ELECTIONS ARE OPEN FOR 23-24
Elections Process
ASB Officer Election Process
The ASB election process starts around late January each year and includes six general steps. Each step requires proactive, responsible, and diligent work from seventh-grade students who are interested in being one of the four ASB officer positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, or Secretary.
current 6th graders:
7th grade president
7th grade vice president
7th grade officers
There are three main categories of equal weighing that will decide the final election outcome of the four ASB officers:
§ The application
§ Teacher interviews
§ Votes from all sixth graders, seventh graders, and current ASB members
Step 1: Attend the Mandatory ASB Informational Meeting
§ The informational meeting will be held on January 18th for seventh grade students who are interested in running for one of the 4 ASB Officers. Please complete the form if you would like to attend the meeting: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9OQmLZop8hb8DoWKrGuhnx9a7VQHe7nnqoVqdXSPGl0c3eQ/viewform
§ In the meeting, the current ASB officers will briefly share with you their main job responsibilities.
§ This meeting is essential to make sure you are informed of the process of the ASB officer election. If you have any questions, that is the time to ask either the officers or the advisor.
Step 2: Submit the Application for one ASB Officer Position
§ Every student who is interested in participating in the ASB Officer election should submit his/her/their application for one position. Each candidate is permitted to run for only one position.
§ Declaration of Candidacy: You will answer a few questions that portray your interest and goals as an officer. You must sign a contract and agree to be an exemplary role model as an officer.
§ Teachers’ Recommendations: Recommendations from teachers are required. In some years, recommendations from all 6 teachers are required; in others, you only need to obtain a certain number of recommendations. Check the informational packet for more details.
· Your teachers will fill in the form and send them back directly to the ASB advisor, Mr. Shaffer, as these forms are confidential.
· Based on past experiences, the process to complete your application takes days or even weeks. For example, the teachers may have already received many requests from their students; therefore they cannot turn around your request overnight.
· It is highly recommended to hand your teachers the recommendation forms as soon as possible. If you wish, you may include a very brief summary about yourself to help the teacher better understand your aspiration and goals.
§ Upon receiving the application, the ASB advisor will review your materials and determine if you qualify to run for the position. The announcement will be posted and the current ASB President will also notify the candidates via Loop Mail.
Step 3: Attend the Mandatory Informational Meeting if You Qualify
§ This informational meeting is brief. The ASB advisor will announce rules and key dates for posters, campaign speech, and teachers’ interviews.
Step 4: Create and post your campaign posters
This information is subject to change due to a distance learning election.
§ Qualified candidates are allowed to put up a number of pre-approved campaign posters.
§ The number of posters allowed will be announced in the packet.
§ The process of obtaining approval of each poster will also be covered in the informational packet. Typically, the ASB advisor, Mr. Shaffer, needs to approve each and every poster before students can put any of them up. Your posters can stay up for the entire duration of the campaign, which is usually 2 weeks.
Step 5: Create and film your campaign speech
§ One of the main parts of your campaign is the speech.
§ Instead of speaking in front of hundreds of students during school assemblies, your speech will be filmed, and then showed to all seventh grade students during their History classes.
§ Your speech should run for 1 to 2 minutes; must detail the position you are running for, why you want to run, and why other students should vote for you. Essentially, you are advocating for yourself with what you have to offer to Horner.
§ A recommended framework of the speech is covered in the packet.
§ Film your speech by yourself at home and submit it to the ASB advisor.
§ Some useful tips:
· Rehearse a lot, time yourself, maintain constant eye contact
· If you prefer to incorporate hand gestures, make sure they are above your chest level
· Focus on key activities and goals you have for next year that you can deliver within the position that you’re running for
· Avoid making empty promises that are not within the control of students or the ASB
· Emphasize why you are different from the other candidates
· If you have notes, make sure to lower them so they won’t be seen on the camera
Step 6: Prepare and go through teachers’ interviews
§ Teacher interviews allow teachers to evaluate the candidates based on a number of ASB-related questions. Candidates will not know which teachers are going to interview them until they walk into the room. The entire interview takes about 5 to 10 minutes, depends on the interaction.
§ Useful tips:
Do’s
· Make a possible list of questions the teachers might be interested in learning; practice how you would answer them
· Stay calm throughout the interview; remain positive and be confident about how you would contribute to Horner
Don’t
· Posture matters! Slouching in your chair shows that you’re not that interested
· Keep your answers succinct and clear; don’t rush, trail off, or get frustrated when you can’t think of the “perfect answers” right away
Good luck to all the candidates! :)