An update to the Fall 2023 Elections Period: VP University and College Affairs Candidate Moeez Khawar, has been removed by the Elections Committee from the Fall By-Elections as the Candidate has received three infractions.
Infraction 1: Unauthorized Promotion
The Candidate hung a large 4-foot banner on the second floor of the Student Centre without receiving permission from the Elections Committee. This banner was hung the evening of Friday, October 6th and stayed in place until Tuesday, October 10th, when it could be removed by TCSA staff. The duration of the banner being up and lack of approval to hang said banner contributed to this infraction.
Additionally, the Candidate purchased an Instagram advertisement promoting their campaign. This advertisement and the content within it were not approved by the Elections Committee prior to being purchased and posted. This paid promotion was determined to have provided an unfair advantage to the candidate.
Rationale:
iv) All publicity materials must be approved by a representative of the Elections Committee and must bear a symbol of the Association prior to being mass produced;
vii) Other forms of online campaigning are permitted but are subject to the additional following conditions: • All forms of social media campaigning must be pre-approved by a representative of the Elections Committee prior to being posted online.
Infraction 2: Campaigning in Non-Designated Areas
On October 11th at 5:30 pm in The Ceilie, a non-registered representative of the Candidate’s campaign team was distributing the candidate’s campaign materials (business cards). The Ceilie is an unauthorized area for Election promotion. Candidates are responsible for the conduct of their campaign team members during the election period.
Rationale:
4. No materials can be posted in the Céilie or Chartwells spaces.
Candidates are responsible for the conduct of their campaign team members at all times.
Campaign team members found not abiding by elections regulations will be subject to disciplinary action.
Infraction 3: Unregistered Campaign Team Member Promotion
The Candidate did not meet the deadline for registering campaign team members. Despite this, the Candidate had a representative promoting campaign materials in the Ceilie on the Candidate’s behalf. This unregistered campaigning violates the election guidelines expressed to the candidates by the Elections Committee. Failure to meet the deadline for registration and, nonetheless, having representatives promote the candidate is not permissible.
Rationale:
Campaign Team Campaign team members are defined as individuals who solicit for, or assist, a candidate in any way with respect to elections. Campaign team members must be identified to the Elections Committee prior to the start of the campaigning period. Candidates are responsible for the conduct of their campaign team members at all times. Campaign team members found not abiding by elections regulations will be subject to disciplinary action.
i) All campaign staff members and all members of a referendum ‘yes’ or ‘no’ committee must be registered with the Elections Committee and must sign their respective code of conduct, separate from the code of conduct provided to candidates.
As outlined in the Association’s Elections Operating Resolution, “If a candidate or committee has accumulated a total of three (3) infractions, the Elections Committee has the power to remove them from the election process. “ The 2023 Elections Committee has unanimously decided to move forward on disqualifying the Candidate from the election. The Candidate has demonstrated a blatant disregard for campaigning rules with multiple infractions that have granted them an advantage over other candidates. All candidates were informed of the rules through an All Candidates Meeting and in the Election’s Handbook Document.
Respectfully submitted,
Wendy Walker
Lead Electoral Officer
On Behalf of the Elections Committee
