Flyers and neon chalkings soon will envelop Grounds - spring elections are approaching.
Positions are up for grabs in school councils, class councils, the Honor Committee, the University Judiciary Committee and Student Council.
Mandatory interest meetings will be held from Feb. 5 to Feb. 7 in the Newcomb art gallery for anyone interested in running for a position. These meetings will cover election guidelines and hundreds of people usually attend them.
Prospective candidates will receive a packet containing both rules for campaigning and petitions that University students need to sign.
Council wants a wide variety of students to participate as candidates.
"We are not looking for one particular kind of student," Council President Abby Fifer said. "We are looking for creative, energetic, qualified students of any background who are willing to serve their community."
The endorsement period runs from Feb. 11 to Feb. 14.
Candidates will be asked to sign up for interview times on specific nights when they will meet with different groups that endorse candidates.
Endorsements come from groups such as the Inter-Fraternity Council, Inter-Sorority Council, The Cavalier Daily and the Coalition Forum, an umbrella organization for multicultural groups.
"Official campaigning begins literally at 12:01 a.m. Monday Feb. 18," Council Executive Vice-President Adam Swann said.
The campaign process will include an official debate forum. There also will be a great deal of advertising in the form of flyers and chalking around Grounds. Campaigning continues throughout elections.
Elections are set to begin Monday Feb. 25. Voting ends Wednesday Feb. 27 at 8 p.m.
Students may vote online by entering their student ID number, but once they have logged in to vote, they will not be able to do so again.
Students can vote online at www.uvastudentcouncil.com/~vote.
Students are prohibited from voting in certain elections, including those not pertaining to their school and year.
"Not everyone can vote for everything depending on your year or your school," said Bryan Pettit, co-chairman of Council elections committee.
Last year, about 40 percent of University students voted in the spring elections.
It was the highest number in several years, Fifer said.
This year, Council will set up laptop stations around Grounds to encourage even greater participation, she added.
The votes will be counted immediately after the polls close at 8 p.m. Feb. 27.
"The results will be posted on that very Web site who has won the elections later that night," Pettit said.
Runoff elections, which typically are rare, would take place March 4 and March 5.
A runoff is necessary if a candidate wins by less than five percent for any executive office.
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