Elections 2026: USF Disqualified, Voting lines reopened for Masters and YIF batches

On Wednesday, 6th May, the Ashoka University Election Commission (AUEC) sent out an email detailing violations of the Election Code by the United Students Front (USF) and disqualifying all candidates contesting under their banner. The AUEC statement alleged that USF had continued to put out campaign-related materials well into the silence period  (which began at noon on 5th May), in direct violation of Section 7.2 of the Student Government Election Code.  Meanwhile, in the early hours of Saturday, 9th May, the AUEC sent out a second email informing the student body of a “procedural update” and reopening voting lines for both YIF and the Late Graduating cohort. 

Beginning with the disqualification of USF, the official statement from the AUEC stated that the violation had been escalated through multiple levels of intervention as per Schedule 1 of the Election Code, beginning with Level One, which included a warning to comply with the silence period code of conduct. However, campaign posters remained on display, prompting the AUEC to issue a Level Two ruling, which directed USF candidates to remove materials and issue a public apology. The email notes that while posters were removed, and the collective engaged in private communication with the AUEC, a public apology was not issued. This “partial but insufficient compliance,” among other reasons, forced the AUEC to take a “unanimous decision” to classify USF’s conduct as a Level 3 violation and disqualify the collective from contesting in the Ashoka University Student Government (AUSG) Elections 2026–27.

Below is the timeline of events surrounding the USF disqualification*: 

May 5 2026	5:43 AM	AUEC issues detailed guidelines on the Election Silence Period to all candidates, campaign collectives, and the student body.
	12:00 PM	Silence Period Begins
	2:08 PM	EC receives a complaint about the continued display of USF campaign materials during the silence period
	4:16 PM	AUEC issues a general advisory reiterating the requirement to remove all campaign materials.
May 5-6 2026		Independent verification by the Commission confirms continued display of campaign materials at multiple points.
May 6th, 2026	~ 11:20 AM	USF Campaign Material (Posters) continue to be displayed well into the silence period, as verified by the AUEC. AUEC issues a Level 2 ruling, directing the removal of materials and a public apology by 1:00 PM.
	12:55 PM	USF Campaign/Contestants submit clarification to AUEC pertaining to the rules violation.
	1:02 PM	AUEC responds to the USF clarification.
		EC extends the deadline for compliance till 1:20 PM, for a fair compliance opportunity.
	After 1:20 PM	No Public Apology is issued; AUEC only receives a private communication
	2:16 PM & 2:30 PM	AUEC issues a Level 3 violation of the Electoral Code to USF & announces the disqualification of all USF candidates from the Electoral Cycle
	3:02 PM	AUEC declares Elections (AY 26-27) open, post delay for deliberations over USF violations
	3:04 PM	USF issues a public apology to the student body via email for breaching Section 7.2 of the Electoral Code, pertaining to the public display of campaign materials

* Note: The Edict has reconstructed and expanded the timeline beyond what was shared in the AUEC’s email for the sake of clarity and convenience. 

The AUEC statement concluded by reiterating their commitment to a “fair, impartial, and credible electoral process” and reminding all parties involved in the violation that they retained the right to appeal the commission’s decision. Shortly after the AUEC released its statement, USF addressed a separate statement to the student body over email. The statement was a formal apology for the violation, calling it a “lapse” on their part, and assuring the student body of their continued cooperation with the AUEC. The statement also promised the release of a “more detailed clarification” in the near future. However, no new public apology has been issued by the USF at the time of publication.

The AUEC officially declared voting for the 2026-27 elections open at 3:02 pm on Wednesday, May 6th, with approximately 3 hours of delay caused by deliberations on the violation by USF. 

Voting was scheduled to close at 3 pm on Friday, 8th May. The AUEC sent out an email thanking voters and scheduling the announcement of results for 3 pm on May 9th. At 3:45 a.m., however, 12 hours before results were due, the AUEC sent out a second email. As per the statement, quorum requirements for the campus-wide positions of Presidential and General Secretary had been miscalculated due to a failure to account for the YIF and Late Graduating cohorts. The AUEC accepted full responsibility for the lapse, but held firm to the principle that “no eligible member of the student body is denied the right to vote”, thus reopening the election for the concerned cohorts in its capacity as the “sole interpreter and guarantor of the Constitution of the AUSG.” 

Voting for YIF and Late Graduates is scheduled to close at 8:30 pm today, Monday, May 10th, and the AUEC is set to declare results by 10:30 pm tonight. 

[Edited by Anamta Husain]