Candidate Information Session Presented by the USGJP

Overview of the Election Process -Petitioning -Approval of Candidacy -Campaign Season -Election Day

Open Elected Positions -Executive Branch -2 Positions (President/Vice President) -General Assembly - 33 Positions (plus emissaries) -Judicial Panel -Potentially one position

Getting on the Ballot Must gather signatures to be placed on ballot o For each President/Vice President Candidate Team: seven hundred fifty (750) o For each Senator Candidate: fifty (50) o For each Judicial Panel Candidate: fifty (50) Signatures must come from registered and active Ohio State University undergraduate students All petitions must bear signature of circulator

Petitioning Petitions will be released during the day Sunday of Week 3 of Spring Semester Petitioning begins Monday of Week 3 of Spring Semester at 8:00 AM Ends Friday of Week 4 of Spring Semester at 5:00PM Petitions are to be turned in to the USG Office

Once Approved… The person will be placed on the official ballot The “Campaign season” begins at 8:00 pm EST Sunday evening of the seventh week of Spring Semester until the end of voting 11:59 pm EST Friday night of the eighth week of Spring Semester o Campaigning before this time is a violation Voting will begin at 12:00 pm of the eighth Wednesday of Spring Semester and end 11:59 pm of the eighth Friday of the eighth week of Spring Semester

Slates Four types of slates: o Presidential Slate – Contains only a Pres./VP o Assembly Slate (Individual)- Contains only one member o Assembly Slate (multiple) – Contains multiple General Assembly Candidates o Mixed Slate – Contains a Pres./VP as well as at least one candidate for General Assembly Judicial Panel Candidates cannot be affiliated with any slate

Slates Cont’d Slates must register with the USG Judicial Panel by the start of petitioning on Week 3 o Submit a list of candidate-member as well as treasurer and manager Slates are responsible for the behavior of the members Must keep an up to date list of membership o Must inform USGJP of membership changes within 24 hours of the change

Spending/Finances Presidential/Vice Presidential campaign may spend no more than two thousand (2000) dollars in total Assembly candidate’s campaign may spend no more than one hundred (100) dollars No Assembly slate’s campaign shall be valued for more than one hundred (100) dollars per member-candidate or no more than two thousand (2000) dollars in total, whichever is less A campaign consisting of a Presidential/Vice-Presidential candidate team and one (1) or more senatorial candidates shall observe a base value limit for a maximum of two thousand (2000) dollars in total. o The maximum spending limit shall remain at thirty-five hundred (3500) dollars or two thousand (2000) dollars plus the sum of one hundred (100) dollars per Senatorial Candidate, whichever is less.

Things to Watch For Ledgers o All individual candidates and slates must maintain an online ledger o Online ledgers must be updated daily beginning on the first day of official candidacy Campaigning may not interfere with classroom activities. No person may campaign within a student- computing site during voting days o New polling set up Candidates, teams and slates may not overtly act to gain votes before the campaigning season begins.

Things to Watch For, Cont’d All websites by a candidate, candidate team, or slate are subject to review by the Judicial Panel and must adhere to the rules and regulations o Such websites must have a visible link to the Judicial Panel Elections webpage on each page of their website All s advertising a specific candidate must include a disclaimer at the bottom of the o “Please reply to sender requesting removal from list if you do not wish to receive further from this candidate. If you still receive from this candidate please contact the Judicial Panel at o Any such request must be honored within twenty-four (24) hours. This is a type I bylaw.

The USG Judicial Panel The USG Judicial Panel oversees the operation of the USG elections Also hears violations stemming from the Election Bylaws Violations Violating any type I bylaw has a maximum penalty of twenty (20) dollars per instance of violation. Violating any type II bylaw has a maximum penalty of one hundred (100) dollars per instance of violation. Violating any type III bylaw has a maximum penalty of two hundred (200) dollars per instance of violation. Violating any type IV bylaw has a maximum penalty of disqualification or two hundred (200) dollars per instance of violation. Violating any type V bylaw has a minimum penalty of disqualification.

How to File a Violation Fill out the brief template o Will be put on the Elections Website. Send filled out brief to Clerk of Courts, Angela Napier A hearing will be set up where both parties will be represented

Important Dates Week 3 of Spring Semester o Slates must register with USGJP by Monday Morning o Petitioning begins on Monday (1/20) at 8:00 AM Week 4 of Spring Semester o Petitions due Friday (2/1) by 5:00 PM ET in USG Office Week 7 of Spring Semester o Campaigning begins at 8:00 PM ET on Sunday (2/17) Week 8 of Spring Semester o Presidential Debates on Tuesday (Time/Location TBA) o Voting begins at 12:00 PM ET on Wednesday (2/27)

Calendar

Questions? Contact: Petition Forms and Brief Templates will be put on USG Election Webpage on Sunday of Week 3 of Spring Semester (Petitioning begins at 8:00 AM the following Monday) Ledgers will be ed to all registered slates and approved candidates