As of Jan. 29, the AMS has been sending multiple e-mails to students relating to the Winter Referendum since the first e-mail was sent on Jan. 28 at 12:02 a.m.
While some students have received less e-mails if they’ve already voted, students who haven’t cast their ballot yet have continuously been sent reminders. It was discovered that the initial ballot contained an error, as it didn’t include an AMS Assembly approved plebiscite question on divestment.
READ MORE: Plebiscite question on divestment set to be placed on Winter Referendum
In a statement to The Journal, the AMS confirmed it was inadvertently omitted due to “human error.”
“The omission was identified shortly after the ballot was distributed. Once confirmed, the elections team acted promptly to determine the most transparent and fair course of action. To ensure all voters had the opportunity to weigh in on the missing plebiscite question, a corrected ballot was re-issued rather than proceeding with an incomplete referendum,” the AMS wrote.
The updated ballot was sent in the second e-mail to students at 10 a.m., on Jan. 28, with all subsequent e-mails linking the new ballot.
The AMS added that all of these additional e-mails were sent to ensure students who’d already voted were aware that the ballot was re-administered, adding the “Civic Affairs Office exhausted all efforts in accordance with AMS Elections and Referenda procedures, including the use of e-mail blasts, as done in previous years.”
“The additional ballot was distributed to ensure that all eligible voters received the corrected version containing the required plebiscite question,” the AMS wrote. “We recognize the importance of transparency and accountability in electoral processes and regret any confusion this may have caused. Safeguarding a fair and accessible referendum for all voters remains our priority.”
The AMS’s election reveal party will be held on Jan. 31, which will take place at The Queen’s Pub from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Corrections
A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the AMS election reveal party had been changed from Jan. 30 to Jan. 31. In fact, the results were always scheduled to be announced on Jan. 31 at the Queen’s Pub from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Incorrect information appeared in the Jan. 30 issue of The Queen’s Journal.
The Journal regrets the error
Tags
AMS elections, email, Simply Voting, Voting, winter referendum
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