Election Season (Again): Some Do’s and Don'ts for Our Political Candidates

As you may have noticed, there are some new posters hanging around campus, plastered with faces and names. They have one word in common: “Vote.”

I love election season as much as our other political writer (we don’t have one). I’m happy to see that people are interested in our student government and trying to make an impact on campus. However, I noticed several things in their campaigns that I would do differently, and as a voter, there are some things that you should probably know too.

For The Candidates

Hey everyone running for office, 

Thank you for putting yourself in the position to make a change on campus. There are plenty of things that we’d like to see different, and with you running we hope to see that happen. Here’s some advice I’d give you for this election season:

If you’re elected: Make sure that at least some of your promises come true. Don’t say that you’ll do something that can’t be done. Don’t overreach. Finish your term with a feeling of accomplishment by setting out and completing possible goals.

As you’re running: Posters are good! But what do you want to do? As photogenic as you are, I would also love to know what your plans are if you’re elected. If I chose a candidate based on their poster, I would go for the person who promised free laundry on campus over the person who took a photoshoot and called it a day.

For The Voters

Hey fellow voters, this election is for you too! Nobody wins if they don’t get your vote! 

As much as we all want our friends to win, remember that the student government's function is to serve you in the best way possible. If you don’t think a candidate cares about making Union a better place, then they don’t deserve your vote. If you think they won’t do what they promise to do, then they don’t deserve your vote. If they don’t have a plan for when they are in office then they just don’t deserve your vote!

Voters run the election. So remember that your vote decides what will happen next school year.

Finally

My last word of advice is this: run for an office. In my time at Union, I have seen elections where no offices were contested. There was no campaigning because there was no competition. If you feel like running for an office, go for itt. Do it for fun, do it for the experience. Let's make this election season an exciting one!

Alexander Nesmith is a junior

communication major from

Calhoun, Ga.