Community Governor
Elections Packet
Fall 2015
Table of Contents
I. Governor Position Description and Duties
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What is RHA
What is Community Government
Community Governor Job Description
How Do I Get Involved
II. Campus Election Timeline
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Interest Meetings
Declarations
Confirmations
Campaigning
Election Day
Results
Run-off Election Day
Optional Information Session
Results
Remove Campaign Materials
III. Community Government Election Guidelines
IV. Frequently Asked Questions
 How do I become elected?
 Can I run for a position with someone else?
 What happens if there is a tie, or if no one receives a majority of the vote?
 When can I start campaigning?
 Where can I post campaign materials?
 Who should I contact regarding questions about elections?
V. Hallstorming Policy
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Non-Solicitation Form
Position Descriptions and Duties
What is RHA?
The Residence Hall Association represents residents' concerns to the University. Issues that the Residence Hall
Association has dealt with in the past include visitation and smoking policies, facilities improvement, and
security initiatives. RHA also works hard to provide a diverse choice of programming to residents. We provide
residents with valuable social programs and excellent service opportunities. RHA also offers enhancement
items to improve the quality of campus life.
What is Community Government?
Each of the 16 Residential Communities on campus has a community government. Lead by their Community
Governor, this team is in charge of representing their resident’s concerns to RHA/Housing as a whole, deciding
on enhancements items for the community and using the community budget to plan and execute
programming that benefits the lives of their residents.
Community Government has six distinct positions: Lieutenant Governor, Secretary, Treasurer, Marketing
Manager, Community Enhancements Officer, and Sustainability Officer. The governor is in charge of
appointing an executive board after being elected. They will be contacted soon after they are elected with
more information.
Community Governor Job Description
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Attend/participate in RHA meetings, committees, and functions
Attend/participate in weekly Board of Governor meetings Tuesdays at 7:30PM in Union 3102
Oversee Community Government
o Appoint an executive board
o Run meetings and create meeting agenda
o Oversee community programming and initiatives
o Have a working knowledge of your community budget and promote fiscal responsibility
o Hold Community Government representatives accountable
o Attend and participate in Community Government executive training
Attend the Governors Transition Meeting
Be a role model in the residence hall
Represent residence halls across campus
Work cooperatively with and foster a good relationship with residence hall staff
Attend weekly/biweekly meetings with your community director
Other duties as assigned
How do I get involved?
Officially declare your candidacy by completing this form by 11:59PM, Saturday, August 22nd.
If you would like to learn more about this position, RHA, and the role of Community Government in your
residence hall, you are highly encouraged to attend an interest meeting (see Election Timeline for details). Be
on the lookout for publicity in the residence halls, as well as emails that will contain Community Governor,
Community Government, and RHA information.
Any further questions can be directed to the RHA Vice President Spencer Ivey at [email protected].
Campus Election Timeline
Wednesday, August 19
Interest meeting – 7:00PM Connor Lobby
9:00PM Morrison Gameroom
Thursday, August 20
Interest meeting – 7:00PM Carmichael Ballroom
9:00PM Craige Lobby
Saturday, August 22
Community Governor Candidacy Declarations
Due by 11:59PM. Submit your declaration here.
Sunday, August 23
Confirmation and verification of on-campus residency emails sent by
12:00 PM (CANNOT campaign until verified)
August 23-26
Campaign Time
Now candidates can put up publicity (adhering to election guidelines/
community standards), talk to their residents about their platform, and
advertise their name.
Wednesday, August 26
Election Day
The residents elect the Community Governors in every community. Polls
operate from midnight to 11:59PM.
Thursday, August 27
Results
All candidates will be notified of their status.
August 28-30
Board of Governors Retreat
All candidates must be available for this time frame.
Wednesday, September 2
Remove Campaign Materials
All campaign materials must be taken down by 3:00PM.
Community Governor Election Rules
1. Candidates must be in good academic standing with the University, good conduct standing with the
University and Housing, and be a resident of the hall in which they are seeking office. you may be asked to
sign a FERPA waiver agreeing for RHA to complete a grade and conduct check to confirm you are in good
standing.
2. All candidates must officially declare their candidacy by completing this form by 11:59PM, Saturday,
August 22nd. Any questions may be directed to RHA Vice President Spencer Ivey at
[email protected].
3. At no time may any Resident Assistant (RA) assist a candidate’s campaign process. Office Assistants
(OAs) may not assist a candidate’s campaign while they are working a desk shift.
