The office of the President of the United States of America, along with virtually every other office high up in government allows the institution of write-in candidates. For some reason, Jacksonville State University's Student Government does not allow this during the election of executive offices, while larger schools such as the University of Alabama allow write-in candidates at all levels. Here is the amendment:
Chapter 920.1 Write-in votes shall be permitted in any Student Government Association election; hence, a designated area on the electronic ballot must allow voters to be able to insert the name of their preferred candidate. Absentee votes shall not be allowed.
For some reason our Student Government insists that you must select from people who have already been in office for some time. That is wrong. I have been told the reason is to keep random people from being elected who have no business in office, but does that not go against the whole point of voting? If any Tom, Dick or Harry wants to run for office, he shouldn't be kept from running just because he hasn't already held political office. He should be allowed to run and potentially win. He may not have any business in office, but he has a right as a member of the SGA to run for ANY position. Your constitution clearly states that all students at JSU are members of the SGA. Prove it. Listen to the people. Allow write-ins.
We, the undersigned, believe that voter participation is key in any election, be it local, national or schoolwide. It is not the right to vote from a certain amount of people placed before us; its the right to vote, period. Barring anyone from eligibility of executive office is barring the students, members of the SGA, from expressing their freedom of speech. We feel that a write-in ballot is absolutely necessary to express that freedom in any and all SGA elections, especially executive offices. If an 18 year old high school student can be elected mayor of a moderately large town, then there is absolutely no reason why a relative unknown cannot be chosen by the voters as an Executive Officer.
Sincerely,
