Associated Students of the University of Washington Bothell

Report a Violation

Complaints and Violations

Complaint Form| Campaign Violation and Complaint Policy | Election Complaints

Complaint Form

If you believe someone has violated an election related policy or procedure, as outlined in the Elections Policy and Procedures Packet, please submit a Complaint Form. All complaints must be submitted through that form.

If you have inquiries about submitting a complaint, or following up on a submitted complaint, please contact the Elections Committee Chair. Do not submit complaints via email.

Campaign Violation and Complaint Policy

Below is the relevant section from the Elections Policies and Procedures Packet to complaints and violations.

Complaints about Election Packet Violations

  1. The ability, reason, and the methods for filing a complaint must be advertised on the ballot.
  2. The filer of a complaint is designated the “complainant.” The alleged violator is the “respondent.”
  3. Complaint Forms are available online, and the last date and time to submit are stated in the schedule.
  4. The Complainant is responsible for providing substantial evidence of a violation. The Elections Committee will not investigate without evidence.
  5. The Elections Committee will hold a hearing with the respondent and all parties involved. The Elections Committee will then make a decision about the consequence or remedy of the violation, and the decision is at the sole discretion of the Elections Committee.
  6. The consequence or remedy will be chosen in consideration of the nature and impact of the violation.
  7. The Elections Committee will email the complainant and respondent with their decision. If the complainant wishes to appeal the decision, they will have 2 business days to submit a request to the Elections Committee.
  8. The Elections Committee reserves the right to issue cease-and-desist letters to any candidate who they believe is in violation of rules during any part of the elections. If the candidate does not comply their candidacy may be terminated.
  9. The elections committee chair may issue a cease-and-desist letter without consulting the committee if the violation is time-sensitive. The Elections Committee will then be called for an emergency meeting to discuss the matter.

Violations

  1. Violations include but are not limited to those listed in this packet. The Elections Committee reserves the right to impose other penalties for violations.
  2. The Elections Committee will evaluate violation severity on a tier system, with three categories impacting candidates’ participation in ASUWB elections.
    1. Minor Violations Stage: Loss of campaigning privileges.
    2. Moderate Violations Stage: Loss of campaigning rights and removal of all campaign materials.
    3. Major Violations Stage: Subject to disqualification by the Elections Committee.
    4. Any candidate or campaign manager who receives more than one violation in a single stage will automatically have that violation and any additional violations assigned to the severity level above that stage. For example, two minor violations would result in a moderate violation, and two moderate violations would result in a major violation.
  3. The Elections Committee reserves the right to issue cease-and-desist letters to any candidate who they believe is in violation of the Elections Packet during any part of the Elections. The Elections Committee Chair may also issue a cease-and-desist without consulting the Elections Committee if the violation is time sensitive.

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