
For the purpose of being a candidate in the election of full-time
student
s
to the Board or to Senate the undergraduate student must be registered
7 ?
in ?
nine or more semester hours in the semester in which nominations
re due, or be in good standing and have been registered in nine or more
semester hours of credit at the close of the immediately previous semester
and certify that he/she intends to register in the immediately forthcoming
semester in not less than nine semester hours.
Amend paragraph J3?
From:
3. The period for the casting of ballots shall be not less than ten
days nor longer than fifteen days in the case of elections by and from
the faculty members and by and from the members of staff who are not
faculty members. It shall be not less than fourteen days nor longer
than twenty-eight days in the case of elections by and from students
and in the elections by Convocation to Senate and of the Chancellor.
To:
3. The period for the casting of ballots shall be not less than ten
days nor longer than fifteen days in the case of elections by and from
the faculty members and by and from the members of staff who are not
faculty members. It shall be not less than fourteen days nor longer
than
t
wenty-eight days in the case of elections by Convocation to
Senate and of the Chancellor. It shall be not less than two days
nor longer than five days in the case of elections by and from
students.
( ?
Option 2
Insert New
Paragraph:
W..9. ?
Calls for nominations and the names and statements of. candidates
Ts -
ee IV D.8.a) and b) above) will be posted in designated points on the
University main campus and, at the discretion of the Registrar, at such
other locations as the University offers its courses or provides admin-
istrative services.
Amend
Paragraph J3 From:
The period for the casting of ballots shall be not less than ten
days nor longer than fifteen days in the case of elections by and from
the faculty members and by and from the members of staff who are not
faculty members. It shall be not less than fourteen days nor longer
than twenty-eight days in the case of elections by and from students
and in the elections by Convocation to Senate and of the Chancellor.
To:
The period for the casting of ballots shall be not less than ten
days nor longer than fifteen days in the case of elections by and from
the faculty members and by and from the members of staff who are not
faculty members. It shall be not less than fourteen days nor longer
than twenty-eight days in the case of elections by Convocation to
Senate and of the Chancellor. It shall be not less than two days
nor longer than five days in the case of elections by and from students
who are currently registered in at least one course at the Burnaby
campus. It shall be not less than fourteen days nor longer than
twenty-one days in the case of elections by and from students who
are not currently registered in at least one course at the Burnaby
campus, but who are otherwise eligible to vote as defined in F.l.
-8-
The preceding changes will require a 2/3 majority for approval.
Adoption of either of the preceding revised procedures would provide a
timely opportunity to reduce the high costs of running student elections to Senate
and the Board. If the procedures outlined in Option 1 above had been in place for
1981-82, the cost comparison would have been as follows:
Current Rules and Procedures (using 1st. Class Mail)
?
$13,175
Proposed Rules and Procedures
?
$ 1,800
Saving ?
$11,375
This saving can be achieved without the loss of service normally associated
with a "cutback". Implementation before October 1, 1982 would prevent the running of
further costly by-elections under the current procedures.
cc. J.M. Webster
.
L
APPENDIX A
'Rules of Senate pertaining to Student Elections
IV. D.
?
2. All nominations of candidates for membership on the Senate or on
the Board as students shall be signed by not less than five students
entitled to vote in the particular election.
7.
With the exception of nominations through the Alumni Association,
the nomination paper must be signed by the candidate who shall state
that he/she is willing to permit his/her name to stand in the election,
or on written enquiry from the Registrar, the candidate must indicate
he/she is willing to stand.
8.
a) Each candidate for election to the Board or to the Senate shall
be requested to provide to the Registrar information limited to one
page of single spaced typed copy respecting his/her degrees, the dates
thereof, his/her occupation, offices held by him/her at a university or
in any other organization, his/her other professional or business inter-
ests and his/her publications. (Revised August 9, 1976, Paper S.76-97.)
b) Each candidate for election to the Senate is permitted to Include
along with or In lieu of a curriculum vitae a statement not to exceed 250
words on the candidate's views on academic and related matters rightfully
falling under the jurisdiction of Senate as laid down by the University
Act. Similarly each candidate for election to the Board of Governors
may include such a statement on related matters falling under the juris-
diction of the Board.
F. ?
Students; Student Association
1. For the purposes of nominations and voting In the election
of students to the Senate and to the Board:
'Student' means a person who is presently enrolled at the
University in a credit course or who is designated by resolution
of the Senate as a student; for the purposes of these elections
for undergraduate students it includes
I) Those registered in
semester in which nominations are due, or
ii) Those in good standing who were registered in a credit
course or courses in the immediately previous semester who
certify that they intend to register again at Simon Fraser
University before missing two consecutive registrations.
For the purposes of these elections for graduate students it
Includes any student duly registered as a graduate student other
than one who currently is designated with "on leave" status.
'Student Association' means all full-time students who are members
of the alma mater society or the graduate student society of the.
