With the Student Government Association elections coming to an end, students and other members of the university community have taken note of the absence of a write-in option on the election ballot and have met it with mixed feelings.
The ballot this year changed from past years with a missing write-in option because of a new ballot redesign. Rather than a list of names and a check box, the new ballot had pictures of the candidates and the option to check a box. Aaron Bock, chief justice for the SGA, said that the addition of a write-in option would only make the ballot look confusing.
"We wanted to make it an easy ballot," Bock said.
Bock went on to say that when the ballot was made through www.survey.vt.edu, the write-in option was consciously not included.
However, Billy Brubaker, chief justice of the undergraduate honor system, and wa junior civil engineering major, said that when he called the SGA office to address the issue after he saw the ballot, the person he spoke to said that it was a mistake and it was simply an oversight. Brubaker paraphrased what the person told him, saying it was an "honest mistake."
In addition, Bock claimed that he and the co-chief justice authorized this amendment to the ballot, which must be done according to the SGA's constitution. If this requirement wasn't met prior to the elections the election would be considered fraudulent.
Nevertheless, Brubaker stated that when he had called the SGA no one was available to speak and no one knew what the policy was. He also said there were no copies of the constitution in the office for reference.
"I've tried to get in contact with their chief justice and nobody had access to a current constitution," Brubaker said.
Brubaker said that he was told there are only four people in the SGA who have access to the constitution, and those four people only have it on their personal computers. These include the chief justice, the associate chief justice, and the speakers of the house and senate.
Bock said traditionally this space on the ballot is reserved for "Mickey Mouse" or some other joke and that the elimination of this space would allow for a more effective election. Also, it would allow for someone who went through the process to be elected to win the election.
"This was more accurate," Bock said. "To win you have to get petitions signed and go through a specific process."
Students so far have met this with opposing thoughts.
"I think it's better if they have the write-in because it allows for us to give our opinions," said Qi Li, a junior computer engineering major.
Alexander Rawlef, a sophomore political studies and history major, is also disappointed in the omission.
"I'm just so upset," he said. "It seems like it is just a crooked scheme to keep whoever they want in there."
However, Sarah Saville, a senior interdisciplinary studies major, said that those who want to run should do it properly.
"I'm assuming there was a reason and that if someone was committed enough to run, they will follow the proper process," she said.
Furthermore, one student, Heidi Kleiner a junior interdisciplinary studies major, had no opinion at all.
"It doesn't make a difference to me," she said.
SGA elections ended last night at 11:59 p.m. Results will be announced on Tuesday.