FAMU Supreme Court addresses voting role accountability for FAMU spring elections
By Ciera Campbell, FAMU Intern Writer
The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University 45th student senate held their first senate meeting post spring elections, in the Grand Ballroom on Monday, Feb. 22, 2016.
Students elected Justin Bruno and Devin Harrison to be their 2016-2017 Student Government Association President and Vice-Present. However, Chief Justice Tawn TybaTakeli announced to the gallery and student Senate that the Supreme Court will be investigating appeals submitted by their opponents Victor Crispin and Pernell Mitchell, II in regards to the College of Law precinct.
“There was a question of validity of the ballots based on the voter role, delivery and accountability methods from the College of Law,” Takeli said at the senate meeting.
“By the end of this week we will have a consensus on the validity of the ballots.”
The appeals accused Ashanti Jones, Student Bar Association president at the FAMU College of Law, of failing to abide by the election codes while acting in the capacity of precinct supervisor. Jones was accused of not complying with chapter 602.2 which says “Each voting student must sign his/her name within the designated signature column for each specified Election Day.”
Electoral Commissioner Anthony Cooper released a memorandum with supporting evidence of the appeal’s claims to the Supreme Court.
“All precincts under our supervision on the main-campus followed this procedure. We also sent them the Election code with the expectation that it would be read. Upon reading the Election Code those agreed to be responsible for the College of Law precinct should have ensured protocol was followed,” Cooper said.
With this infraction, if it is proven to be true, the statutes deem that voting must take place again.
“If a precinct supervisor is in violation of the election code the supreme court has the authority to declare a special or new election or require that the Electoral Commission(er) receive no salary,” statutes said.
Chanelle Glover, former Deputy Electoral Commissioner urges that the Supreme Court abide by the election code and require for a new election to occur.
“It is only fair that a new election occurs. It is clear with the evidence that the College of Law did violate student body documents,” Glover stated.
The Student senate meets every Monday at 6 p.m. for more information regarding judicial branch, reports follow @famu_judicialbranch on Instagram
