This year, the ASSU elections commission is doing things differently from years past, and has managed to keep under budget, too. Changes to look out for:
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The elections commission is expanding public financing. According to the Elections website (found here: http://elections.stanford.edu/guide).
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More paper ballots will be used so that areas that don’t have computers can vote as well. In a nod to transparency, financial records, minutes and the voting site source code have all been made available. (http://elections.stanford.edu/records/)
Read about more changes after the jump.
Further Changes:
“Undergrad Senate candidates may be reimbursed up to $45 per candidate, and Class President slates may be reimbursed up to $70 per slate, for campaign related expenses, such as
-purchasing online ads (on Facebook, Google, etc.);
-printing flyers or making banners; or
-producing promotional videos,
-buying promotional items (clothing, reusable shopping bags, etc.),
-renting or buying equipment for campaign events,
-and if a link to their profile at voterguide.stanford.edu/theirname is included or mentioned.” (Quotes from Quinn Slack)
According to Quinn Slack, the Elections Commissioner, these changes will encourage candidates to innovate more, spend money more effectively, and most importantly, students will be better informed.
Finally, new graduate student social ‘events’ will increase the effectiveness of elections. The Elections Commission will subsidize some of the cost of events and allow students to manage events themselves, so the commission no longer has to worry about planning large events.