The key to winning a spot on student council is running a great campaign.
Running for your middle school's student council should be a fun, rewarding experience. Regardless of your personality, platform or popularity, you can win the election by running a great campaign. However, successful campaigns require a good deal of planning, time and creativity.
Make a Time Line
Start campaigning as early as possible. The more time you give yourself, the better off you will be. Remember that you have to accomplish three things in a campaign. First, you have to get your name out. Not every student in your grade may know who you are, but they all should by the end of the campaign. Second, you have to convince students to vote for you. Third, you have to encourage your peers to actually go vote. Some may support you but might not vote unless you remind them. Keeping these goals in mind, develop a time line for your campaign. It should include specific goals and deadlines for releasing posters, handing out fliers, holding meet and greet events and giving speeches. The closer you get to election day, the more active your campaign should be. On the day of the election, you should have as many posters up as possible, hand out fliers like crazy and be reminding everyone you talk to that he should vote for you. Consider even having a rally during recess.
"Hire" Friends
A campaign takes a great deal of work, much more than one person can handle. Ask three to four of your friends if they will help you work on the campaign. Explain that their duties will include creating posters and fliers, distributing campaign materials, getting the word out about voting, helping with campaign events and assisting you with your speech. Give them each a copy of the campaign time line.
Develop a Platform
A political platform is a summary of the issues you are interested in addressing as a student council member. Maybe you want to see more food choices at lunch, increase the number of field trips taken or rally support for the school athletic teams. Whatever it is, write it down and make it your official platform. Mention your platform to every student you talk to, at every campaign event and in every speech you give. Think not only about what you are interested in, but what will prompt other students to vote for you. Your platform should be fairly specific. For example: "I want to give students more say in the kinds of field trips we take. If you want a ski trip, I will fight for that. If you want to go to a particular museum, then I will do my best to make it happen."
Develop a Slogan
A slogan is a catchy phrase that will help students remember who you are and why they should vote for you. Your slogan can be serious or funny. Here is a serious example: "Open your mind. Improve your school. Vote for Joe." Humor works quite well too: "He's not popular and he's not handsome, so he's got time for student government: Joe."
Prepare a Speech
You will most likely have an opportunity to give a speech. Start preparing for it early. Begin by writing a rough draft. Your speech should be humorous and include your platform as well as your slogan. Your goal should be to make your speech one your peers won't easily forget. Practice on your friends, asking them to give input on what they like and don't like about the speech. Rehearse the final draft as much as possible before giving the speech.
Make Posters
Make two to three different posters to use throughout the campaign. They might include your name, slogan or picture. The design should be bright, attractive and professional looking. Your name should be the biggest thing on the poster. Hang as many posters around the school as possible, particularly during the last week before the election. Enlist your friends to help with hanging them.
Make Handouts
Make a handout that includes your name, picture, slogan and a brief summary of why students should vote for you. You can hand these out, but you might also consider other methods for spreading them around. For example, tape one to every student's locker. You might also consider getting to your classes a little early and leaving one on each desk. If you do this, leave a small piece of candy, such as a Hershey's Kiss, as well. Ask your friends to help hand out as many fliers as possible.
Have a Rally
Consider having a rally either the day before or the day of the election. Be sure to ask your teacher's permission in advance. Hold the rally during recess and make it as fun as possible. Bring a boom box and play music, hand out Popsicles or candy, get a cheer going and give a brief speech. Your friends will be absolutely essential to the success or failure of this event. They will need to spread the word about the rally, help hand out treats and lead the crowd response. If they don't start up a cheer or get the energy flowing, the rally will flop.
Meet with Fellow Students
Talk to as many students as possible before election day, particularly if you don't think they know who you are. Consider having meet and greet events so you have more opportunities to speak with students. For example, go visit school clubs for a brief talk and to answer questions. You might also set up a table during recess so students can talk with you. To attract them to your table, give out free treats or trinkets.
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