STUDENT COUNCIL GENERAL ELECTION information

Article IV Section 4 of our Constitution:

4. There will be an Electioneering Period of at least three school days, in which all candidates will have the opportunity to distribute campaign materials and convince fellow students to vote for them. The dates for this period and the Rules of Electioneering will be set by the Advisor, who will consult the eighth grade members of the Executive Board.

The Advisor will provide in advance the Rules of Electioneering to all potential candidates, who have completed petitioning according to the Third Section of this Article.
On the final day of the Electioneering Period, all candidates will be given the opportunity to speak to the entire sixth and seventh grade student body. Speeches will be reviewed by the Advisor at least two days in advance.
Any candidate that violates the posted Rules of Electioneering may be disqualified by a unanimous vote of the Advisor and all eighth grade members of the Executive Board.

RULES OF ELECTIONEERING - 2007

(Please note that these rules are subject to change for 2008,
according to Article IV Section 4 of the Student Council Constitution.)

Electioneering is the process where those candidates who successfully complete Petitioning will attempt to convince their fellow students to vote for them. The Electioneering Period is April 21-23. All candidates must carefully follow these rules, and a responsible to ensure that their campaign workers also follow them:

Campaign posters: Are due to Mr. Miller in B-16 by 8:30 a.m. on Friday April 18 Candidates may submit only TWO posters each, which cannot be larger than 24 by 36 inches. While jointly created posters are allowed, they will count toward the limit for each candidate. All posters submitted – along with anything attached to them – will become the property of the Brooklawn Student Council and will NOT be returned.
Campaign flyers and buttons: May be distributed to students throughout the Electioneering Period, but campaign flyers may NOT be posted anywhere in the building or on its grounds. Campaign stickers are NOT allowed under any circumstances, will be confiscated, and could lead to your disqualification (see #6 below)
No candy, toys, pencils, or any other giveaways may be made on behalf of any candidate. Illegal campaign materials will be confiscated, not returned, and could lead to your disqualification (see #6 below).
At no time should campaign activity interfere with classroom instruction. Teacher reports of this will be thoroughly investigated, and could lead to your disqualification (see #6 below).
Campaign Speech Guidelines
- Speech Drafts and Revisions: Drafts must be submitted to the Advisor for review by 12:30 p.m. Friday April 18 and Final Speeches will be collected at the Candidates’ Meeting on Tuesday April 22. Candidates MUST keep a copy for themselves – we will NOT return submitted drafts and revisions.
- Use of technology/electronic devices: A podium, microphone, and boom box (connected to the cafetorium sound system) will be commonly provided to all candidates for use in their speeches. Any cassette tapes or compact discs must be given with the final speech draft to the Advisor, who will designate an eighth grade member of the Board of Directors to handle all music and/or sound effects for the speeches. No other technology will be provided, and candidates may NOT bring in their own devices (notebook or handheld computers, MP3 players, cell phones, etc.) for use in the speeches.
- Time limits: Speeches for Senior Office (President, Vice President) will have a 3 minute time limit, and those for Junior Office (Secretary, Treasurer) will have a 2 minute time limit. Candidates will be warned when 15 seconds remain in their allotted time.
- Speeches should NOT include promises that are inappropriate or impossible to deliver: For example, candidates should not promise more dances or a looser dress code – the calendar for next year has already been set, and the dress code is determined by building administration.
- Negative attacks: On the personal character of any fellow candidate, student, or faculty member are inappropriate and will NOT be tolerated. However, speeches may criticize past performance records of any fellow candidate or their positions on relevant issues.
Disqualification: Article IV Section 4 of the Student Council Constitution empowers the Advisor and a unanimous vote of the eighth grade members of the current Executive Board to disqualify a candidate for any violation of these Rules of Electioneering, including the Campaign Speech guidelines.