Undergraduate student government election campaigns are approaching with several criteria candidates have to meet. Credit: Owen Conn | Senior Lantern Reporter
January marks not only the beginning of classes, but the kickoff of campaign season for Ohio State’s Undergraduate Student Government.
USG elections are coming up in early March, and Chief Justice Namrata Pujara explained just what it takes to be on the ballot.
Before anyone can run, there are requirements such as sessions and petitions that need to be completed, Pujara, a fourth-year in political science and economics, said.
During the campaign season, students can run as a president and vice president team, senator or a “slate” — a team composed of the prospective president, vice president and senators.
“Slates are pretty common,” Pujara said. “Running as a slate can be really beneficial in the sense that your candidates now have a lot more resources.”
All USG hopefuls must attend at least one information session to be eligible to run. The sessions are held in the first two weeks of January as the semester begins, Pujara said.
According to USG’s website, each candidate must present a petition to the USG judicial panel by Jan. 31. Candidates running as a president and vice president team must return the petition with 500 signatures, and those running for a senator position need 50.
However, getting on the ballot is not the only way to get elected. According to USG’s website, write-in votes may be cast for registered Ohio State students as long as the name of the candidate is spelled correctly in “first name, last name” format.
Campaign trail spending is limited to a maximum of $100 for senate campaigns, $1,250 for president and vice president teams and $2,000 for a slate’s combined campaign, Pujara said.
Despite all students being encouraged to participate in USG, it’s not for everyone, David Mack, a USG senator and second-year in security and intelligence and Middle East studies, said.
“I think campaigning is a great way for anyone to get involved,” Mack said. “But it’s a huge time commitment.”
Upcoming information sessions are 5-6 p.m. Wednesday in the Ohio Union Ohio Staters, Inc. Founders Room, 5-6 p.m. Thursday in Hale Hall MLK Jr. Lounge Room 132 and 6-7 p.m. Jan. 14 in the Busch House Valor Room.
