Changes to the student election code were finalized and approved at the Associated Students Inc. board meeting on March 2.

Students running for ASI board positions will see an increase in the amount of money they can spend for their campaigns.

With the new code, executive office candidates may now spend up to $500, while board of director candidates may spend up to $250.

The old election code called for a cap on spending that limited candidates for executive office, like president and vice president, to $100. Candidates for a board of director position could spend $50.

However, candidates who run on the same slate will still not be able to combine their funds, something that ASI President Josh Wood wanted to see happen.

“I disagree with the board on not being able to combine funds, but overall this code is a lot better than the last one we had,” Wood said.

Other changes to the election code include no campaigning in computer labs.

Candidates will have until the Sunday after the election to remove their campaign promotional materials from campus.

Any ASI board members will not be able to submit a written or verbal declaration of running for office at board meetings.

These changes will go into effect with the upcoming April election.

It will also be Sacramento State’s first totally online election, held on the ASI Web site.

The board debated how to implement the online election, including where and how to set up online voting stations around campus.

Scott Baker, ASI information technology manager, spoke to the board about the feasibility of setting up computer polling stations around campus.

Baker said there were some concerns about having computer stations outdoors, mainly in getting power to them and the effectiveness of wireless Internet connections.

For example, Baker pointed out the areas near Mendocino and Placer halls as having fair to poor wireless Internet signals, while the University Union had excellent wireless signals all around.

These were all areas the board said it would look into setting up voting stations.Nicole Croly, director of education, said she had concerns over whether the wireless signal inside the Union is reliable enough to support online voting.

“It might be excellent, but people always come up to me saying they have a problem with wireless in the Union,” Croly said.

The board also considered the dining commons area near the residence halls as a possible location.

Wood and Shelby both said the board had agreed to attempt to set up at least four outdoor voting stations equipped with laptops.

The board shared concerns over possible theft of these laptops, whether they should be bolted down, and what to do in case of bad weather.

Regardless of whether laptop stations can be set up effectively, the entire election will still be held online, Wood said.

Greg Hyatt can be reached at [email protected]