Members of MSU's College Democrats and College Republicans issued a joint statement Monday requesting that ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, re-evaluate its new election code.
But ASMSU's new code was finalized Friday.
Last year, almost 40 candidates were disqualified from ASMSU elections when the two college groups released unapproved candidate endorsements in fliers, postcards and e-mails.
The old code said campaign materials such as fliers had to be approved by the elections committee. The government began clarifying the code in the summer, Student Assembly chairperson Missy Kushlak said.
Members of MSU's College Democrats attended several steering committee meetings, where the new code was discussed.
"We voiced our concerns throughout the entire process, and it just seems they were disregarded," College Democrats Vice President Heather Ricketts said.
The new code states campaign material no longer has to be approved by the elections committee. Instead, organizations must receive written permission to endorse candidates from the candidates themselves, then present the document to the elections committee. Endorsements cannot be sent out over organization listservs.
Additionally, in order to be nominated by petition, candidates must now collect 30 signatures from their constituents, rather than 15.
Kushlak said the change was made because ASMSU didn't want student organizations to form slates - lists of endorsed candidates that are often partisan.
"We wanted to make sure they were voting for the undergraduate student government of MSU, not for one specific cause," she said. "We're not going to send out the elections police - action would only be taken if a concern was bought before the committee."
But members of MSU's College Democrats and College Republicans say the code limits their freedom of speech. They said they should be able to post material without the approval of the elections committee.
"We want to make sure that ASMSU is not putting out unnecessary oversight on student organizations," College Republicans Vice Chair Tim Phelps said. "Our involvement in elections increases student turnout."
Kushlak said the committee would mainly address concerns brought forward by the candidates themselves.
"I'm not, as (Student Assembly) chair, going to go down and rip off fliers I see," she said.
The elections process this year begins Wednesday, when any undergraduate student can pick up application materials in the ASMSU Business Office in Room 307 of Student Services. Students have until March 7 to apply.
For more information, contact the organization at (517) 355-8266.
