Violations
Violations to SGA elections policy will be posted here as they are investigated by the Elections Board and made public pursuant to Section 01-0107 Section B.3c of the KSU SGA Elections Code.
To report a suspected violation, please file a complaint form. You may need to sign in to your K-State OrgCentral account for the link to work properly. If you would like to appeal the decision of the Elections Board, please contact the Student Tribunal Chancellor.
2026 Elections Violations:
Complaint 26-01:
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Suspected Violator(s): |
Lauren Wolter and Matt Hendricks |
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Suspected Violation: |
While participating in the SGA Higher Education Day at the Capitol as SGA Legislative Advocates, these individuals captured content used on their official campaign Instagram account (@wolter_hendricks). Also, the SGA Communications Director, Cappi Hoeting, used her role to capture this content for campaign purposes with a camera potentially provided to SGA or a Student Programs and Involvement camera. These photos are also being housed within the “Higher Ed Day” SGA Google Drive Folder. This was posted on their campaign Instagram around 9 AM on 2/5/2026. |
| Elections Code: | KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 B3: "Refusing to hide campaign material in Student Governing Association offices or at official Student Governing Association events."
KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 D9: "Utilizing Student Government Association and/or Student Programs and Involvement resources for campaign purposes." |
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Complaint Filed By: |
Carson Rudd |
| Hearing: |
Monday, Feb. 9th, 2026 at 8:30 PM K-State Student Union Room 202 |
| Determination: | Not in violation |
| Ruling: |
Regarding KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 B3, the Elections Board declined to review this specific violation. The Elections Board did not find any campaign materials present.
Regarding KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 D9, the photos were determined not to be Student Governing Association resources for the purposes of Elections Regulations Code (ERC) 0106.D9. The exact definition of "resource" is an important point of contention as it is referring to resources of the Student Governing Association or Office of Student Programs and Involvement. The definitions in ERC 0102.B are not applicable, as they refer exclusively to campaign materials. The elections board has decided to use an intentionalist interpretation of this statute, as a textualist approach would result in a violation every time candidates utilize photos from any Student Governing Association event. ERC 0106.D9 was written in response to a campaign printing campaign materials utilizing the SPI printer. The meaning of "resource" in this context would extend to the camera, except the camera belongs neither to the Student Governing Association nor SPI. With this in mind, the elections board determined no violation occurred.
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Complaint 26-02:
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Suspected Violator(s): |
Christian Pena & Caden Bastian |
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Suspected Violation: |
On January 18, 2026, members of the Pena Bastian campaign posted on social media (BeReal) wearing campaign merchandise and soliciting votes in the comments prior to the campaign season officially beginning. This conduct constitutes a violation of SGA Election Code 01-0106(a), which prohibits posting on social media prior to 8:00 a.m. on the first day of the Spring Semester. The screenshots were taken on January 19 in the afternoon; the BeReal post itself was published the previous evening at approximately 9:56 p.m. on January 18. Additionally, internal campaign members are visible wearing campaign shirts that had been distributed prior to 8:00 a.m. on January 20, which aligns with a violation of SGA Election Code 01-0106(b) prohibiting the distribution or display of campaign material before the designated start time. Furthermore, the comment shown in the screenshot explicitly solicits votes, directly violating SGA Election Code 01-0106(c), which prohibits soliciting prior to 8:00 a.m. on the first day of the Spring Semester. |
| Elections Code: |
KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 C1: "Engaging in any of the following activities prior to 8:00 a.m. on the first day of the Spring Semester: a) Posting on social media b) Distributing or displaying campaign material c) Soliciting" |
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Complaint Filed By: |
Ashlee Kelley |
| Hearing: |
Declined to review |
| Determination: |
Given this suspected violation occurred on Jan. 18th, and the screenshots were taken Jan. 19th, and it was reported Feb. 9th, this is not a valid violation, and the hearing for this violation is cancelled.
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| Ruling: |
KSU SGA Statutes 01-0107B1: "Suspected violations must be reported within 24 hours of discovery."
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Complaint 26-03:
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Suspected Violator(s): |
Lauren Wolters and Matt Hendricks |
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Suspected Violation: |
Campaign flyers associated with the Wolter Hendricks campaign were left unattended at a College of Education Ambassadors meeting (2/9/2026 at 7 pm in Bluemont 109), rather than being distributed directly through person-to-person engagement. The materials were placed in a manner that constitutes indiscriminate distribution and does not align with the required campaign practices outlined in the election code. This action violates the standards for proper campaign material distribution and undermines fair campaigning expectations. |
| Elections Code: |
KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 B2: "Improperly distributing material: |
| Complaint Filed by: | Ellie Keegan |
| Determination: |
Declined to review |
| Ruling: |
The report alleged that campaign materials were left unattended during a student organization meeting. The evidence supplied with the report consists of a photograph depicting a campaign flyer placed on a table.
The image does not demonstrate unattended, indiscriminate, or non-person-to-person distribution, nor does it substantiate the alleged conduct described in the report.
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Complaint 26-04:
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Suspected Violator(s): |
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Suspected Violation: |
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| Elections Code: |
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| Hearing: |
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| Determination: | |
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