Elections
What are they?
Student Government elections occur in the Fall and Spring of each academic year according to a schedule proposed by the Elections Board Chair and approved by the SG leadership team.
Durham: In the Fall, six members of the Junior class are elected Junior Senators. Dorm Senators are then elected to represent Beall, Bryan, Hill, Hunt East, Hunt West, Reynolds, and Royall residence halls.
Morganton: In the Fall, six members of the Junior class are elected Juniors Senators. Dorm Senators are then elected to represent North and South dorms.
During the Spring election cycle, the junior class (on each respective campus) elects executive officers which include Student Body President and Student Body Treasurer, followed by seven Senior Senators. Once elected, Senior Senators nominate and elect a Senate President from within the Senate.
Fall Elections
Junior Senator Election Timeline & Procedures
Applications for Junior Senator positions open on Monday, September 9.
In order to qualify for the Junior Senator election, candidates must:
Submit a petition with signatures from members of the junior class (Durham - 40 signatures) to the marked envelope at Bryan desk (Durham); signed petitions are due Saturday, September 14 at 10:00 PM.
Attend the SG Junior Senator Information Session on Tuesday, September 10
Durham: 5:00 PM in the Woolworth Room
Comply with all SG campaign regulations--please refer to the SG By-laws for specific requirements.
***Campaigning (posters on info hubs, websites, social media, etc.) may only begin after a candidate has received clearance from the Elections Board Chair.***
Candidates must also attend the SG Senate meeting on Monday, September 10th at 5:00 PM in the Woolworth Room in order for their name to be included on the primary ballot.
*If candidates are not able to attend one of the Information Sessions and/or the Senate Meeting, please contact Elections Board Aretha Datta in advance at sgelections@ncssm.edu
Junior Senator Primary Election Procedures-
Primary voting for Junior Senators runs for 24 hours. Qualified voters receive a link to an online ballot and indicate their preferred candidates. The twelve candidates (twice the number of open positions) from each campus who receive the most votes will qualify for the general election.
Primary voting for Junior Senators runs for 24 hours. Qualified voters receive a link to an online ballot and indicate their preferred candidates. The twelve candidates (twice the number of open positions) from each campus who receive the most votes will qualify for the general election.
Candidate speeches will occur on Thursday, September 21. The time and location for each campus will be announced.
Junior Senator General Election Procedures-
The general election for Junior Senators will occur following candidate speeches. Voting runs for 24 hours. Qualified voters receive a link to an online ballot and rank their preferred candidates in order of preference. The six candidates elected by single transferable vote in the general election are elected Junior Senators.
The general election for Junior Senators will occur following candidate speeches. Voting runs for 24 hours. Qualified voters receive a link to an online ballot and rank their preferred candidates in order of preference. The six candidates elected by single transferable vote in the general election are elected Junior Senators.
Dorm Senator Election Timeline & Procedures
Nominations for Dorm Senator positions open on Monday, October 10.
In order to qualify for the Dorm Senator election, candidates must:
Submit a petition with signatures from 30 students on your campus to the marked envelope at Bryan desk (Durham) or Residence Hall desk (Morganton); signed petitions are due Saturday, October 15 at 10:00 PM.
Attend an SG Dorm Senator Information Session, schedule below
Comply with all SG campaign regulations--please refer to the SG By-laws for specific requirements.
Information sessions will be held according to the following schedule:
***Campaigning (posters on info hubs, websites, social media, etc.) may only begin after a candidate has received clearance from the Elections Board Chair.***
Candidates must also attend the SG Senate meeting on Monday, Octobrer 10 at 5:20 PM in the Woolworth Room or via Zoom in order for their name to be included on the primary ballot.
*If candidates are not able to attend one of the Information Sessions and/or the Senate Meeting, please contact Elections Board Chair Aretha Datta in advance at sgelections@ncssm.edu
Dorm Senator Primary Election Procedures-
Primary voting for Dorm Senators begins on Monday, October 17 at 10:00 PM and ends on Tuesday, October 18 at 10:00 PM. Qualified voters receive a link to an online ballot and indicate their preferred candidates. The candidates who garner the most votes shall qualify for the general election. A primary election will not be held for a particular dorm senator constituency if there are four or fewer candidates running for office; in such case, candidates will automatically qualify for the general election.
Primary voting for Dorm Senators begins on Monday, October 17 at 10:00 PM and ends on Tuesday, October 18 at 10:00 PM. Qualified voters receive a link to an online ballot and indicate their preferred candidates. The candidates who garner the most votes shall qualify for the general election. A primary election will not be held for a particular dorm senator constituency if there are four or fewer candidates running for office; in such case, candidates will automatically qualify for the general election.
Candidate speeches will occur on Thursday, October 20. Times and locations for each campus will be announced.
Dorm Senator General Election Procedures-
General elections for Dorm Senators will occur following candidate speeches on Thursday, October 20. Voting begins at 10:00 PM and ends on Friday, October 21 at 10:00 PM. Qualified voters will receive a link to an online ballot and rank their preferred candidates in order of preference, with one indicating highest preference. Any candidate who receives a majority of the first-preference votes shall be deemed elected. If no candidate receives a majority of the first-preference votes, the candidate garnering the fewest such votes shall be eliminated. The votes of those who had indicated the eliminated candidate as their first preference will be transferred to their respective next-preference candidate. This process will continue until a single candidate garners the majority of first-preference votes.
