The York Federation of Students holds elections every year to choose executives to represent York’s undergraduate students, implement campaigns, and manage the union’s finances.
A anonomous group called “E-Vote Now” has started a petition on change.org to implement e-voting systems for the next student election, a petition holding 120 signatures to date.
Members of E-Vote now will be appearing at the YFS meeting in September, as soon as the time and location is revealed.
“The YFS has a history of being awful at advertising these meetings,” says Eduardo Rodriguez, media spokesperson now studying at Ryerson.
[su_quote]“Each year the CRO recommends paper ballot for the following year, even with the extremely low voter turnout. So it’s obviously up to the students to implement e-vote, which is why we have come together to fight for e-vote now.”[/su_quote]
Excalibur asked if this coalition is in fact anti-YFS.
“The word ‘anti’ suggests we are against the YFS,” he says. “When in fact we care about our union and our students. Our goal is to make our union better and more equitable by improving accessibility with a more sustainable system, which is establishing an electronic voting system for future YFS elections.”
The YFS has allegedly not responded to their requests.
“Daniel Paterson, the newly elected Glendon director, has been the only YFS board of directors member who has acknowledged us, and we would love to get the rest of the board members to listen to our concerns too. We are critical of the YFS, but not against.”
Members of E-Vote Now correspond with members of Reform YFS and are supportive of their cause.
“But our goal is establishing the electronic voting system, and only that,” says Rodriguez.
“E-Vote Now is a multi-partisan movement,” he says. “Our members all have some ties to the major Canadian political parties, federal and provincial, from the NDP, to the Liberals, and the Conservatives.”
Some aren’t politically involved either, but participate in student politics, or just want to see a more democratic election process for the YFS.
Excalibur asked how members of this coalition will be any better or transparent, if elected into the student union.
“We are not a slate, and have no current or future plans to participate in next year’s YFS elections.”
Even if they did, they would probably be disqualified for running early, says Rodriguez.
[su_quote]“The YFS election by-laws are vague, and have been twisted by CROs in the past, who uphold the by-laws strictly.”[/su_quote]
Moreover, the coalition remains filled with anonymous members because the YFS has allegedly ignored their questions as individuals.
“We are a movement and we want students to focus on the movement, not just one individual person or face,” says Rodriguez.
Representatives of the York Federation of Students were unavailable for comment at the time of publication.
Ryan Moore, News Editor
*demands transparency from YFS*
*remains anonymous*
lewlz
Should stick with Elections Canada rules imo, paper ballots. And voting is open for a whole week during YFS elections – that’s more than enough time for students who care enough to cast their vote.
^ i think their remaining anonymous because YFS isn’t exactly the friendliest student union in town. They maintain loyalty through fear and intimidation. imo, e-vote needs to happen ASAP. there are way too many errors every single year, and given the time elections have traditionally been in the past (a week before reading week aka busiest time of the year for students), most students won’t be on campus/won’t care enough to vote. online voting makes it easier.
lewlz.