Anyone can campaign to be the next Student Government Association president, even if they don't have any previous SGA experience.
Matt Whitlock, SGA president, said that while the title comes with a lot of responsibility, the experiences outweigh the stress.
"[It was great] knowing that I had 21,000 people behind me whenever I was going into a meeting or doing something relating with someone on policy change," he said.
The presidential slate contains four candidates - a presidential candidate, a vice presidential candidate, a secretarial candidate and a candidate for treasurer.
Individuals may also apply to be a judicial court justice, student senator and a university senate representative. Student senator positions are available for the caucuses of At-Large, off-campus, on-campus and organizational.
To apply, the candidates need to turn in a nomination form, a bond payment form with check, a nomination petition with signatures, a candidate campaign form and a campaign information form. All forms are included in packets that can be found in the SGA office in L.A. Pittenger Student Center room 112.
Presidential slates need to receive 400 signatures for their nomination petition. All other positions need to collect 50 signatures. Each student signing the nomination petition needs to also list their phone number and school address.
All forms need to be turned in at the Nomination Convention on Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. in the Student Center, Cardinal Hall B.
Campaigning will take place from Feb. 16 until voting closes March 1. Presidential slates have a maximum of $2,500 they can spend on campaigning, and all other positions are allotted a $250 maximum.
Voting will be online from 7:45 a.m. Feb. 28 through 6:45 p.m. March 1. Presidential slates will be voted for by the student population. Most senate seats aren't typically filled, but the At-Large caucus is expected to have an overflow of student applicants so they will most likely be voted for as well, election board chair Devin Hillsdon-Smith said.
Last year, students were not able to vote on the presidential slate because there was only one slate. The presidential slate last year was simply voted in by SGA senate.
While slates will not be announced until the Nomination Convention, SGA vice president Whitney Hamblin said three presidential slate packets have been picked up so far. Hamblin said it is important to have more than one presidential slate so students have a choice.
"Ultimately, it comes down to the students," she said. "This year I think it will be more fair. I feel like it opens up a door for opportunity."
Presidential slates will also participate in two debates before voting. One will be in Student Center Cardinal Hall B at 7 p.m. on Feb. 16, and the other will be at 7 p.m. on Feb. 24 in the Arts and Journalism Building room 175.
All nominations will be made with completed packets at the Nomination Convention at 6 p.m. in Student Center Cardinal Hall B on Feb. 15.
Hillsdon-Smith said getting involved and running for a SGA position can be very beneficial to students to run for the presidential slate.
"[The presidential slate] sets the tone of the entire next year," he said. "I think this is the closest taste of democracy at Ball State a student can get."
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