Welcome to the campaign trail for the National Student Council (NSC)! These guidelines are designed to ensure a fair, ethical, and successful election for all candidates and voters.
Please read carefully to understand how the election works, how to introduce yourself to voters, the spending limit and ethics requirements, and where to direct any questions you may have.
How the Election Works
- Election Dates:
- The election will take place online, via the election portal, from April 28 to May 2, 2025. Candidates may begin campaigning on April 1, 2025. Voting will close May 2, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
- Voting Method:
- Individual students do not vote directly. Each NASC-affiliated school in good standing is entitled to one (1) vote per officer position. The student council adviser will cast this vote on behalf of their council after internal deliberation to decide on their supported candidates.
- Election Outcome:
- Election results will be announced May 5, 2025, via email and the official NSC website. The candidates with the highest number of votes for each position will be declared winners. In case of a tie, runoff elections will be conducted the following week, with details shared via email.
Introducing Yourself to Voters
Every officer candidate will have a profile on the election portal showcasing their name, school, biography, and a short video.
- Video (90 seconds max): Present who you are, your student leadership highlights, and your vision for the NSC. Creativity is encouraged to differentiate yourself and communicate your message effectively. Submit your video.
Spending Limit, Ethics, and Regulations
Campaign Spending:
Candidates must adhere to a $25 campaign spending limit. Spending must be documented, with an itemized list and receipts submitted to the election committee upon request.
Ethical Conduct:
Candidates and their supporters must uphold the highest ethical standards, including:
- Promoting oneself positively without disparaging opponents.
- Avoiding any content in campaign materials that disparages or defames NSC, NASC, NASSP, or conflicts with the organizations’ missions and values and its programs.
- Ensuring campaign content does not discriminate, harass, or encourage illegal activities.
State Associations:
State student council associations may elect to promote specific candidates in the national election.
Websites and Social Media Usage:
All candidate profiles and campaign information will be hosted on the NASC website and social media. Candidates may not create websites to promote their candidacy but can leverage personal social media accounts (existing or new accounts). When posting, candidates should strictly abide by the conduct and ethics expectations set forth in the campaign guidelines and bylaws. All social posts from candidates should tag the official NASC social handle (@natstuco).
Email:
Candidates may not send unsolicited email blasts promoting their candidacy.
Outside Organizations:
Outside organizations are not permitted to be involved in the election.
Disqualification:
Failure to adhere to these guidelines and the NSC bylaws, as determined by NASSP, may result in disqualification from the election.
Questions
For any inquiries regarding the election rules, campaign guidelines or NSC bylaws, please reach out to [email protected].