Student Council Voting Records
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We, the student of the University of Virginia, wish to express our displeasure at Student Council's recent decision to reject a bill that would have established a system for keeping each Representative's voting record. We further wish to urge Council to reconsider their decision. Accountability is fundamental to democracy, and you, our elected officials, have voted to keep Council opaque and unaccountable. Worse yet, you irresponsibly did so with no debate on the bill.
As things stand, the only way for the students to know how a Representative voted is if one-fifth of the Representatives motion for a roll-call vote, an action which according to Council's Executive Vice President happens "very rarely." You cannot purport to represent us if we have no means through which to evaluate and then comment on that representation. That avenue does not currently exist.
By asking for voting records, we are not making an unreasonable request. In fact, we are asking for Council to follow the most basic precept of governance. No other democratically elected body shuts out its constituents in this way. If changing the system requires a bit of effort, so be it -- Council serves the students, not its own interests. Protecting yourself from criticism is an illegitimate reason to reject accountability.
Council must reconsider and reverse its decision on voting records.
As things stand, the only way for the students to know how a Representative voted is if one-fifth of the Representatives motion for a roll-call vote, an action which according to Council's Executive Vice President happens "very rarely." You cannot purport to represent us if we have no means through which to evaluate and then comment on that representation. That avenue does not currently exist.
By asking for voting records, we are not making an unreasonable request. In fact, we are asking for Council to follow the most basic precept of governance. No other democratically elected body shuts out its constituents in this way. If changing the system requires a bit of effort, so be it -- Council serves the students, not its own interests. Protecting yourself from criticism is an illegitimate reason to reject accountability.
Council must reconsider and reverse its decision on voting records.
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