A petition presented by Act on Campus President Peter McCaffrey challenging the validity of last month’s VUWSA by-election has drawn absolutely no response from the Returning Officer Mark Maguire.
The petition calls for a formal inquiry to take place regarding three points of contention.
It contends the electronic ballots used in the election were unconstitutional, two different ballot papers were used, and there were inadequate security measures in place for paper voting.
According to VUWSA’s constitution, an independent review committee will be required to consider the points raised in the petition.
Of particular interest was the total number of ballots cast, the split between online and on paper and the number of “no confidence” votes where the option should not have been offered.
Despite having over a week to deal with the requests and recieving numerous calls, notes, voicemails and visits, Macguire has failed to provide Salient or McCaffrey with the information.
Macguire referred Salient’s inquiries to the disbanded Election Committee headed by former VUWSA President Jeremy Greenbrook-Held.
Greenbrook-Held advised Macguire to release the information to Salient, but so far he has failed to do so.
VUWSA President Jasmine Freemantle refused to comment on the election. She too directed all inquires to the election committee.
Maguire refused to comment on whether a review committee had been set up.
Salient let out a loud, audible groan wondering who on earth knows what’s going on two flights downstairs.