LSU Senate Passes Resolution, Election Bills
The Student Senate voted on a resolution on Board of Supervisors' authority over student government and several campaign election rules.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Legislative Policy
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The LSU Student Senate passed Student Government Resolution 4 by a 50-1 vote with two abstentions, asking the LSU Board of Supervisors to refrain from directing internal student government affairs. The Senate also passed three campaign-related bills and failed a fourth on campaign election rules.
Why it matters
The resolution responds to the Board of Supervisors overturning ranked-choice voting in student government elections. Bills and resolutions passed by the Senate will now go to Student Body President Ben Barousse for approval, and a veto would return them to senators for another vote.
Resolution 4 passed 50-1 with two abstentions, while SGB 21 failed 29-19-3 after needing a two-thirds majority. Whether Student Body President Ben Barousse will approve or veto the measures has not yet been reported.
The players
LSU Student Senate
The LSU Student Senate is the legislative body of Louisiana State University's student government, responsible for passing resolutions and bills governing student elections and affairs.
LSU Board of Supervisors
The LSU Board of Supervisors is the governing board of the Louisiana State University system, with authority over university policy and oversight of student government matters.
Ben Barousse
Ben Barousse is the LSU Student Body President, whose approval is required before Senate-passed bills and resolutions take effect.
The details
Resolution 4 was approved by the Senate's Rules Committee the week before the vote and was prompted by the Board of Supervisors' decision to overturn ranked-choice voting in SG elections. SGB 20 reduces the total expenditure limit for registered tickets, SGB 18 apportions campaign expenditure limits between the general election and runoff, and SGB 19 counts votes cast for withdrawn or disqualified candidates in the general election majority. SGB 21, which would have barred candidates from distributing food and drink, failed.
Timeline
Last week: Rules Committee approved Student Government Resolution 4.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Student Senate passed the resolution and bills and failed SGB 21.
Legislative Context
The Senate's resolution is a direct response to the Board of Supervisors overturning ranked-choice voting in LSU student government elections. The Senate's action asserts student-level authority over internal election rules, setting up a dispute over which body controls campaign procedures.
Students running for Student Government will be subject to the new expenditure limits and rules on distributing food and drink if the measures are approved. Votes cast for withdrawn or disqualified candidates will count toward general election majorities under SGB 19.
The takeaway
Student government election rules are being shaped by both the Board of Supervisors and the Student Senate, and campaign candidates should track which measures receive the student body president's approval.
Further reading
For more on how local lawmaking shapes civic life, explore Legislative Policy coverage from Baton Rouge.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Reveille.
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