Rules

1. A campaign is defined as any form of public communication used to elicit support for one’s own or another’s candidacy.
2. For the purposes of the Spring 2023 campaign period, ​both​ in-person and online campaigning will be allowed.
3. For the purposes of the Spring 2023 election, two lists of permitted and not-permitted actions are provided. Those include, but are not limited to, the following actions:
   1. Before Campaign Period
      1. Not Permitted
         1. Publicize campaign materials on social media or in-person
         2. Publicly announcing candidacy
      2. Permitted
         1. Create or purchase materials for your campaign.
         2. Gather a campaign committee which consists of campaign assistants.
         3. Write your campaign platform.
   2. During Campaign Period
      1.  Not Permitted:
         1. Using a student organization’s property and/or resources for your campaigning purposes without a written unanimous authorization from the executive board of that organization. That includes, but is not limited to the organization’s email, social media accounts, etc.
         2. Campaigning on an official class Facebook page.
         3. Utilizing a social media platform that has been created specifically for a course.
      2. Permitted
         1. Any digital communications to an individual or a group about your campaign that includes an opt-out option. Messages may not continue if the recipients choose to opt-out.
            1. Group chats, discord servers, etc. are forums that recipients can opt-out from, so using these platforms to campaign is allowed.
         2. Posting social media posts on your personal social media accounts.
         3. Campaigning in-person as long as the proper posting and chalking guidelines are followed
4. All candidates must fill out the candidacy form prior to the deadline (March 24th at noon) in order to be on the ballot, and no candidate may change their platform or photo after the deadline.
   1. In order to complete the candidacy form, candidates must first pass the Election Rules Quiz (link will soon be added), which can be retaken as many times as necessary until a candidate answers all of the questions correctly. Once the Election Rules Quiz is completed, candidates will automatically receive a link to the candidacy form, which also must be completed before the deadline.
5. Anyone assisting a candidate with his or her campaign must follow all campaign rules. The candidate is responsible for ensuring that campaign assistants are informed of campaign rules and responsible for any violations committed by campaign assistants.
6. There is a limit on the value of campaign materials of $100 for Presidential, $40 for Senate, and $40 for Class Council campaigns.
   1. These budgets cannot be combined for every race a candidate runs in. In other words, if the candidate is running for multiple positions, they shall not spend any more than the ceiling limit for the position with the highest spending limit.
      1. For example, if a candidate is simultaneously running for President and Senate, where the spending limits are $100 and $40, respectively, they cannot spend any more than $100. That is, they cannot combine spending limits for each position such that they have a total budget of $140).
   2. Moreover, any monetary or material contributions to a campaign (such as donations, gifts, or organization resources) will count towards the limit if used for campaigning. That is, for any contribution of some amount, the candidate’s budget will be decreased by the same amount.
7. Candidates may not utilize a student organization’s property and/or resources for their campaign purposes without unanimous written permission from the organization’s executive board. A candidate who is a member of a student organization’s executive board must still receive approval from the executive board if they want to use the organization’s resources for their campaign purposes. This includes, but is not limited to the following:
   1. Sending mass emails through a student organization’s email.
   2. Posting notifications and/or digital campaign materials through an organization’s social media.
8. Endorsements are the responsibility of the candidate and fraudulently using the image, likeness, or statement of others in the University community without their consent is subject to penalty.
   1. Student organizations can endorse candidates with the unanimous approval of the executive board.
9. Campaigners must follow the posting policies for all of the buildings and locations on campus.
10. Campaigners must follow the chalking policies when constructing campaign materials with chalk.
11. Campaigners may not remove or deface other candidates’ campaign materials. All campaign materials should follow the Meliora Values.
12. Campaigners may not harass other candidates, potential candidates, or voters. This includes, but is not limited to:
    1. Repeatedly attempting to convince another candidate to withdraw or not run
    2. Engaging in or encouraging derogatory conversations regarding another candidate
    3. Threatening another candidate in any way
    4. Posting offensive campaign materials directed at another campaign
    5. Violating posting policies or other rules while pretending to be another candidate
13. Candidates may not offer or accept any quid pro quo deal. This includes, but is not limited to:
    1. Offering a favor or service in return for support
    2. Offering another person a position in return for support
14. Candidates may not include any profanity in their campaign materials. Furthermore, in accordance with Article V of the Students’ Association Constitution, campaign materials must comply with the University of Rochester’s nondiscrimination policy.

Any questions regarding the legality of campaigning should be directed to the elections chair. Questions regarding the legality of campaign initiatives should be addressed before those initiatives are carried through.

Infractions

Violating these rules may result in an infraction. If you see campaigns that violate any of the above rules, please submit an elections violation report. For more information about infractions and the point penalty system, check out this breakdown.