According to SG Statutes and last year’s Election Supervisor Lee Newman, these are the steps that still need to be taken to set up the elections for this year.

*Step One: * Approval of Boca Raton Student Senate* Must be approved by a 2/3 majority * Next scheduled meeting is Thursday, March 3

*Step Two: * Approval of Broward Student Senate * Must be approved by a 2/3 majority * Next scheduled meeting is Monday, March 14.

*Step Three: * Approval of MacArthur Student Senate * Must be approved by a 2/3 majority * Next scheduled meeting is Monday, March 14.

*Step Four: * Approval of Treasure Coast Student Senate * Must be approved by a 2/3 majority * Next scheduled meeting is at the end of March.

Step Five: * Ratified by Chief Justice * Chief Justice is also supposed to bring to the attention of the UWC any statute violations

Step Six: * Construct a timeline for elections which outlines important election dates* This must be approved by the University-Wide Council * Last year’s timeline was approved on Jan. 30, 2004

Step Seven: * Set up the Elections Commission * Comprised of five students, including at least one from Broward, Boca, and MacArthur/Treasure Coast to serve on elections commission * Students hired by Election Supervisor but must be approved by University-Wide Council * Next scheduled meeting is March 4* Last year’s Elections Commission was set up by the end of February

Step Eight: * League of Women Voters organization * Will count votes to help ensure a fair election * SG doesn’t have to use outside organization, but LOWV has been used for past 20 years * Last year, LOWV was contracted to work elections in November of 2003

Step Nine: * Students declare for office by filing for candidacy with elections commission * No specifics on when this has to happen or how long the time frame has to be to allow students to file for Candidacy * Last year, filing ended on March 5

Step Ten: * Debates * Candidates have the opportunity to debate, if the elections office chooses to have debates * Last year debates were held during the week of March 29

Step Eleven: * Voting April 5 and 6 * SG rules state that the first Tuesday and Wednesday of April is voting * Last year, elections were April 13 and 14

Step Twelve: * Final Exams * If election is postponed, it could interfere with final exams * Final exams are April 28 through May 4 this year

*Steps one through four do not have to happen in any specific order, but do have to happen before the election can proceed.

Last year’s Elections Supervisor Lee Newman doesn’t remember being approved by the campus senates or ratified by the Chief Justice. Newman also held a media relations meeting Feb. 12, 2004 for the student media to understand what the rules and regulations were for the election.