University:- for the purposes of the elections to Board and to
Senate it shall be deemed to consist of those students defined
above.
2.
For the purpose of being a candidate In the election of full-time
students to the Board or to Senate the undergraduate student must
fulfil the conditions in F 1(1) and be registered in 9 or more
semester hours credit or must fulfil the conditions in F 1(11) and
have been registered in 9 or more semester hours credit at the close
of the semester and certify that he/she intends to register in the
Immediately forthcoming semester In not less than 9 semester hours.
A graduate student must be duly registered as a graduate student
other than one who currently is designated with on-leave status.
3.
A candidate's eligibility to continue to hold office as a repre-
sentative of students on the Board of Governors or on Senate requires
the following:
I) Must not miss more than one registration during the one year
term of office.
ii)
Must not withdraw from the University or be required to with-
draw from the University.
iii)
If an undergraduate student then must remain registered in
an average c'f at least 9 semester hours credit in two of the
three semesters associated with the one-year term of office,
and In not less than 6 semester hours in each of those two
semesters. If a graduate student must continue to be so
registered throughout the period of office.
J. ?
General Regulations Covering Nominations and Voting in the Elections
to Senate and the Board and of the Chancellor
1.
The due date for nominations shall be not earlier than ten days
and not later than fifteen days following the date of the call for
nominations in the case of elections by and from the faculty members,
by and from the students, and by and from members of staff who are
not faculty members. It shall be not earlier than twenty days and not
later than twenty-eight days in the case of elections by Convocation
to Senate and of the Chancellor.
2.
The 'date of election' shall be interpreted to mean the last date
on which valid ballots are due.
3.
The period for the casting of ballots shall be not less than ten
days nor longer than fifteen days in the case of elections by and from
the faculty members and by and from the members of staff who are not
faculty members. It shall be not less than fourteen days no?-longer
than twenty-eight days in the case of elections by and from students
and in the elections by Convocation to Senate and of the Chancellor.
4. I ,
n the regular elections to the Senate and to the Board :Iioting
is to be completed not later than April 15 in any year.
?
.
K. ?
General Regulations Covering Elections to Senate and the Board
1. a) When elections are being held for the position of Chancellor
and for the Board of Governors, a candidate may accept nomination
to run for only one seat or office in those elections. Similarly,
when elections are being held for the position of Chancellor
and
for Senate, a candidate may accept nomination to run for 't1y
one seat or office in those elections.
b)
When elections are being held for the Board of Governors
and for Senate a qualified candidate may accept nomination to
run for office in both those elections.
2.
a) When elections are being held for the position of Chancellor
S
and also for the Board of Governors or for the Senate an indi-
vidual holding a Board office or a Senate office which extends
into the new term shall be required to file with the Registrar
resignation from the present seat in order to be a candidate in
the new Chancellor election. Such resignation may be effective
for the normal date of change-over of office or earlier, but
must be filed not later than the last date for receipt of nomi-
nations for the new election.
b) When elections are being held for the Board of Governors
and/or for the Senate, an individual holding a Board office or
a Senate office which extends into the new term shall be required
to file with the Registrar resignation from the present Board
seat in order to be a candidate in the new Board election or from
the present Senate seat in order to be a candidate in the new
Senate election. Such resignation must be effective for the
normal date of change-over of office or earlier but must be filed
not later than thelast date for receipt of nominations for the
new election.
3.
In the election of students to the Senate, those students with
the highest numbers' of votes shall be elected provided there is at
least one student from each Faculty.
4.
In the election of students to the Board, the two students with
the highest numbers of votes shall be elected.
5.
The Secretary shall state the names of the persons elected. Re-
count may be requested within ten days of the announcement of the
results to the candidates. The ballots may be destroyed after ten
days following the recount period. The minutes will contain the votes
recorded. (Revised June 7, 1976, Paper S.76-86.)
6.
After the ballots have been received by the Registrar, he shall,
at the place, day and hour fixed in the notice of election, be
responsible for the opening of the ballots, and in the presence of
such of the candidates or their representatives as officially attend,
the counting of the votes for each candidate.
L. ?
Vacancies on Senate; Vacancies on the Board
1. Where
'a vacancy arises in the case of an elected faculty member
to Senate or to the Board, or an elected student member to Senate or
to the Board a by-election shall be held under the same principles
as pertain to the regular election provided there is at least four
months remaining 1; the unexpired term at the time for call for
nominations.
2. Where a vacancy arises in the case of an elected faculty member,
or an elected student member, or an elected full-time employee of
the University who is not a faculty member to the Board, a by-
election will be held under the same principles as pertain to the
regular election provided there is at least four months remaining
in the unexpired term at the time for call for nominations.
4. Any Senate member who plans to be away for one semester or more
shall so inform the Secretary of Senate in order that a substitute
may be elected for the period of the absence from Senate.
MEMORANDUM
From .....
NICK. HEATU.,. .D1RCTO.R.....................
