Another SG Election, Another Fight Over Online Voting

Tommy Jardon, a law student running on the independent Orange & Blue Party, is taking on the familiar reformist/GDI cause of online voting (and expanding student participation in SG more generally). He is opposed by Senate President Kevin Reilly who is running on the pathetically transparent and overused Gator Party ticket; Reilly is backed by Florida Blue Key and much of the SG establishment.

I am actually very impressed with the lengthy O&B platform. Some of the ideas – cut wasteful spending, streamline SG, online voting – are well worn tracts within the historic GDI movement. But others – an official travel day for thanksgiving, a bicyclist’s bill of rights, etc. – are very much new and original ideas, ones I don’t think I’ve ever heard on an SG platform before, for either party.

Can’t speak to what the Gator Party supports, but I bet it’s the usual mix of grace for academic mistakes, support for Gainesville “night life”, longer hours at a study hall or library, etc.

My only real complaint about this election from where I stand as a UF alumnus in Virginia is that the fight for online voting (which began in 2001) is still going on, with a recent Court decision blocking it for fear of voter coercision – never mind that there are or easily could be penalties, fines, and UF administrative actions that can be taken to deter any enterprising student from trying that.

I don’t know this GDI crowd, but their originality in their agenda is quite impressive and deserving of a second look by any undecided UF voter. And maybe, just maybe, UF will see a surprise in Thursday’s Alligator coverage of the election results.