How to Get Elected to Student Council

Introduction

• Presenter: Nelson Lee
• Background: Former Student Council President at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute
• Current Position: First-Year Representative at UTSU and youngest elected representative on the Board of Directors for the University of Toronto Student Government
• Experience: Worked on various student and professional campaigns, featured in notable media outlets
• Goal: Share insights on the Student Council election process and provide tips to help you win

Should You Run?

1. Ask Yourself Why

   • Wrong Reasons: Boosting resume, increasing popularity
   • Right Reasons: Make a small change, grow as a leader, implement a broad vision

2. Check Your Feelings

   • Feeling nervous or excited is normal
   • Honest self-assessment is crucial

Application Process

• Varies by school
• Simple: Collect signatures, submit a bio
• Extensive: Provide a resume, more detailed requirements
• Tip: Ask teachers, administration, or former candidates for specifics

Campaigning

Pre-Campaigning

1. Create a Platform

   • Define promises and plans if elected
   • Showcase care for the position
   • Sources of ideas: personal observations, people's suggestions, other schools' practices
   • Example Platform: Culture, Spirit, Helping Students, Accountability
   • Slogan Example: "Putting Culture First, Putting Spirit First, Putting You First"

2. Make Posters

   • Include name, face, position
   • Have multiple designs highlighting different platform points

Campaigning

1. Post Your Posters

   • Around the school and online (social media)

2. Gain Name Recognition

   • Vital for winning votes
   • Methods: Posters, social media, personal interactions, speech

3. Personal Interactions

   • Online: Genuine conversations, asking for student concerns
   • In-Person: Talk during lunch, between classes, etc.
   • Hand out Flyers: Provide detailed platform info, make creative engagement tools

4. Speech

   • Key opportunity with maximum reach
   • Tips for a great speech
     • Introduction: Energetic greeting or a joke
     • Content: State name and position clearly, explain why you're running and your qualifications, outline platform specifics
     • Closing: Restate name and position
   • Example Closing Line: "Vote Nelson Lee for President so I could 'LEE-D' you all to the Garneau that you deserve."

Post-Campaigning

• Encourage students to vote in a neutral way
• Use campaign tools (social media, in-person interactions) to remind students to vote

Additional Support: Chance to Lead

• Service: One-on-one consulting to help win Student Council elections
• Offer: Tips, tools, pre-made and custom campaign platforms, speech writing and practicing, Get Out the Vote mechanism
• Special Offer: Free email quotes for first 100 inquiries

Conclusion

• Call to Action: Like and subscribe, comment for questions, sign up for Chance to Lead for tailored election strategies
• Final Wish: Best of luck in your Student Council election