Write-in candidates for this April’s Student Association elections will not be taking part in the organization’s upcoming election forum.

AJ Abell and Jonathan Dawson, running as a pair for president and vice president as write-in candidates, respectively, are not officially on the ballot so they are not recognized by the organization as candidates, said Paulina Colon, Board of Elections and Membership chair.

Therefore, Abell and Dawson will not be a part of the election forum taking place on April 12 at 8 p.m. in the Shaffer Art Building, room 121. Uncontested presidential candidate Aysha Seedat and her running mate Jane Hong can participate in the forum.

While it is technically still an uncontested election, Janine Bogris, vice chair of elections for BEM, said since the write-in candidates aren’t running through SA, they don’t have to follow SA rules.

“It definitely changes the dynamic of the election, but it is also harder because people do need to spell his name right,” she said.

Bogris said she knows Abell has been meeting with organizations for support and to make them aware of his decision to run in the elections. She has also seen his election website come across Facebook numerous times.

“He is getting his name out there for sure,” she said.

Bogris said she thinks more students will vote in this year’s elections because they will hear candidates vying for their vote and will hopefully remember to go and choose whatever candidate they think is best.

She said running a write-in campaign can make things hard for the candidate because people need to know to vote for that person specifically. Students voting during the elections this year will have to write Abell’s name in.

“It is an interesting dynamic, but regardless, we want to get as big of a student turnout as possible,” she said.

University-wide elections begin April 13 and run through April 16. Assembly representatives will also be up for election.

Published on March 25, 2015 at 8:01 pm

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