Student Government Elections

The Student Government Elections is the annual process for members of the Marymount University student body elect their new President, Vice President, Secretary, Secretary of Public Affairs, Treasurer and Student Senators. Elections are held during the spring semester each year and administered by the Student Government Election Commissioner.

The Student Government Election Commissioners for 2024-2025 Election Cycle are:

• Nicholas Mariel: njm42244@marymount.edu
• Myiesha Jones: maj77430@marymount.edu

If you have questions about running for office, do not hesitate to reach out!

Eligibility Requirements

1. Members of the Marymount University Student Government Association shall serve a term of one academic year and be eligible to run for re-election.
2. A Senator may attain their seat by election to the Marymount University Student Government Association Senate or by appointment to the Marymount University Student Government Association Senate.
3. In order to be considered to be a member of the Marymount University Student Government Association and in order to be seated, a member must have a good academic standing and a good judicial standing as determined by the Director of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity and be enrolled at Marymount University.
4. Candidates must remain an undergraduate candidate, in good academic and judicial standing throughout their tenure in the Marymount University Student Government Association.
5. Marymount University Student Government Association members shall be elected for a one-year term by the majority of the electorate of the undergraduate Student Body for all Executive branch offices and by the top five candidates for the Senate for each class of the undergraduate Student Body.
6. To be eligible to serve as an elected official of the Marymount University Student Government Association, a student must:
   2. Have and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 or higher;
   3. Possess a thorough understanding of the duties of the office sought and a willingness to actively perform these duties;
   4. Be in good judicial standing as determined by the Director of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity;
   5. Have no egregious bias to serve in office, which shall be defined as:
      1. Executive Board:
         1. Membership of a student organization Executive Board, unless determined otherwise by the Marymount University Student Government Advisor.
            1. Executive Board Officers granted this permission must sign an Oath of Impartiality to renounce any biased actions.
            2. This permission may not be granted to the Marymount University Student Government Association President or Treasurer.
            3. This permission may be revoked by the Marymount University Student Government Advisor.
         2. Expressing excessive favoritism on multiple occasions.

• • Senate

1. • 1. 1. Expressing excessive favoritism on multiple occasions.
   •  Judiciary
     • 1. Expressing excessive favoritism on multiple occasions.

7. Any member of the Marymount University Student Government Association who meets the requirements stated above may run for the position of Marymount University Student Government Association Vice President or Secretary.
8. Students who choose to run for the position of Marymount University Student Government President must meet the requirements stated above and have served either as a member of the Marymount University Student Government Association for at least one semester .
9. Students who choose to run for the position of Marymount University Student Government Treasurer must meet the requirements stated above and have served as either a member of the Marymount University Student Government Association for at least one semester or, have served as a student organization treasurer for at least one full academic year.

Election Procedure

1. The Marymount University Student Government Association shall fill its roles by one of three means: Election, Appointment or Special Election. All candidates must meet the requirements stated above for the position they are seeking.
2. Either a graduating senior senator or a senator who has announced their intention not to run for re-election (at which point they will become ineligible for re-election), or a member of the Judiciary Branch, who has announced their intention to not seek a post in the Executive or Legislative Branches or who is a graduating senior, to serve as Marymount University Student Government Association Election Commissioner.
3. The Marymount University Student Government Association shall hold elections on an Annual Basis in order to fill the roles of the Executive and Legislative Branches.
   1. Elections for the Executive Branch and for the Senate, with the exception of the Incoming Freshmen class, shall be held in the Spring Semester. Dates will be set by the Election Commissioner in coordination with the Marymount University Student Government Association Advisor.
   2. The Freshmen Senators shall be elected in the Fall Semester. Dates will be set by the Chief Justice in coordination with the Marymount University Student Government Association Advisor.
4. Elections will be supervised by the Marymount University Student Government Association Advisor and the Election Commissioner.
5. The Election Commissioner shall also determine, with the Marymount University Student Government Association advisor, the dates for campaigning, Meet the Candidates, the due date for petitions, and voting dates.
6. Candidates running for the Executive Cabinet or Student Government Senate must submit an Intent-to-Run form and a biography or platform statement to the Marymount University Student Government Association advisor.
7. The Marymount University Student Government Association advisor will check that all candidates are in good academic and judicial standing. Candidates will receive an email informing them if they are eligible or ineligible to run for a position on Marymount University Student Government Association prior to the approved campaign dates.
8. Candidates will be listed in alphabetical order by the legal last and first name on file with the University Registrar. Candidates can email the Student Government in order to have their “common usage” name placed in quotes next to their legal name.
9. A Write-in-Ballot line shall appear on every candidate based election ballot. In order to qualify as a Write-in candidate to win the election, the candidate must receive at least 10% of the vote from the electorate of the chosen seat the candidate is being written in for or and then have the largest number of votes in said election or be within the top five of the Senate candidates in vote getting. The candidate must also qualify under Eligibility requirements set out for the seat they are seeking. If the Write-in Candidate passes all necessary requirements then they shall be offered to accept or decline the election.
10. The Election Commissioner will host a “Meet the Candidates” session prior to the General Election providing candidates the opportunity to address student voters. Structured debates may be held for contested positions at the Executive Cabinet level at the discretion of the Marymount University Student Government Association advisor and the Election Commissioner. Any candidate who cannot attend may designate a proxy to speak on his or her behalf at the candidate’s forum; a proxy is not authorized to participate in debates and the candidate must provide a written explanation in regard to their absence. The candidate is responsible for the statements and actions of the proxy and the proxy must meet with the Marymount University Student Government Association advisor beforehand.
11. Expense reports will be due on the night of Meet the Candidates.
12. The Election Commissioner will document any allegations of violations of election regulations. In case of serious violations, the Election Commissioner shall be responsible for bringing charges on behalf of the Association, unless another running candidate does so, within 24 hours of the close of balloting. The Marymount University Student Government Association advisor and Election Commissioner will investigate and adjudicate any alleged violations and impose appropriate sanctions. Sanctions will be certified by the Dean of Student Services.
13. Barring a contention or violation, those individuals shall send the results to the Dean of Student Services for final certification. The Advisor shall have the power to disqualify or sanction candidates who violate the election regulations. The decisions of the Advisor are final, pending certification by the Dean for Student Services. Candidates will be made aware of the outcome of elections within two business days of the polls closing.
14. All newly elected officials must attend the Inauguration.
15. Referendums are the way the Marymount University Student Government Association place issues before the undergraduate student body in order for them to vote for their approval or defeat. Referendums shall be held upon the approval of the Senate. They shall be held on a date set out in the resolution the Senate votes on approving the referendum. In order to hold a referendum it must pass the Senate by a two-thirds (2/3) vote and be signed by the President. The referendum campaign shall last no less than one week and no longer than four weeks. The Election Commissioner shall oversee the campaign. The Student Government Association shall hold at least one public meeting that is advertised at least 2 days in advance of the event to discuss the referendum. In order for the referendum to pass at least fifteen (15) percent of the undergraduate student body must vote in the Election and at least fifty-five (55) percent must vote in favor for the referendum to be passed.
16. Initiatives are a way for the undergraduate student body to pass the Senate in order to institute a new resolution or amendment for the Marymount University Student Government Association. Initiatives shall be considered valid if they are deemed to be within Marymount University Policy to be enforced by either the Student Government Association Advisor, the Dean of Student Services, or Vice-President of Student Affairs and after validation of the signatures of 25% of the Student Body. Upon the approval of the Initiative the Student Government Association Advisor will inform the Student Government Association and that Initiative has been called and the Initiative campaign shall last no less than one (1) week and no longer than four (4) weeks. The Chief Justice shall oversee the campaign as acting-Elections Commissioner, in the event the Chief Justice is unwilling the Senate shall elect a member of the Senate to serve as acting-Elections Commissioner. The Student Government Association shall hold at least one public meeting that is advertised at least 2 days in advance of the event to discuss the Initiative. In order for the Initiative to pass at least twenty-five percent of the undergraduate student body must vote in the Election and at least fifty-five percent must vote in favor for the Initiative to be passed.