4. Candidates are ultimately responsible for any and all campaigning taking place in their name
(including people asked or designated to assist in their campaign). No bribing of residents, no slander
of opponents, and no cheating. As they should in all endeavors, all candidates must follow the
University’s honor code throughout their campaign.
5. All campaign materials must be removed by 3:00PM, Wednesday, September 2nd.
6. Posting guidelines:
 All election materials must be approved by the Community Director before posting in the
Community
 Candidates are allowed five signs total or two per building in their community, whichever total is
larger. Signs are to be no larger than 11” X 14”, which may be placed only in the lobby of the
community which one is campaigning in. For communities with more than one building, signs may
be placed in the lobbies only of each building.
 Any additional advertising outside of those five posters is prohibited (i.e. chalk, writing in volleyball
court sand, etc.) Social media advertising, however, is permitted.
 Postings must be appropriate, respectful of other candidates and must be in line with the
regulations of the building—no posting on doors/windows, or near fire alarms or equipment.
 Candidates, or individuals acting on behalf of candidates, are not allowed to move/remove other
candidate’s campaign materials.
7. Door-to-door campaigning is allowed. Candidates may only stop in rooms that already have their
room door open. On the eve of the election, from 7-9pm, all candidates are permitted to knock on
doors to campaign.
 Do not knock on the doors of residents who have a non-solicitation form posted on their
suite or room door (attached).
8. Candidates may hand out quarter-sheet flyers (1/4 size of normal sheet of paper) for publicity
purposes. You may not slide flyers under doors or post them to anything. You may not give these to
RA’s or OA’s to distribute for you.
9. If you wish to withdraw your candidacy at any point during the election process, you must do so in
writing to the RHA Vice President.
10. Any violations of the guidelines for election or unethical conduct by a candidate or his/her
representatives may result in an immediate disqualification. You may report campaign violations by
filling out this form. The RHA Vice President will determine violations and resulting consequences.
Any appeals of the Vice President’s decision must be taken to the RHA President for final decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become elected?
Once on the ballot, a candidate must win with at least 50% +1 of the votes cast in the election. No matter how
many candidates are on the ballot, a majority of the votes is necessary for a candidate to become elected to
Community Governor.
Can I run for a position with someone else?
No, all candidates must run individually. You may not designate a running mate or promise a position to another
student prior to being elected.
What happens if there is a tie, or if no one receives a majority of the vote?
We utilize a high tech instant runoff system that eliminates the possibility of a tie.
When can I start campaigning?
In the interest of fairness, you may not begin campaigning until you have received the confirmation email,
which also verifies your academic standing and on-campus residency; this will be sent before 12:00PM on
Sunday, August 23rd. Then you are allowed to start your campaign according to the guidelines listed in this
packet.
Where can I post campaign materials?
You may post your campaign materials in the lobbies only of the building(s) in which you are campaigning.
Please see the above posting guidelines for more information.
Who should I contact regarding questions about elections?
Any further questions can be answered by emailing Spencer Ivey, RHA Vice President at [email protected].
Official DHRE Hall Storming Policy
Please follow the bellow guidelines if you intend to participate in door to door campaigning on the eve of the
election. This is the only time that candidates are permitted to knock on doors.
Governor Elections
In a collaboration between the Department of Housing and Residential Education and the Residence
Hall Association, the following guidelines have been agreed upon for door-to-door campaigning:
Door-to-door canvassing and campaigning to include knocking on doors will be permitted the Tuesday evening
before Governor Elections each fall semester. Campaigning will occur from 7-9p.m. in the residence hall where
each candidate resides. Only 10 people from the same campaign shall be permitted to campaign in the hall at a
given time. The Department of Housing and Residential Education has designed a “Non-Solicitation Notice” that
it will distribute to students via community staff, which residents will be allowed to print and stick to their doors.
This sign, on a closed door, will display the fact that the residents of the room do not want to be solicited by a
campaign member or a candidate. Campaigns are not permitted to knock on these doors Violators of this
posting should be reported to the Residence Hall Association Vice President.
Please Note:
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You are not allowed to slide items under doors or post anywhere other than designated spaces.
2.
All flyers must be approved by the Community Director, but cannot be distributed by DHRE
staff.
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All posting must follow the guidelines outlined in the Election Packet.
Official Non-Solicitation Posting
All residents of room ____________ do not wish to be solicited by any
candidates or campaign workers for RHA Governor Elections.*
# of people in room_____.
*All residents must sign for this notice to be valid.
*For the request to be valid, room doors must be closed; so the sign is clearly visible.
Residents’ Names
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Signature
Date
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Campaigners who have visited this room may write their website URLs below:
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