General elections for Dorm Senators will occur following candidate speeches on Thursday, October 20. Voting begins at 10:00 PM and ends on Friday, October 21 at 10:00 PM. Qualified voters will receive a link to an online ballot and rank their preferred candidates in order of preference, with one indicating highest preference. Any candidate who receives a majority of the first-preference votes shall be deemed elected. If no candidate receives a majority of the first-preference votes, the candidate garnering the fewest such votes shall be eliminated. The votes of those who had indicated the eliminated candidate as their first preference will be transferred to their respective next-preference candidate. This process will continue until a single candidate garners the majority of first-preference votes.
Durham Fall Election FAQ
Who can run for Junior Senator and Dorm Senator? - All members of the junior class are eligible to run for Junior Senator. Juniors and seniors can run for Dorm Senator.
Who can vote? - Only juniors may vote in Junior Senator elections; both juniors and seniors can vote during Dorm Senator elections.
How do I get on the ballot? - Before the primary election begins, there is a weeklong nomination process in which potential candidates can nominate themselves or be nominated by their peers. A nominee must then attend a mandatory information session to learn more about election guidelines, and must also submit a petition with 40 signatures.
Who can I contact if I have other questions? - Please contact Aretha Datta , the SG Elections Board Chair at sgelections@ncssm.edu with questions.
Morganton Fall Election FAQ
Who can run for Junior Senator and Dorm Senator? - All members of the junior class are eligible to run for Junior Senator. Any Morganton student can run for Dorm Senator for their respective dorm (North or South).
Who can vote? - Only juniors may vote in Junior Senator elections for their respective campus; all Morganton students can vote during Dorm Senator elections for their respective dorm.
How do I get on the ballot? - Before the primary election begins, there is a weeklong nomination process in which potential candidates can nominate themselves or be nominated by their peers. A nominee must then attend a mandatory information session to learn more about election guidelines, and must also submit a petition with 30 signatures.
Who can I contact if I have other questions? - Please contact Elias L. North, the SG Elections Board Chair at sgelections@ncssm.edu with questions.
Spring Elections
SBP & SBT Election Timeline & Procedures
Applications for Student Body President and Student Body Treasurer positions open on Sunday, February 19.
In order to qualify for the SBP & SBT election, candidates must:
Submit a petition with signatures from members of the junior class (Durham - 50 signatures, Morganton - 40 signatures) to the marked envelope at Bryan desk (Durham) or Residence Hall desk (Morganton); signed petitions are due Wednesday, March 1 at 10:00 PM.
Attend the SG SBP & SBT Leadership Information Session
Comply with all SG campaign regulations--please refer to the SG By-laws for specific requirements.
Information sessions will be held according to the following schedule:
Monday, February 20: 4:30pm via Zoom
***Campaigning (posters on info hubs, websites, social media, etc.) may only begin after a candidate has received clearance from the Elections Board Chair.***
Candidates must also attend the SG Senate meeting on Monday, February 20 or 27 at 5:20 PM in the Woolworth Room or via Zoom in order for their name to be included on the primary ballot.
*If candidates are not able to attend the Information Sessions and/or the Senate Meeting, please contact Elections Board Chair Aretha Datta in advance at sgelections@ncssm.edu
SBP & SBT Primary Election Procedures-
Primary voting for SBP & SBT runs for 24 hours. Qualified voters receive a link to an online ballot and indicate their preferred candidates. The four candidates for SBP and SBT from each campus who receive the most votes will qualify for the general election.
Primary voting for SBP & SBT runs for 24 hours. Qualified voters receive a link to an online ballot and indicate their preferred candidates. The four candidates for SBP and SBT from each campus who receive the most votes will qualify for the general election.
Candidate speeches will occur on Monday, March 6. The time and location for each campus will be announced.
SBP & SBT General Election Procedures-
The general election for SBP & SBT will occur following candidate speeches. Voting runs for 24 hours. Qualified voters receive a link to an online ballot and rank their preferred candidates in order of preference. The candidates elected for each office by single transferable vote in the general election for their campus are elected Student Body President and Student Body Treasurer.
The general election for SBP & SBT will occur following candidate speeches. Voting runs for 24 hours. Qualified voters receive a link to an online ballot and rank their preferred candidates in order of preference. The candidates elected for each office by single transferable vote in the general election for their campus are elected Student Body President and Student Body Treasurer.
Senior Senator Election Timeline & Procedures
Nominations for Senior Senator positions open on Thursday, March 16.
SBP & SBT Election FAQ
Who can run for Student Body President and Student Body Treasurer? - All members of the junior class are eligible to run for one SG leadership position, either Student Body President and Student Body Treasurer.
Who can vote? - Only juniors may vote in the Student Body President and Student Body Treasurer elections for their campus.
How do I get on the ballot? - Before the primary election begins, there is a process in which potential candidates apply and complete several requirements. Interested candidates from each campus must attend a mandatory information session to learn more about election guidelines, attend an SG Senate meeting, and submit a petition with signatures from the junior class.
Who can I contact if I have other questions? - Please contact Aretha Datta, the SG Elections Board Chair at sgelections@ncssm.edu with questions.
