Recent election practices by the UBC Student Union Okanagan (UBCSUO) are being called into question, after students reported on-going concerns during the election process.

A petition signed by over 300 people is calling for a re-vote, after complaints were filed during the first day of voting in the UBCSUO election.

UBC Okanagan student Jaclyn Salter said on Wednesday, March 16th, the first day of voting, she noticed some major flaws in the electoral process. Several students received two ballots for a single person, while others did not receive any ballot for specific positions.

Voting was also held outside in the central courtyard of campus, leading some candidates to campaign just outside of the voting area. Salter said there was also no privacy while students cast their ballot, meaning no dividers were set up and there was no restriction to the number of students who could vote at one time.

Salter said she and several other students emailed the Chief Returning Officer (CRO), who is responsible for all aspects of the election, regarding the issues they witnessed on Wednesday. She received an email back stating “Your words have been received, documented, and steps have been made to alleviate your concerns with the process.”

“As far as I can tell, many of the problems were addressed on Thursday,” said Salter.

“However, that doesn’t make Wednesday’s vote any more legitimate.”

According to UBCSUO Union Regulations, a number of the complaints filed to the CRO violate their own constitution. Under “Elections and Referenda Regulations,” Part 4: Campaigns and Candidate Conduct, section 19 (iii) states “candidates may campaign by any means except not within the proximity of polling location.”

The regulations also states that “the voting place will be arranged in such a way as to allow the Members (students) to cast their ballots in secret.”

“If this is not addressed, the people elected this year will be illegitimate and will not represent the students of UBCO fairly,” Salter wrote on her petition.

After Wednesday and Thursday’s vote, the Presidential Race resulted in a tie, leading to a re-vote that will occur on Monday.

A statement shared on the UBCSUO Facebook page said the union will be launching a full investigation and inquiry and will issue an official response following the re-vote Monday.

The UBCO Administration has also stepped in to address the concerns. Students received a public noticed from Student Senator, Shira Sneg stating that “if the results were found to be corrupted, a revote would need to take place for every position, not just for that of the President."

A re-vote is exactly what Salter believes should happen. While she is encouraging students to sign her petition, UBCO students are also being asked to email their concerns to the Associate Vice-President of Students within the next few days explaining their experience during the voting.

“I’m grateful that the administration has been informed and are taking an interest. Having a neutral arbitrator will be really beneficial in negotiation what will hopefully be a re-vote.”

UBCSUO said the 2016 election was the highest voter turnout in years. The student union represents over 8,500 students.