The USA Elections Board temporarily suspended general representative candidate Vikas Sundar’s campaign Tuesday morning.
Sundar, a second-year statistics and data science student, is running to be one of three general representatives who will be elected via a multimember, ranked-choice voting system. Voting for general representative, as well as other Undergraduate Students Association Council offices, opened May 10 and will continue until Friday.
According to an anonymous complaint to the board, Sundar allegedly solicited votes in an Olympic Hall lounge Saturday. The complainant also reported having heard reports of Sundar campaigning in other lounges in residential buildings Monday. Elections code prohibits campaigning on the Hill and in all areas under the jurisdiction of UCLA Residential Life.
The board concluded that Sundar had campaigned in residential areas. The board also found that he proceeded with campaign efforts in restricted areas despite having been warned by other candidates for office that such campaigning is prohibited. In addition, the board said it had reason to believe that Sundar may have been campaigning in the presence of people voting, which constitutes coercion – another violation of the elections code.
The board mandated that Sundar and his affiliates cease campaigning until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.
Voting is open to undergraduates on MyUCLA until 2 p.m. Friday. Results will be announced by the elections board the same day at 8 p.m.
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