By RaeAnne Alexander and Lewis Bruce
A student government presidential candidate was disqualified, according to documents obtained by Kaleidoscope.
Presidential candidate Eshan Pokhrel was notified of the decision and the existence of a complaint via an email from Elections Manager Neha Moolchandani on February 29. The email was obtained by Kaleidoscope.
According to a document attached to an email sent by Moolchandani, the USGA Elections Commission met on February 21 and decided with a 4-0 vote that Pokhrel violated three election regulation codes. The Commission described those violated codes as the following:
- 606.10: “No candidate may make malicious or false statements, written or verbal, about another candidate. A candidate may not intentionally interfere with the campaign of another candidate in any way…”
- 606.11: “VOTER FRAUD: Any candidate who commits voter fraud will be subject to sanctions, including disqualification, determined by the Election Commission. Voter fraud is defined as offering or paying money, promising gifts in exchange for votes, causing otherwise eligible voters from voting, electronic voting fraud, or making false statements to election officials.”
- 606.1: “Arranging talks to student organizations that will occur at their meetings during the campaign period; however, no open distribution of campaign literature shall be allowed.”*
*According to the Code of Laws, the full 606.1 law is as follows: Certain general preparations for the Election are permitted prior to the beginning of formal campaigning. […] 3. Arranging talks to student organizations that will occur at their meetings during the campaign period; however, no open distribution of campaign literature shall be allowed.
The complaint, which was obtained by Kaleidoscope from a USGA member, was filed on February 14. The complaint alleges Pokhrel met with RSOs and “150 people” in advance of the election campaign starting on February 19.
The two election laws the complainant suggested that Pokhrel violated include “(1) Has started meeting with organizations and telling RSOs they’d receive more funding with him and his administration in charge, effectively campaigning before approval to run and (2) Didn’t submit the Intent to Run form (checklist/confirmation form) on Engage.”
“I took meetings with club sports to understand how we can improve them and benefit them positively,” said Pokhrel, in a statement to Kaleidoscope. “Like, ‘How can I work with you guys?’ That’s all the conversations were.”
Pokhrel also denied offering money in exchange for votes. “Going on the debate stage and saying that ‘I will work with the Vice President of Finance to find a way to maximize our budget in a way that helps our students’… That never promised anybody anything. That never bought anybody’s vote,” said Pokhrel.
Kaleidoscope emailed the Elections Commission to verify information about Pokhrel’s disqualification multiple times since February 29.
Kaleidoscope obtained the decision timeline in an attachment to a draft email from Moolchandani addressed to USGA members and a staff adviser on how to respond to Kaleidoscope’s inquiries. The draft email was also sent to Kaleidoscope leadership. Kaleidoscope received a formal follow-up email from Attorney General Isabella Campos.
“The Election Commission is not at liberty to share documents or information regarding Eshan Pokhrel’s candidate status,” Campos wrote in the email to Kaleidoscope. “Currently, it is a private matter.”
“I fully believe I have been the subject of an unfree, unfair election,” said Pokhrel.
Pokhrel filed an appeal on February 29. At press time, Kaleidoscope has not been informed of an appeal hearing date. Pokhrel is permitted to continue campaigning ahead of the hearing. The election will begin at 8 a.m. March 5.
