A vice-presidential (student issues) candidate in this year’s Carleton University Students’ Association election was dropped from the ballot after, what he said, was a misunderstanding with the elections office.
Adey Almohsen, a third-year political science and religion major running independently for the position, said he e-mailed and messaged chief electoral officer Sagal Osman on Facebook, Feb. 7, asking, if he would receive reimbursement for his campaign costs should he drop out of the race.
After he did not receive a response he said he called the elections office Feb. 8, where he spoke with deputy returning officer Matt Dick, who instructed him to e-mail his query to the elections office.
Almohsen said he was later called into the elections office, Feb. 8, by Osman and told his question was taken to mean he was withdrawing his candidacy and that his name had not been put on the ballots, which have already been sent off to be printed.
Osman confirmed that Almohsen’s name will not appear on the ballot, but could not comment further at the time.
He said his next step is to appeal to the electoral board.
For now, Almohsen said he was told he is still allowed to campaign, but as it stands, voters will not have the option to vote for him.