2008 Woodie Awards
Brown appeals conviction going into runoff election
Elections Commission gave four infraction points, limit campaigning
Liz Segrist
Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: News
Alesha Brown will meet with the Constitutional Commission tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. in the hopes of appealing her conviction of election fraud.
Brown was charged with election fraud Monday for raffling off a cell phone using "Vote Brown for President" raffle tickets.
David Ensor, a third-year political science and math student, said she violated election code 410.05, which prohibits "procuring, by the payment, delivery or promise of money or other article of value, another to vote for or against any particular candidate or measure at any election."
The Elections Committee ruled that Brown should receive four infraction points and she wasn't allowed to campaign on Greene Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or in residence halls on Tuesday.
Brown said her punishment of not being able to campaign might have hurt the outcome of the elections.
"We were penalized, and we can't make up for the fact that some of our voters were discouraged from voting for us since we were not allowed to have a campaign presence on the final day of voting," said Brown in a prepared statement.
Brown said she feels that the violation just wasn't right.
"I feel like we were handicapped by the Elections Commission, I feel like it was unfair, but we're just going to press on and work on to make sure we win the runoff," Brown said.
Ensor said he thinks the Elections Commission made a good decision because it seemed there was a violation.
"If she ends up with more than a warning and less than a disqualification, then that's OK with me," Ensor said.
Elections Commissioner Amanda Byrum, a second-year English and pre-law student said, "it has not been discussed" if the points against Brown have been dropped or not.
"I believe that she's appealing the decision of fraud and sanctions," Bynum said. "I believe that she's appealing both."
Ensor said he thinks Brown should have the right to campaign this week.
"It's an entirely new election. I think they're on equal footing now," Ensor said. "It's an entirely different vote."
However, Ensor said he doesn't see anything coming from this appeal except for "wiggle room" in the runoffs.
"I don't really know what she hopes to get out of this appeal unless she wants to do something more illegal," Ensor said.
Brown said she appeals with the idea of "needing to move forward."
Brown was charged with election fraud Monday for raffling off a cell phone using "Vote Brown for President" raffle tickets.
David Ensor, a third-year political science and math student, said she violated election code 410.05, which prohibits "procuring, by the payment, delivery or promise of money or other article of value, another to vote for or against any particular candidate or measure at any election."
The Elections Committee ruled that Brown should receive four infraction points and she wasn't allowed to campaign on Greene Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or in residence halls on Tuesday.
Brown said her punishment of not being able to campaign might have hurt the outcome of the elections.
"We were penalized, and we can't make up for the fact that some of our voters were discouraged from voting for us since we were not allowed to have a campaign presence on the final day of voting," said Brown in a prepared statement.
Brown said she feels that the violation just wasn't right.
"I feel like we were handicapped by the Elections Commission, I feel like it was unfair, but we're just going to press on and work on to make sure we win the runoff," Brown said.
Ensor said he thinks the Elections Commission made a good decision because it seemed there was a violation.
"If she ends up with more than a warning and less than a disqualification, then that's OK with me," Ensor said.
Elections Commissioner Amanda Byrum, a second-year English and pre-law student said, "it has not been discussed" if the points against Brown have been dropped or not.
"I believe that she's appealing the decision of fraud and sanctions," Bynum said. "I believe that she's appealing both."
Ensor said he thinks Brown should have the right to campaign this week.
"It's an entirely new election. I think they're on equal footing now," Ensor said. "It's an entirely different vote."
However, Ensor said he doesn't see anything coming from this appeal except for "wiggle room" in the runoffs.
"I don't really know what she hopes to get out of this appeal unless she wants to do something more illegal," Ensor said.
Brown said she appeals with the idea of "needing to move forward."
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 18
cheater
posted 2/20/08 @ 3:49 PM EST
Ensor is right, all Alesha wants to do is cheat some more. THere are no other canidates that have cheated like Alesha has and I believe she should be punished. (Continued…)
browncheater
posted 2/20/08 @ 4:29 PM EST
Wow Alesha cheated again? Big surprise. Remember last year when she cheated, got caught yet still won treasurer on the THIRD special election? She'll just contest whatever the results are next week if she doesn't like the result. (Continued…)
A Rationalist
posted 2/20/08 @ 7:17 PM EST
So how exactly is dragging out the past in line with "the idea of 'needing to move forward.'"? Call me crazy but I can't seem to follow Alesha's logic there. (Continued…)
Another rationalist.
posted 2/20/08 @ 7:22 PM EST
>>"I feel like we were handicapped by the Elections Commission, I feel like it was unfair, but we're just going to press on and work on to make sure we win the runoff," Brown said. (Continued…)
ALESHA SUPPORTER
posted 2/20/08 @ 9:09 PM EST
If you knew anything you would know that alesha is doing this to make sure the next person that comes along doesn't have to go through the same crap. I'm not going to argue with you. (Continued…)
Not Fit For Office
posted 2/20/08 @ 10:27 PM EST
I don't think Alesha purposely broke the election rules. But whether or not it was an accident isn't the issue; ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it. (Continued…)
Billfred
posted 2/20/08 @ 11:53 PM EST
I copy this from a blog post on the topic:
"The Elections Committee ruled that Brown should receive four infraction points and she wasn't allowed to campaign on Greene Street from 10 a. (Continued…)
pointless arguments
posted 2/21/08 @ 1:38 AM EST
Why are we even bothering to still have this election (at least for SG President)? No matter the will of the student body, Alesha will be our president. (Continued…)
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