1. Elections

 

Elections for the Executive Committee and the Student Council shall be held April each year.

 

2. Schedule of Elections

 

a) The Union shall hold:

i) a general election for Executive Committee and Student Council positions in April of each year during; and

ii) by-elections to fill vacant seats at such times as deemed necessary

a. by the Executive Committee; or

b. by the CEO in the event that the number of members of the Executive Committee falls below three (3); notwithstanding that elections may be delayed in the event of a lockout, strike, natural disaster or other such occurrence.

b) The schedule of elections shall include:

i) a minimum of five (5) working days for the submission of nomination forms to the CEO;

ii) a minimum one (1) week period between the close of nominations and the commencement of polling;

iii) an all candidates' meeting the day of or the day after the closing of nominations; and

iv) not less than sixteen (16) hours of polling over a period of not less than two (2) days.

c) The schedule of elections shall be set by:

i) the Executive Committee; or

ii) the CEO in the event that the number of Executive Committee members falls below three (3).

 

3. Notice of Nominations

 

Sufficient notice shall be deemed to have been given by:

a) the posting, on or about Dawson  College, not less than five (5) working days prior to the opening of the nomination period, of not less than twenty-five (25) notices, not less than 8.5"x 11" in size, stating:

i) the positions to be filled in the election;

ii) the opening and closing date and time of the period for the submission of nominations;

iii) the location at which nomination forms may be obtained; and

iv) the location to which completed nomination forms are to be submitted.

 

4. Notice of Elections

 

Sufficient notice shall be deemed to have been given by:

a) the posting, on or about Dawson  College, not less than five (5) working days prior to the opening of polling, of not less than twenty-five (25) notices, not less than 8.5"x 11" in size, stating:

i) the days on which polling will take place;

ii) the time at which polling opens and closes;

iii) the location of polling stations;

 

5. Visibility

 

The Union shall use, to the best of their abilities, all means of communication available to them to advertise the election, including, but not limited to, the union’s social media website, Omnivox portal, and T.V. monitor.

 

6. Eligibility

 

a) Candidates for any position on the Executive Committee or Student Council must be members of the Union in good standing.

b) In order to seek election to the Executive Committee, members must be nominated by not less than twenty (20) other members of the Union.

c) In order to seek election to the Student Council, members must be nominated by not less than fifteen (15) other members of the Union, who are eligible to vote for the office for which the candidate is being nominated.

d) Every person who is an elector is eligible to seek office for which he or she is entitled to cast a ballot.

e) Members of the Union may not seek election to more than one (1) position during an election.

 

7. Conduct of Nominees

 

Nominees shall abide by the Election Procedure Code.

 

8. Penalties and Disqualifications

 

The CEO shall have sole authority for penalizing or disqualifying a nominee following a breach of the Election Procedure Code.

 

9. Voting

 

1. Members of the Union may cast one (1) ballot for each position available in an election, in their respective constituency.

2. Members of the Union may cast one (1) ballot in a referendum.

c) No vote by proxy shall be allowed.

d) Each nominee may appoint a Scrutineer to oversee the counting of ballots

 

10. Recounts and Appeals

 

a) A nominee may request a recount of votes cast, provided such request is made in writing to the CEO within seventy-two (72) hours following the CEO’s announcement of election results.

b) A nominee may appeal any decision of the CEO to the Executive Committee of the Union.

 

11. Election Procedure Code

 

In addition to this Bylaw, there shall be an Election Procedure Code governing the elections of the Executive Committee and Student Council. It shall be approved by the Executive Committee, based on the recommendation of the Chief Electoral Officer. The Election Procedure Code may not have sections externalized; rather the Executive Committee may only send the document back to the Chief Electoral Officer for review and revisions.