For the second time this semester, students will choose the next Student Government president and vice president.

Starting April 24, the student body will vote as part of a special election, one day after classes end. This is despite the fact that the Student Court ruled the special election is “unconstitutional” under SG statutes and suspended it indefinitely.

This follows the removal of President-elect Jacqueline LaBayne and Vice President Kyle MacDonald for violating campaign rules. Elections Board chair Douglas Speed called for a special election early last week after invalidating the previous February election. 

“I referred this student government matter back to the SG Election Board Chair, so that the Elections Chair could move forward in accordance with the Student Government Statutes,” King said via email. “Subsequently, I received an email from the Elections Chair stating that in order “to preserve the integrity and ensure the stability’ of Student Government, the Elections Chair was calling for a special election to take place beginning April 5. This matter is in the hands of Student Government.”

Student Court Chief Justice Isaiah Moriarity stands by the Court’s decision to suspend the special election. He added that the February election’s runner-up candidates Marianne Alex and Edward Perez should’ve been made Student Government’s head honchos instead of leaving it up to an “illegal” special election.

Candidates will spend the next few weeks campaigning until voting takes place April 24-25. Both LaBayne and Alex have announced their decision to run for a second time.

Check back with the University Press for updates.

*Benjamin Paley and Nate Nkumbu contributed to the reporting of this story.*

Kerri Covington is the editor in chief of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet her @kerri_marie23.