How to Win an Election at Your School
Convince people to vote for you
Think about why you want to run, and what you will do if you win. Convincing people to vote for you is probably the scariest part of an election. The best strategy is to show your fellow students that you will do a good job. How do you do this?
It Doesn't Have to be ScaryOn TV and in movies, school elections look like a popularity contest. In real life, this is rarely the case.
CloseDetermine your issues. Think about why you want to run and what you want to do if you win. These are your issues. Then let people know what you will do if elected. When you do this, be careful not to make promises you can't keep.
Your IssuesDuring your campaign tell people why you want to run, and what you want to do if you win. Make sure your issues affect all students.
If you promise to try to get the whole school painted your favorite color, students probably won't vote for you.
But, if you promise to get rid of that yucky lunch menu item that no one likes, or raise money for more computers in the library, students will see that you are interested in things they care about, and they'll vote for you.
Close Give a great speech. Keep it short, simple, and interesting, and students will remember you.
Start by writing down your issues and the reasons you think you're a good person for the job. This is the heart of the speech. It will convince other students to vote for you.
Start with a story to get people listening and then move on to your issues.
Practice your speech so you get used to it, and you won't be as nervous. Ask your parents or friends to listen a couple of times before the big day.
When the time comes to give your speech, relax. You'll be ready and the other students will notice.
Build your network. One of the best ways to get people to vote for you is to talk to them about it. Ask your friends to help.
Run for another office besides president! Run for Another OfficeHere's something I learned firsthand: If you want to be an officer, don't consider just the race for president.
This might seem weird since president is the most prestigious office. But it's also usually the race with the most competition. I avoided a lot of campaign stress by running in a less competitive race.
I won every time by running for the office of secretary because no on else was interested in it! I could work side by side with the president, and achieve just as much.
Consider vice-president, secretary, and treasurer if you haven't before.
Close In many elections, people don't vote at all. If you take the time to talk to a lot of people in the hall or at lunch, and remind them to vote, you'll increase your chances of winning.
Remind them why you're running, and why they should vote for you. They'll appreciate that you took the time to talk to them in person. And they'll probably remember your name on the ballot!
Andy, an election winner at his school says, "I had a core group of six or seven friends who I made sure would spread the word that I was running."
A key thing is to diversify this core group of friends. Andy says it won't help if "all six people are on the football team. Instead, have close friends who are in chorus, basketball, debate.... Then you can reach a greater number of people."
How much money should you spend? How Much Should you Spend?Check with the principal or teacher in charge of the election. Most schools have a limit on campaign spending.
Usually it's somewhere around $20. Schools have limits so that candidates who have more money don't have an unfair advantage.
Once you've figured out your spending limit, decide what you need for your campaign.
Do you want to make posters or buttons? Figure out ahead of time how much the materials, like markers, tape, paper etc., cost and how many you want to make.
If your materials will cost more than your budget limit, you know you'll have to change your campaign plans.
Close Make posters and signs. When you make your campaign posters, use a catchy slogan that helps other students remember your name. It can help you win votes.
If you have trouble coming up with a catchy slogan, try searching the Internet for sites that help you think of good slogans and quotes.
Don't depend solely on posters. Your fellow students have to know why you're running, and that's why your speech and networking are so important.
You can win
Be prepared to work hard on improving your school. If you keep these things in mind, you can win your election.
Just remember that you have to be prepared to work hard to help your fellow students improve your school.
If you don't win, remember there are always other ways to get involved and make a difference.
What if I Don't Win? It can be very disappointing to lose an election that you worked hard to win, but as these election participants tell me, don't get too discouraged!
Kristin says, "be confident in yourself, even if you don't always win—there will be other elections."
Andy says, "I remember being excited about running because I really felt I had some ideas that would help a number of people." He was a little nervous the night before the election.
"But," Andy adds, "I knew that if my classmates voted me in, then I would try to do a good job, and if they didn't, I knew I could help students in other ways through other organizations and other volunteer activities."
Close If students see that you get things done, you could easily win the next time.
True or False: The $20 bill constitutes the majority of all currency printed by the United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing today.
Click Andrew's head for the answer.
FALSE: More $1 bills are printed than any other currency. Because it is commonly dispensed in ATM machines, the $20 is the highest denomination of money that is used on an everyday basis.
contributed by
Cassandra
Chicago, IL
11/03/08
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