I*
SECRETARIAT AND OFFICE SERVICES
_
Date......MfiCH .1•8, 1982 ?
..
To..
.I::Y!N
.
REGISTRAR
Subjed.. ?
p•1 ?
TI OS
Cost of Student Elections
?
March, 1982
1. ?
Materials: ?
Computer list of voters (paper costs only)
$' ?
5
Computer-produced labels (paper costs only)
150
Envelopes -
3500
First class 9 x
12
154
Envelopes - 10,000 manila' 9
x 12
354
Envelopes -
13,500
No. 10 Printed return
664
Envelopes -
13,500 No. 8
Printed ballot
406
Duplicating, candidates' statements
1,620
Duplicating, ballot papers
816
Duplicating, calls for nomination
20
Duplicating, nomination papers
20
Duplicating, ballot extension
5
$4,214
2.
?
Advertising: . .
Peak' advertisements (3)
402
3.
?
Labour:
Typing
10 hrs.
@
$9'
90
Labelling envelopes
20 hrs
-
.
@
$9
180
Stuffing envelopes
215
hrs...
@$9
1,935
Monitoring ballots, checking.
30 hrs.-
@
$9
270
Counting ballots
20 hrs'..
@
$9
.' ?
180
$2,655
4. ?
Postage
3190 @ 45C
1,436
9930 @
13
1,291,
$2,727
TOtal' Cost
$9,998
Note that this (1) includes costs of Registrar's Office staff- whoy-w6uld
normally have been assigned to other duties;
'
%
(ii) excludes staff costs incurred by the Mail Room -
(iii)
excludes computing. processing costs and costs of
modifying student address program;
(iv)
Duplicating costs are as-determined by- Ancillary
Services (2C per copy) and might not reflect truecosts to the- University'..
If the majority of the mailing had not beeirsen.t via Bulk
3rd.-
Class mail,'
t:hc mailing cost
would
have been (at First Class Rate of
45)
1.3120
x:45C
x:45 ?
. 5,904
Ucng. the bulk rate therefore saved
?
3,177
TTow.ev,r, the delivery time has been very variable, and 'long delays have
been cxperlenrtd in' many, cases, resulting in a need to' extend the ba-llot
4
'ing period'
by two weeks.
?
.
p
?
APPENDIX D
Origin of out-of-town ballot returns March, 1982.
The returns for the March, 1982 elections indicate the following
voter participation from students outside of the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
Agassiz (2), Kamloops, McClure, Sparwood, Mission, Chilliwack (2),
Terrace, Kelowna (2), Squamish
?
Total: ?
12
The following returns were from students elsewhere in Canada - Calgary
Total: ?
1
The following returns were from students outside of Canada - Seattle, U.S.A.
Total: ?
1
Total of all votes received from out-of-town votes
?
14
Voter turnout of all out-of-town voters
?
1%
'I
'4
I
?
Afedi.
E.
?
ASSOCIATION des ETUDIANTS
?
SIMON FRASER
?
de SIMON FRASER
?
STUDENT SOCIETY
Jeff Berg, Resource Coordinator
291-4494
7 June
1982
Members of Senate:
At the meeting of
2
June
198,
SFSS Forum delegated me to
respond to the proposed changes in rules 'for Senate elections.
In brief, while SFSS favors holding the vote on campus where
possible, it opposes disenfranchising the off-campus studentpopulation.
We suggest that polling stations be established at the Burnaby Mountain
and downtown campuses, and that the right to vote and access to materials
be maintained for alVstudents.
1)
We think on-campus polling is a good idea, both because it
will facilitate campaigning and a greater turnout and for the financial
reasons cited. Members of Senate should note that the last election was
seriously contested, and in these difficult times we expect student's
stake in their elected representatives will increase.
2) We understand a thousand or more students are enrolled
downtown. That would seem a sufficient number to warrant a polling
station, further diminishing the mailing expense.
3)
The plan to eliminate the right to vote for a number of
students simply violates the democratic principle and tradition on which
the electoral process is based. Off campus students are no less effected
by decisions made in Senate and the BoG, and SFLJ has distinguished itself
in providing access and programing for them. When significant savings
are being effected with campus polling, the few students and dollars
involved in completing a representative vote do not warrant reconsidering
the foundations of our society and culture.
4) While sending ballots on request to off-campus voters may
be more practical than sending them to
everyone,
we feel advertisements
would be (as noted in the committee submission) a costly and inefficient
way to notify voters. We suggest a request card be regularly included in
registration packages, and that ballots-and information be sent to'those
who return it.
We hope Senate will consider these revisions an opportunity to
improve and strengthen the mandate for student representation, in ways
which do not contradict the need to economize. ?
-
S ?
0
simon fraser university
I
burnaby, b.c. v5a 1s6
I
telephone 291-3181
université
simon fraser
I
burnaby, c.-b. v5a 1s6
I
téléfon 291-3181
