The Student Government Judiciary Committee failed a proposal Sunday to remove language in SG codes stating remote online voting is unconstitutional.
The proposed revision, presented by Sen. Zachariah Chou (Infinity, Independent), would have altered the 700 codes, which currently state online voting is unconstitutional. After about 40 minutes of debate, the committee failed the proposal, citing that the UF Supreme Court deemed online voting unconstitutional in 2006.
In the Spring 2016 SG elections, an amendment to implement online voting passed with more than 68 percent of votes in favor of it, according to Alligator archives.
In Summer, the Supreme Court overturned four amendments, including online voting, made to the UF SG Constitution since 2008 on the basis that abstention votes weren’t correctly considered, according to archives.
Chou said changing the codes wouldn’t affect the Spring election but would help make online voting a possibility.
Judiciary Chairman Trevor Schaettle (District A, Impact) said the proposal was preemptive be- cause students will once again vote on an online voting amendment in Spring elections. He said the committee has to follow Supreme Court rulings.
“Personally, I think we have to hear from the students first,” Schaettle said.
Chou said he doesn’t think students will be motivated to vote in the election, which he said isn’t as competitive.
Chou said the internet and technology has changed since the 2006 Supreme Court ruling, which makes the issue worth revisiting.
He presented the revision be- cause one of his campaign promises was to support online voting, Chou said. He now plans to gather support for the amendment, he said.
“I felt like I had to do something, because I did make this promise to advocate for online voting,” Chou said. “I knew going into the room the chances were not great.”
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