Report - Khimji 2concluded that USC Social Science President Candidate Adam Khimji has violated...

KatherineCarrasco ChiefReturningOfficer cro@westernusc.ca

WesternUniversity UniversityCommunity Centre,RM318C

EGCDECISIONJanuary22nd,2018Afterconductingadiligentandthoroughreview,theElectionsGovernanceCommitteehasconcludedthatUSCSocialSciencePresidentCandidateAdamKhimjihasviolatedsection11.7ofBy-Law#2.Thisviolationoccurredinaphotopostedonthecandidate’s‘Snapchat’.Priortotheofficialstartofthecampaigningperiod,Khimjialludedtohiscandidacythroughthephotoanditscorrespondingcaption.Consequently,theEGChassanctionedthecandidateswithone(1)demeritpointforthisviolation.Thefullreportisattached.For further inquiries, please contact Katherine Carrasco, chief returning officer atcro@westernusc.ca.

2017/2018ElectionsGovernanceCommittee(EGC)Candidate(s)underreview:USCSocialSciencePresidentCandidateAdamKhimjiDeliberations:January21st,2017Present:CRO,DRO,J.A.,B.E.,A.L.,P.S.,S.M.1.0 Allegation(s)

(1) OnFriday, January19th,USCSocialSciencePresidentCandidateAdamKhimjiposteda“Snapchat,”inwhichheimpliedhiscandidacy.Thisactionoccurredpriortotheofficialstartofthecampaigningperiod,whichbeginsat12:01AMonJanuary22nd,2018.

2.0 ViolationunderBy-Law#2

(1) Section11.7Candidatesandprospectivecandidatesarenotpermitted to influenceorattempt to influence voters prior to the campaign period, including, for example,through thepostingofmaterialdesignedand/or likely to influencevoters.Candidatesandprospectivecandidatesmayengageinactivitiesrelatedtoplanningacampaignorassemblingacampaignteamandmayanswerquestionsfromthemediawithregardtoelectionplans.

3.0 InvestigativeActionTakenbyViolationsCommittee

(1) Severalcommitteemembersexaminedtheevidenceinquestiontodeterminenotonlythevalidityof theallegationbutalso theseverityof the infractions.Through this, thecommitteewasabletodeterminetheseactionswarrantedaviolation.

(2) USC Social Science President Candidate AdamKhimjiwas requested to come in for ahearing on January 21st in order to follow up with the allegation. The candidatesubmittedtothehearing.

4.0 TheEGC’sFindingsTheEGCdeterminedthat theactionofannouncingcandidacyprior totheofficialstartof thecampaigning period is in fact a violationof Section 11.7. The EGCholds that the candidate’sshowcasedsignificantnegligenceasitdisregardedSection11.7ofBy-Law#2.Additionally,theCROhademailed the candidateprior to the violationansweringhisquestions regardingpre-campaigningrulesoversocialmedia,furtherdemonstratingknowledgeoftheBy-Law.TheEGCwasunabletodeterminethescopeoftheviolation.However,asthecandidatedidnotdirectlyengage students or reachout individually to discuss his candidacy, the EGC considers this tohaveaminorinfluenceonthepotentialvoters.

5.0 DecisionIncommitteequorum,theEGCagreedwithsimplemajoritythatthisviolationbeclassifiedasamajorviolation,carryingthepenaltyofone(1)demeritpoint.Approvedforrelease____________________________KatherineCarrascoChiefReturningOfficer,USCElectionsGovernanceCommittee,Chair

EXHIBITSExhibit1:

Exhibit2: