Students to Vote on Three ASG Constitutional Referendum Items

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During the Spring Senate Vacancy Elections, students can vote on proposed changes to the ASG Constitution. Voting begins on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 9 a.m. and concludes on Thursday, Feb. 7, at 4 p.m.

Students can vote at vote.uark.edu or pick up a paper ballot in the office of student activities, ARKU-A665. Legislation was drafted last semester and approved by the Senate in regards to the three ballot items. The following bills are on the ballot for student consideration:

The Graduate Congress Establishment Bill of 2012 – ASG Senate Bill 7
An amendment to establish the ASG Graduate Congress as a co-equal body within the legislative branch of Associated Student Government. This amendment allocates new seats to the Graduate Congress to increase graduate student membership within student government, as well as reallocates graduate student seats in the ASG Senate to undergraduates. The referendum also designates 4 percent of the ASG budget to the new Graduate Congress.

The Empty Senate Reform Act, ASG Senate Bill 11
For a proposed constitutional amendment to allow the chair of Senate to fill Senate vacancies through the appointment of a candidate who ran in a previous election.

The Ultimate Webmaster Act of 2012-2013, ASG Senate Bill 12
For a proposed constitutional amendment to reclassify the ASG webmaster as an employee of ASG upon application to office of student activities rather than as a special Senate office, to reflect the multi-branch demands of the webmaster role.

Full text of the legislation and details can be found at asg.uark.edu. “Voting in these upcoming elections comes with a responsibility to pay attention to what one is being asked to vote on and to make an informed decision on the issues,” said Debre Allen, ASG judicial chief justice.

Questions in regards to the referendum can be referred to ASG adviser Rudy Trejo at rgtrejo@uark.edu.