The Associated Student Body will experience changes to its election process and position distribution after making several modifications to the ASB Constitution Bylaws on Monday, Feb. 27, according to Student Activities Director Matt Hall.
The changes made to the ASB Constitution include eliminating the use of home-baked foods in campaigns and removing two positions — School Site Council Representative and Publicity Commissioner. In addition, ASB will decrease the campaign spending limit from $100 to $80 and set specific numbers of “appointed positions.”
According to ASB President senior Uma Veerappan, these changes will take effect with this year’s ASB elections.
Hall said that these amendments were made to address efficiency and equality issues, citing state, county and district guidelines, fairness in elections, efficiency and allowing for ASB members to be able learn various roles. For instance, banning baked goods fit in with the state, county and district guidelines, and also insured more equality when candidates run for positions, since not everyone has the same resources.
In addition, Veerappan stated that some of the changes, like banning home-baked goods, were made to clarify existing rules not already in the ASB Constitution.
After the new elections, Hall said that the responsibilities of the removed positions of Council Representative and Publicity Commissioner, currently held by juniors Quinn Rockwell and Charlie Dulik respectively, will be divided among the remaining ASB representatives.
Hall added that ASB set specific numbers for certain positions: two Spirit Commissioners, two Sports Commissioners, two Social Commissioners, one Multicultural Representative and one Board Representative.
“There were no previous numbers in the Constitution, and sometimes we ended up with too many people per position,” Hall wrote to The Paly Voice in an email.
Both Hall and Veerappan hoped that these changes will help the ASB in the future.
“My personal opinion is that these changes are neither large nor small,” Hall wrote. “They are specific changes made for specific reasons. ASB’s hope is that these changes will be positive changes, leading to better elections and stronger student leadership councils.”
Veerappan echoed the sentiment.
“With the input of both the new officers and old officers, ASB feels that these changes will be most beneficial for the future of the ASB,” she said.
The ASB elections will be held from Wednesday, March 28 to Friday, March 30.