How To Hold High School Elections

When a new change of officials is needed, you vote for people who deserve to replace the incumbent. This is when elections come in. In high school, elections for the officers to represent the whole student body are often held just before the end of the school year. The new set of student officers will then represent the students in the next school year. This means that students running for candidacy should not be those who'll have their graduation at the end of the school year when the elections are held. 

The new officers will represent the students in any decision-making at the school's administration board. They'll also attend faculty meetings, when necessary, to raise students concerns. Furthermore, they're the ones who'll disseminate information from the school administration to the students. They'll be also responsible for planning school events such as science fairs and school dances. 

Holding high school elections is necessary because students will experience the democratic process of politics and will have a feeling of involvement. High school elections will also prepare students for the real nationwide elections, or even state-wide elections such as in La., Kans., Ky., or Iowa, when they reach the legal age. So, while they are still young, they should experience an organized and disciplined election process as much as possible. 

High school elections can be done using the traditional pen and paper manner, or the virtual way using computers and voting machines. But in this article, we'll give you tips in organizing a traditional election process. 

1. Determine what positions need to be filled. Generally, students vote for a President and a Vice-President. Some schools would include Secretary, Treasurer, and Batch representatives. For documentation purposes, have candidates file a candidacy application form.
2. Decide whether you will limit the political parties to only two or more. Some strong political parties never disappear through the years because their party members share a strong bond whether they are new candidates, supporters, former officers and graduates. Oftentimes, election days serve as reunion days for the party members. 
3. Set specific dates and deadlines for each election process, such as start date and deadline for candidacy filing, specific dates when candidates can post posters and hold campaign rallies, and most importantly, the voting day. This will avoid candidates soliciting votes prematurely. Make sure to disseminate the information to everyone.
4. Organize a general assembly where each candidate has the chance to speak to all students regarding his campaign agenda. This will also give the students a chance to ask questions regarding certain issues and determine the candidates' stands. Through this, you are providing students the opportunity to make an informed voting decision.
5. On the voting day, the students should know at what time they can vote and where. They should also know what time the counting of votes will commence.
6. For the students' convenience, provide a list of all the candidates' names to ensure the voters know exactly what to write. This will also avoid ambiguous ballot entries during the counting. For those with a large student population, providing the candidates' pictures in the list is also helpful.
7. For monitoring purposes, provide a list with all the names of the students, and have those who already voted sign or place their thumb mark on the list. 
8. When voting ends, count the votes immediately with student spectators.  

Since high school elections are like a simulation of the elections to be held nationwide, it is imperative that students experience an organized, disciplined and well-informed election while they are still young.