Voters will have the opportunity to allow Student Government to change the wording of the Student Body Constitution by voting to pass the referendum today and tomorrow.

If the referendum is passed, which can happen only if two-thirds of voting students vote in support of it, Student Government plans to update and change the Constitution, which hasn’t been updated since 1992.

“I think that this referendum is absolutely necessary,” Student Senate President Forrest Hinton said.

“Departments have changed names, procedures have changed and there’s been a new movement to disenfranchise part-time students; this gives students the opportunity to not only strengthen their constitution but also make a statement that we believe part-time students should be included in the University,” he said.

Vice Chancellor Tom Stafford has said that if the referendum passes, he will nullify it.

“I had previously indicated that if the referendum were to be approved by a student vote, then I would not approve it,” Stafford said in a previous interview. “The outcome of that referendum doesn’t make any difference.”

Hinton said he thought it would be unwise for Stafford to nullify a decision for which over two-thirds of the student body voted.

“That would be a decision that would be out of touch with students’ interests,” Hinton said. “Remember, it takes two-thirds of voting students to pass a referendum, so that’s not just a majority of students — that’s a super majority of students.”

The issue about allowing part-time students to vote became controversial when Stafford sent memos to the Elections Commission mandating that part-time students be removed from the ballot and be prevented to vote and participate in Student Government.

Hinton said that if the referendum passes, the entire student body will be considered active and involved in Student Government, meaning part-time students will continue to be able to vote and run for office.

“If the student body doesn’t vote for the referendum, to me that sends the message that [7,182] students will not be considered part of the student body,” Hinton said. “That will also require that future leaders meet together to find ways to update the constitution because right now it is outdated.”

The General Enfranchisement clause, found in chapter seven of the Student Body Statutes, currently states, “All students who have paid, or had paid on their behalf, full fees, including pro-rated full fees, supporting Student Government shall be enfranchised and entitled to vote.”

According to University Planning and Analysis, part-time students account for about 25 percent of the eligible voting pool — 7,182 students.

Sen. Erich Fabricius said if the referendum passes, the changes will put better language in place for the judicial board so there will be less controversy and make the issues clear.

Fabricius also said there has been no pledge that the administration will not mandate the removal of part-time students from the voter rolls and ballots in the future. He said this means there’s a risk to part-time students’ voting rights in the future.