THE UNAVAILABILITY of the electronic voting system has forced the Faculty of Arts and Letters Commission on Elections (AB Comelec) to postpone the student council special polls.
The Artlets Student Council (ABSC) special elections, which were originally scheduled for Aug. 23 to 28 have been moved to Sept. 13 to 18. The filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for three vacant positions will also be extended.
In a resolution dated Aug. 18, the AB Comelec said the UST Office for Student Affairs had released a letter addressed to the ABSC regarding the postponement of the polls.
“Whereas, the letter states the postponement of the Special Elections for the Academic Year 2021-2022 due to fortuitous event i.e, ‘unavailability of Electronic Voting System (EnVoSys) during the dates of the elections and health concern’,” the resolution read.
In a separate resolution, the poll body said it would also open the filing of COC for the vacant positions of president, vice president-external, and auditor on Aug. 23.
Given the schedule adjustments, the AB Comelec said extending the filing of COC’s should be done “to administer more candidates to run for office and ensure that the true will of the electorate is upheld within the Artlets community.”
Details on the submission of the required documents will be announced in a separate resolution.
AB Comelec announced on Monday the official list of candidates who have filed their COC last Aug. 13.
So far, two Artlets have signified their intention to seek posts in the student council. Political science sophomore Denzelle Jude Caro is seeking the ABSC presidency as an independent candidate while Frances Leisa Buensuceso, a legal management junior, is running for auditor under DEKADA.
The new deadline for the filing of deficiencies will be on Aug. 26, while the campaign period will be on Aug. 27, 28, and 31. Candidates will no longer be allowed to conduct campaigns from Sept. 1 to 11.
The canvassing of votes will be held on Sept. 18. F – Matthew Dave A. Jucom
