Student Congress debates runoffs, other issues

Student Congress took another step toward making runoff elections a thing of the past Tuesday night.

Members passed a bill that could allow students to rank candidates for student body president by preference and eliminate runoffs for the position.

While the bill is not likely to become law — Student Body President Jasmin Jones has said she will veto it — the legislation passed the body by a slim margin of victory and represented significant support for a reformed elections system.

Elections

Congress members voted 17 to 15 in favor of eliminating runoffs for student government offices, excluding congressional elections.

“I think the bill simplifies the election process, and it makes it more democratic, which ultimately is in the best interest for the student body at UNC,” said representative Lee Storrow, who introduced the bill.

Some of the bill’s goals include cutting down on voter fatigue and behind-the-scenes dealings in the week between elections and runoff elections, which take place every year in February.

But multiple Congress members expressed concern about the potential effects of the proposed system.

Cutting out runoffs would decrease the time voters could deliberate on the candidates they want to pick, said representative Mark Lachiewicz.

“In my opinion, the argument for the instant runoff system was to shorten the election season,” Lachiewicz said. “I think you can shorten the election season by shortening the campaign time rather than moving to (instant runoff voting).”

He also said this new system of voting could change how student organizations make endorsements.

“Endorsements would come in a rank system, which in my opinion is a sloppy way of doing business,” Lachiewicz said. “I hope Jasmin vetoes it.”

Jones has 10 school days to veto the legislation before it becomes law.

More fees

Congress voted against putting a referendum for increasing the student activities fee before voters. The bill was meant to raise money for Congress, which had to cut numerous groups’ requests for funding during the annual budget process this year.

The referendum would have allowed students to vote whether to increase the student activities fee from $39 to $42. A $6 increase to the same fee was defeated in the Feb. 9 election.

Web publications

Congress also passed a bill that will allow publications that provide online editions to seek additional funding beyond what print-only publications can receive. This bill’s goal is to provide a monetary incentive to encourage publications to produce more online editions — resulting in increased online readership and reduced printing costs.

Budget process

Members voted to change the annual budget process for student groups seeking money from Congress. Next year, the annual budget appropriations process in the spring will distribute 35 percent of the available money and the rest during subsequent appropriations.

Currently, annual budget appropriations account for 80 percent of the budget, and subsequent appropriations distribute 20 percent.



Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.