Greg HyattState Hornet

Associated Students Inc. President Josh Wood will introduce legislation at today’s ASI board meeting to reform the election code.Wood said the main change proposed will be to bring the code back to how it worked in the past.”Candidates would be allowed to combine funds, combine ad campaigns, and return to using slate names instead of colors,” Wood said.The reform proposal is a response to legislation passed on March 3, 2004, proposed by then- President Peter Ucovich, to restrict ASI candidates from activities like combining spending limits and also campaigning under one logo.Those changes to the election code faced opposition and controversy among the ASI board.

Some members claimed such rules, like outlawing logos, violated the first amendment right of free speech.

Nicki Croly, director of education, invites the election code changes.Croly said one of her goals this semester is to get the Election Code Commission “up and going.” She will chair the commission.

“That, of course, requires that more students will take an interest in reforming the election code (i.e. guidelines and rules),” Croly said. “I know many students, myself included,-would like to see it change, so here is an opportunity to step up and have their voice heard. We’ll see if anyone does so.”

Angel Barajas, ASI executive vice president, also says reforming the election code is a worthy goal, specifically the amount of funds that can be used for campaign financing.

“There have been a lot of difficulties in financing because of budgets that are too low,” Barajas said.

Barajas said increasing the amount of funds that candidates are able to use for campaigns would help to promote their message and image on campus.”I would like to see moving the finances up so we’re not scrambling for resources,” Barajas said.

James Shelby II, vice president of finance, is also in support of reform. Shelby said too much of the code is vague and should not be up for interpretation.”It’s too general. It needs to be specific,” Shelby said.

The ASI board will only engage in initial discussions about the election code on Wednesday and will not yet vote on it.