Spring election season is right around the corner, but with only one ticket officially announced thus far, students may see an unusual cycle take place.
Election season for the University officially begins March 6 when ticket registration opens. Until then, students can learn more about the elections and filing for candidacy at the candidacy informational meetings that take place on Feb. 22, and March 2. There is also an informational meeting on March 8 on the Student Government Election Code and the timeline of the election.
“In terms of what to expect, basically, during the spring elections, all the seats go up for reelection,” SG commissioner of elections Michael Vu said. “The executive staff … all the college councils for the different colleges … and half the senate seats will go up for reelection. It’s the biggest and busiest time of year for Student Government.”
Students will begin to see election-related changes around campus during the week of March 13 as candidates learn about their qualifications and begin passive campaigning. During this time, qualified candidates are allowed to wear apparel and have pins and posters, Vu said.
Active campaigning begins March 20.
“That’s when we really typically see people tense up, people in Free Speech Alley [start] handing things out and along those lines,” Vu said.
During the same week, there will be an open forum or debate on March 23. Whether it will be an open forum or debate depends on the number of tickets running in the election.
“It’s just a chance for students who aren’t involved in Student Government to get to know what Student Government does and what future candidates have proposed,” Vu said. “Just so they know they’re voting for people who are actually representing their interests and ideas.”
General elections will be held on March 27, and the results will be announced in the Live Oak Lounge on March 29 at 5 p.m.
With election season a few weeks away and only one ticket organized, the student body faces an election season unlike any other in recent history.
“Typically, spring tickets, because of their size and scale, they’re organized far in advance … typically around December,” Vu said. “So far only one has been announced. That means that the president and vice president will be running unopposed unless someone ‘dark horses’ their way into the election when it rolls around.”
Vu notes that registration opens on March 6, but does not close until two weeks later, meaning people still have time to form opposing tickets up until that point.
“Student Government is supposed to be representative of the student body, as any form of government should be,” Vu said. “If students aren’t actively involved trying to seek information of who they’re voting for, it can end up being a situation where it seems like people are being voted into positions of power without the student body really knowing why they’re there or what they’re doing.”
For more information on the upcoming election, visit the SG website or email Michael Vu at [email protected].