If you believe that any candidate is violating any of the above rules please write to the Elections Commission at saelections@wm.edu OR fill out a violation form outlining your specific complaint including the date/time/location of the violation along with some sort of tangible evidence regarding the complaint.
If you would like to request a copy of a candidate's financial disclosure statements, please contact the Elections Commission at saelections@wm.edu.
Important Rules to Remember
No use of Snapchat for campaigning purposes
No sliding flyers under the doors of rooms in Residence Halls
No campaign media platforms to be published prior to the start of the campaigning period
Creation of a website and uploading of content is permitted as long as the website is not published prior to the official start date.
Social media accounts have permanent timestamps, you may not uploadcontent prior to the start of the campaigning period regardless of the account’s public versus private settings.
Recording content prior to the start of the campaigning period is permitted as long as nothing is shared prior to the start date.
Campaign Regulations and Sanctions
Please review all sections of the Campaign Regulations and Sanctions carefully. Questions about these should be sent to [[saelections, Independent Elections Commission]].
Campaign Regulations and Sanctions
Class One Offenses
Posting any piece of campaign material on a surface which is prohibited by the regulations of the College.
Posting more than one piece of campaign material on any bulletin board or kiosk, c. Post any piece of campaign material larger than 8 ½ by 11 square inches on a bulletin board- kiosk. Writing on chalkboards shall not be limited.
Posting any piece of campaign material on a non-public bulletin board. This includes RA bulletin boards, unless the permission of the RA of that hall is given.
Posting on the door of any Residence Hall room without the permission of one of the residents of that room.
Posting any materials that do not have the name of the Candidate printed on it.
Using a Student Assembly or official social class or academic class listserv for campaigning or voter mobilization purposes.
Reserving a table via proxy or table in the Sadler Center Atrium or Terrace on a time and day not sanctioned by the Elections Commission.
Class One Sanctions
For a first offense, a warning will suffice.
A fine, not to exceed $20, to be put into the Student Activities Fund or a suspension of active campaign privileges between 1 day to 2 days based on the discretion of the Elections Commission. The fine, not to exceed $20, is to be deducted from a candidate’s campaign spending limit.
In addition to either the warning or the fine, the candidate must remove all inappropriately placed elections flyers immediately upon the request of the Chair of the Commission.
Following three class one infractions, the Elections Commission may choose to enforce the penalties of future class one infractions as the penalties of a class two infraction.
Class Two Offenses
Slander, the oral communication of a statement known to be false with the intention to injure the reputation of a Candidate. Reasonable allowance shall be made by the Commission for expressions which may be reasonably understood as the opinion of the person expressing it.
Libel, the presentation of publications which have contents known to be false with the intention to injure the reputation of a Candidate. Reasonable allowance shall be made by the Commission for expressions which may be reasonably understood as the opinion of the person expressing it.
Knowing inclusion in campaigns of pornographic or obscene materials, as interpreted by the Commission.
Failure to submit required information to the Commission by a required deadline known to the candidate.
Campaigning by door-to-door solicitation, as defined by College policy.
Negative Attacks against a candidate. Candidates for office may not make attacks on a candidate based solely upon their character or person. This shall not be construed to prohibit direct comparisons of a candidate’s experience, trustworthiness, platform, issues or other legitimate factors as interpreted by the Commission.
Anonymous Posting. The posting of anonymous campaign material, physical or electronic, including, but not limited to, anonymous flyers, e-mails, or web-postings, as interpreted by the Commission.
Class Two Sanction
A suspension of active campaign privileges for a set period of time. The first suspension must be between 2 days to 6 days. Any future class two infractions will be at the discretion of the Elections Commission.
Following three class two infractions, the Elections Commission may choose to enforce the penalties of future class two infractions as the penalties of a class three infraction.
Class Three Offenses
Engaging in campaign activities before the start of the campaign period. Campaigning is defined as the act of soliciting votes. Examples of campaigning include:
The public distribution or posting of campaign materials, physical or electronic, seeking votes for a particular candidate
Scheduling and Speaking before an organized group or in a public place seeking votes for a particular candidate
Announcing intent to run for office to an organized group or in a public manner, including, but not limited to, flyer distribution or posting, social networking websites, mass e-mails, stumping, or electronic status messages, as interpreted by the Commission
Any activity, on the part of either a particular candidate or representative of a candidate, requesting the vote of a constituent, as interpreted by the Commission
Asking an organized group or non-campaign workers to review a candidate's platform or submit ideas to be included in a platform
Bribery of a candidate. Bribery of a candidate shall be defined as the promise or provision of money or any tangible incentive with the intent of a candidate removing themself from contention for the office they are declared for, or intentionally losing the campaign for the office.
Bribery of a voter. Bribery of a voter shall be defined as the promise or provision of money or any tangible incentive with the intent of soliciting a vote for a particular candidate.
Tampering shall be defined as intentional interference with the electoral process in such a way as to subvert the integrity of the process. Tampering includes watching a voter complete the voting process. Tampering also includes accessing in any way, directly or indirectly, elections returns before the full results are certified by the Elections Commission.
Over Spending. Spending more than the spending limit created in §5.4-8(11) exclusive of fines, or spending more than $39 in fines as created in §5.4-9(5)(2).
Candidates for Class President/Senator are limited to fifty (50) dollars or it's equivalent in goods and services based on fair market value
Candidates for Student Assembly President will be limited to four hundred (400) dollars or its equivalent in goods and services based on fair market value
Failure to submit financial disclosure statements by the deadline established by the Commission.
Intentional destruction of another candidate’s campaign materials. Destruction of another candidate’s campaign materials includes, but is not limited to, widespread destruction of another candidate’s flyers, and tampering with another candidate’s electronic campaign materials, such as a website or social networking group, as interpreted by the Commission. Erasing of campaign messages on chalkboards shall not be considered destruction of campaign materials
Class Three Sanction
Removal from the ballot and invalidation of candidacy
