In 2005, Undergraduate Student Government presidential candidate Mahmoud Ablan used a balloon-adorned charter bus during his campaign for the now-defunct student government.
Students running in the elections to the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA), however, are limited to spending $600. Donations are also factored into this amount. The spending cap for candidates last year was also $600.
A clause in the UPUA election code, ratified in late January, requires candidates to add the value of campaign donations to their budgets. UPUA presidential candidates are required to report all spending to the elections commission.
According to the clause, if a candidate receives campaigning materials -- like T-shirts and fliers -- for free, the materials' market value will be subtracted from the allotted $600.
UPUA elections will be held March 26.
"It's basically everything that has monetary value must be accounted for in some capacity," Head Elections Commissioner Jon Lozano (senior-political science) said.
In addition, students who campaign without registering with a candidate's official campaign could incur fines for the candidate unless it is proved to the elections commission that there is no affiliation with the candidate.
"If ... it's not feasible at all to logically come up with the idea that the person had anything to do with the candidates, it's not the fault of the candidate," Lozano said. "But if it is believed that the person was affiliated in some way, although not registered, then that candidate would be fined accordingly."
Former 2006 presidential candidate Jay Bundy -- who, after being declared the winner, was disqualified for spending $34.06 more than he was allowed to -- said he was unfairly targeted when unregistered students distributed campaign materials to support him.
Ricardo Torres (senior-energy, business and finance), who came in third place in last year's elections, said candidates too often focus on merely spending enough money.
"We spend a lot of money really fast," he said. In order to avoid confusion with campaign materials, candidates can register a specific color with their campaign, to be used on T-shirts, fliers, and other campaign materials. Candidates can also incur violations if they release information about their candidacy before all the candidates' names are released, which is scheduled to occur at 5 p.m. Friday.
