By Regis L. Roberts and Jade Villarreal
Students interested in running for an office or to be a commissioner in the Student Government Association have until 5 p.m. Nov. 16 to return packets to the office of student life.
The election is Nov. 26-28.
The packets can be obtained in Room 152 of Loftin Student Center.
Packets include an application, criteria for the positions, a questionnaire, guidelines for fliers and other campaign material and procedures for grievances if a candidate challenges the fairness of the election.
Officers elected will serve from January to November 2008.
Criteria for candidates for secretary, treasurer and commissioners include being enrolled in at least six credit hours; a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.5 that is to be maintained throughout the term; completion of the election packet; understanding of the Student Government Constitution and the terms of office; and that the student not be on administrative hold, scholastic probation or under suspension.
In addition to this, candidates for president and vice president must be enrolled in 12 credit hours, not necessarily all at this college, and not be president or vice president of any other club while serving out the term.
Adviser Suzanne Martinez said students running for office can campaign as soon as they are approved, and said that she would welcome candidates coming to any of her classes to speak about their campaign.
Polling places, monitored by advisers, will be in Loftin Student Center, but in lieu of paper ballots, the polling station will have laptops for online voting, she said.
Students do not have to vote at the polling station and can vote anywhere they have Internet access. Students must enter their PALS user name and the last four digits of their Social Security number.
Martinez said she would like students to test out the online system to make sure there are no kinks by logging on to http://sacweb.accd.edu/studentcouncilvote/.
Because voting will be online, Martinez said results could be tabulated as soon as voting is done and announced within hours.
For further information, contact Martinez at 733-2548 or sumartin@accd.edu.