Important Dates and Deadlines for the 2013 SGA Elections

Tuesday, March 12^th 2013

Mandatory meeting and constitution test for prospective candidates. The test will be administered at 5:30pm and again at 6:30pm. The meeting will be held at 6:00pm.

Deadline for submitting preliminary party information (party name and chairperson).

Wednesday, March 13^th, 2013

Make-up mandatory meeting and constitution test for prospective candidates. The test will be administered at 5:30pm and again at 6:30pm. The meeting will be held at 6:00pm.

Friday, March 15^th, 2013

Deadline for petition forms with 25 signatures and advisor’s signature, pledge form, and elections rules compliance form. Also the deadline for party lists, biographies and photographs, and platforms for executive candidates. Campaign material approval during specified hours, and deadline for $10 deposit.

Sunday, March 17^th, 2013

Campaign period opens. Candidates may begin distributing approved campaign materials and may place approved posters in specified buildings. Campaigning through speaking engagements and use of internet resources is allowed.

Monday, March 18^th, 2013

Meet the Candidates forum at 7:00pm.

Friday, March 22^nd, 2013

Rough draft of campaign finances due.

Monday, March 25^th, 2013

Candidate debates at 7:00pm.

Monday, April 1^st, 2013

Campaign finance forms due by 5:00pm. No money may be spent on campaign after this date.

Tuesday, April 2^nd, 2013

General elections.

Wednesday, April 3^rd, 2013

Runoff elections (if necessary).

Friday, April 5^th, 2013

All campaign material must be properly disposed of by 5:00pm or $10 deposit will be forfeited.

Section 1: Executive Council Elections Qualifications

Article 1:

All nominees for the Student Government Association positions of President, Vice-President, and Secretary General must be enrolled in the University of Tennessee at Martin and in good academic and disciplinary standing at the time of election and appointment, and during the term of office. Per the SGA Constitution Article IV, Section 4, a nominee for one of these three positions must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher at the time of his or her nomination and shall not allow his or her cumulative grade point average to drop below 2.75 during the tenure of office.

Article 2:

Prior to taking office, nominees must have served two full semesters in one or more of the following positions: Chief of Staff, Executive Assistant, Elections Commissioner, Chief Justice, Student Defender, Attorney General, elected Senator, or appointed Senator OR have served as the chair of a Senate committee for at least half of a semester and have successfully passed the regular review conducted after that semester. Service as a Freshman Council member or a Senator-at-Large is not accepted to fill these requirements, per the SGA Constitution Article IV, Section 5.

Article 3:

Nominees must complete Pledge Forms stating that they have read the SGA Constitution and Article IV in detail, and will pledge to fulfill all duties and requirements of the office if elected.

Article 4:

Nominees must complete the Elections Rules Compliance Form, stating that they will comply with all rules and requirements set forth by the 2011 Elections Commissioner and the SGA Constitution.

Article 5:

To qualify for candidacy, nominees need 25 signatures on an Elections Petition Form. The signature of the candidate’s academic advisor is also needed on this form.

Article 6:

Nominees must comply with the rules of campaign finance and complete the proper Campaign Finance Forms. These forms must be turned in to the Elections Commissioner by 5:00pm on Monday, April 1^st, 2013. A rough draft of campaign finances is due March 22^nd.

Section 2: Senate Elections Qualifications

Article 1:

All nominees for the Student Government Association Senate must be enrolled in the University of Tennessee at Martin and in good academic and disciplinary standing at the time of election and appointment, and during the term of office. Per the SGA Constitution Article VI, Section 1, a nominee must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.25 or higher at the time of his or her nomination and shall not allow his or her cumulative grade point average to drop below 2.25 during the tenure of office. Before taking office, the nominee must complete 12 semester hours.