Students who are unhappy with the "conservative coalition" in the Undergraduate Student Government Senate will have the opportunity to express their disappointment at the ballot box in March, when a new batch of senators will be selected.

But the current regime is doing all it can to make it difficult for outsiders to win senate seats. Senate has rewritten its own election laws, making significant changes from previous years. Changes include a shorter campaign time, a lower spending cap for candidates, more lenient rules for fliers and fewer places to vote.

This poses a burden for aspiring senators who have not yet gained name recognition. Students will only have a little over one and a half weeks to become familiar with the candidates and their platforms. Last year, candidates had two and a half weeks to spread their messages.

Sam Spencer, elections commissioner, was correct when he said that this year's candidates will have difficulty reaching large organizations because the shorter time frame minimizes opportunities for the candidates' exposure.

The new spending restrictions — $100 for senate and $450 for the executive ticket, down from $800 last year — might make it easier for more people to run. They, however, will also make it difficult for newcomers to gain enough name recognition to win.

Even worse are the lax rules for fliers. Flier violations are now non-existent, meaning that candidates are free to post on top of other candidates' fliers without penalty. It is an invitation for dirty political maneuvering. Also, since senate candidates have a $100 spending cap, they will have little recourse if the fliers they budgeted for are obscured.

Finally, the decrease in polling stations is unfair. There were 13 places on campus for students to vote last year, but this year, students who wish to vote in person will all have to go to the HUB-Robeson Center. This could decrease the number of students who will vote, especially if they arrive at the HUB and face long lines.

Last week, Town Sen. Jason Covener said elections were an imposition on students. One could argue that he and the rest of the "conservative coalition" are afraid it will be the other way around.

The elections code changes are not official yet. USG President Justin Zartman or the USG Supreme Court can still overturn them, although the senate could veto Zartman's rejection by a two-thirds majority.

Students should hope that the planned changes are undone before March. If they do go through, however — which seems likely — students should be vigilant. A shorter campaign time, lower spending caps, a lack of postering rules and fewer places to vote might make it harder to choose new candidates, but it will not make it impossible.