THE IMPORTANCE OF ELECTIONS

When running elections, there are four groups in the school that you are influencing:

• Those that have had the positions for a year.
• Those running in the elections.
• The student body.
• The staff.

A well run election will affect all of these groups positively.

The first group is using a year's worth of experience (and the previous year's files) to run the elections, and in many ways they are passing on some of these skills as they put the new group through the elections. The new group is watching the first very closely to see how it is done and they are picking up a lot of tips on how to run a major event.

If program is being well-run, never underestimate the amount of passive learning that is occurring.

Many staff and students complain that elections are just popularity contests. They are right. If the council does not run a proper election, the candidates who will get elected will be the ones who are the most popular and not the most qualified. You cannot blame the voters for this. The voters can only judge the candidates by the process that is available. However, if a number of occasions are provided for all of the candidates to demonstrate their abilities and organizational skills, the voters have a set of parameters to judge the candidates. Qualified candidates will now assume a new definition of popularity.

TAKING ELECTIONS SERIOUSLY

1. Send a note to the homeroom teachers asking for their help. Have them stress the importance of democratic elections, talk about responsibility to vote, discuss issues, ask students to listen to speeches and campaign promises, invite a candidate into your homeroom.
2. Post Job Descriptions for all positions.
3. Have an all candidates meeting to discuss election procedures and answer questions.
4. Have written regulations regarding campaign procedures.
5. Have the new president(s) actively involved in the election of the new executive. This helps foster their position as leaders.
6. Introduce all new leaders, officially, to the school administration.
7. Personally congratulate winners and thank the losers.
8. Start working with the new president(s) immediately to set the agenda for the first meeting.

WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOU HAVE NEW LEADERS

1. Have the new president(s) call the first meeting and hand out the agenda.
2. Set dates for key planning meetings. (i.e. calendar, budget)
3. Schedule interviews between present and past leaders in all positions.
4. Give all leaders a mail slot if you have a location of your own.
5. Have the new and old executive meet together to carry out some practical business.
6. Give each leader a daily planner and insist they use it. This may be the greatest piece of leadership advice you can give them.
7. You may want to give them a major project to work on between the elections and June. The new executive could be responsible for running the grade eight orientation in May.

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