Campaign Procedure

1. Marymount University Student Government Association will provide $25 dollars maximum toward printing costs for candidates publicity.
2. Candidates are required to submit all receipts of purchased goods totaling no more than a maximum of $110. These receipts are to be submitted with the Elections Expenses.
3. Each candidate poster will be clearly numbered and approved by the Election Commissioner.
4. Posters may be no larger than 8 ½” by 11” with a limit of 50 per candidate.
5. Candidates who choose to run as a “ticket” may combine their allotted number of posters to campaign as a unit (100 posters).
   1. A ticket may include any combination of candidates for the Executive Branch but may not include any more than one candidate for each position.
6. Any posters that are found to be damaged or vandalized must be returned to the Election Commissioner.
7. Candidates are limited to 2 large banners, no larger than 3’ by 5’.
8. Candidates may not use “tabletops” or “tents” as publicity.
9. Chalking of any kind is strictly banned on Marymount University Grounds for campaign purposes.
10. Candidates are not allowed to use the Marymount University Student Government Association Office or any Marymount University Student Government Association resources for any campaign related activities.
11. The use of the Internet or other electronic means is authorized.
12. Candidates may only send campaign related emails that were expressly solicited from an interested party.
13. Electronic campaigning, to include Web sites and social networking sites (facebook.com groups, etc.) is authorized.
14. Any other means of campaigning not explicitly defined or mentioned in this document must be discussed and cleared by the Election Commissioner prior to executing.
15. Failure to comply may result in disqualification from the election.

Vacancies/ Special Appointments

1. The Marymount University Student Government Association shall fill all vacancies of the Judiciary Branch by a nomination from the President on the advice and consent of the Marymount University Student Government Association Senate.

1. 1. Advice and Consent shall be considered as a debate and two-thirds ) vote of the Senate.
2. The Marymount University Student Government Association shall fill all vacancies of the Executive Branch that occur after the General Election during the Academic Term but not after Spring Break by a Special Election to be held no more than four weeks after the vacancy is announced during a meeting of the Senate, with the dates for the election to be set by the Chief Justice in coordination with the Marymount University Student Government Association Advisor.
3. The Marymount University Student Government Association shall fill all vacancies of the Marymount University Student Government Association Senate with a Senate Special Appointment.
4. 1. Any vacancy that occurs after a General Election during the Academic Team but not after Spring Break for Non-Freshmen Senators or after the Fall Elections for Freshmen Senators may be filled by any full time degree seeking student in good academic standing, even though they may hold another academic class rank. Candidates must be nominated by a member of the Marymount University Student Government Association Senate after submitting their names to the Marymount University Student Government Association Advisor for judicial and academic approval and must pass with a two-thirds vote during a full body meeting of the Senate.
   2. Any vacancies should be declared during a Senate Session and be posted by the Secretary so all Students have the ability to be notified of a vacancy.