Former Mighty Oregon vice presidential candidate Austin Palacios lead the charge for elections reform at tonight’s ASUO senate meeting.

“Elections season has proven time and time again that the focus we have on the way we go about student government is wrong.” Palacios said. “However, to let the bad weigh us down is a mistake.”

Palacios wants to shift the focus of student government from the shadow of elections to the services that the ASUO provides with its $15 million budget.

“What we need is reformation of a historical election season to insure the future of student voices with integrity,” Palacios said.

Palacios charged the ASUO to abide by its mission statement to provide for the social, cultural, educational and physical development of its members, and for the advancement of their individual and collective interests both within and without the university.

Many echoed Palacios’ sentiments. Senator Miles Sisk created a working group on elections reform at the meeting. The group will discuss suggestions made by Senator Elect Andrew Lubash at last week’s ASUO senate meeting. The suggestions include instituting an automatic runoff election, similar to the elections at Oregon State University.

ASUO External Vice President Greg Mills also raised concerns about this elections season.

“This year in this elections cycle we did take a hit to student autonomy,” Mills said.

The hit that Mills referred to is administration stepping into election, making changes to the ballot and elections date.

During the meeting Senator Marita Maffit nominated fellow senator Taylor Allison to be on the Board of Trustees interviewing committee. The committee will search for a replacement for ASUO President Sam Dotters-Katz on the University of Oregon Board of Trustees.

No money was spent during tonight’s 43 minutes ASUO senate meeting.