The Government of the Student Body approved a bill Wednesday that will alter election procedures.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Matthew Goodman, passed unanimously. It outlined changes to the rules in regard to nomination petitions and candidates.

Slates running for president and vice president must now have a petition signed by no less than 2,500 students.

Scott Vinson, former GSB chief of staff who proposed the change, up from 1,000 signatures, said requiring more names on the petitions will increase student awareness for elections and provide a mandate for those elected.

However, Sen. Alan Beck thought that number was too high. He proposed an amendment to lower it to 1,250 signatures.

“I think it’s a big negative if we increase the number of signatures required,” he said.

Sen. Stein Avloes disagreed, saying that raising the minimum number of signatures challenges the petitioner to be motivated about getting elected. He proposed a 1,750 minimum.

“It’s not that difficult. If you really want to get on the ballot you have to go out and work at it,” he said.

The Senate voted, 14-5, in favor of keeping the minimum at 2,500.

The bill also originally called for a majority vote by the outgoing Senate in the event of a tie.

Tricia Sandahl, newly elected All University Election Commission (AUEC) chairwoman, said that a tie-breaker should be resolved by a blind drawing or by flipping a coin.

“A tie means that two slates have equal support from the student body,” she said, stating that if the Senate broke the tie, it would not be representative of students’ opinions.

GSB President Dan Mangan agreed, but said a drawing would not be representative either.

“It would be a gross [mis]representation of the Senate to vote in the result of a tie,” he said. “The Senate is not the most powerful group. The power comes from the students, not the government.”

Beck and Goodman said the debate was moot because a tie will never occur.

After a failed motion to give the Senate the tie-breaking power, the bill was passed as is, meaning a tie will be broken by a blind drawing.