After receiving two electoral violations leading to a disqualification, which was later overturned, “A Better Rez” was declared the winner of the Rideau River Residence Association (RRRA) re-election March 28.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manal Demaghlatrous confirmed “A Better Rez” president-elect Kaisha Thompson, vice president (administration)-elect Omar Bainto and vice president (programming)-elect Dorothy Anuseh are the incoming RRRA executive.

“A Better Rez” won with 307 votes, followed by “Your Rez, Your Vote” with 230, “W.A.Y. (We Are You)” with 228 and “RRRA-ning For You” with 87, Demaghlatrous said.

“I feel amazing, I feel rewarded, I feel like all is right,” Thompson said,  with tears running down her face.

The second election was called after “A Better Rez” was disqualified after Demaghlatrous issued two violations March 15, the polling day of the first election.

The first disqualification came after a campaign volunteer and scrutineer carried a ballot box from the polling station to the counting room.The second disqualification was for a supporter harassing the CEO.

RRRA’s constitutional board overturned Demaghlatrous’ decision March 18 after it concluded a poll clerk was partly at fault for giving the scrutineer permission.

The slate called a lawyer and threatened legal action against the electoral board and RRRA if the disqualification was not repealed.

Demaghlatrous said this time around, she had all poll clerks sign a contract to ensure rules would be followed and ensure the election remained “uncompromised.”

“We made sure we followed the rules exactly,” Bainto said.

The re-election went off without a hitch, Demaghlatrous said.

But, the second election was a nuisance to some residence students.

“It was kind of annoying, because they made a big deal out of the first one, and they got everyone to vote, and it was the same people winning, so it was kind of pointless,” said first-year political science student Valerie Hinson.

RESULTS:

“A Better Rez” —307
“Your Rez, Your Vote” — 230
“W.A.Y.” ­— 228
“RRRA-ning for You” — 87

— source: Manal Demaghlatrous