Court should not legislate: BOE should not have been given more power

UNC's Student Supreme Court was wrong to legislate from the bench to extend the power of the Board of Elections — Student Congress should be the body responsible for legislation" not the Supreme Court.

On Jan. 14" the court gave new meaning to the board's duty to ""administer all laws governing elections.""

In its opinion" the court determined that the board has the implicit power to interpret Student Code as well as directly regulate elections.

Given the board's incompetent handling of this year's election the board should absolutely not be given any more power. The board has consistently acted as if it is above the law — violating both state law and the Student Code.

In its ruling the court deemed it impractical for either the court or Student Congress to interpret election law given the slow process of litigation and legislation.

While the Code grants the elections board power to administer election law it does not grant it the authority to interpret laws.

Rather the Code mandates that the Board of Elections recommend any necessary legislation changes to congress.

The board is not authorized to issue regulations. And for good reason — its attempts at regulation during this election cycle have been inconsistent and arbitrary.

If anything the board should be given less power. Congress should force the board to be more transparent and establish a committee proficient in state law and the Student Code responsible for overseeing the operations of the board.

The Code is quite clear—Congress legislates election laws not the court or the board.

Given the Code's clear provisions and the board's mishandling of this year's election the court should have refrained from extending the election board's authority.