Students voted in the schoolwide elections for ASB candidates today, March 27. However, the students’ votes will not be the only decisive factor in the elections this year.
Previously, the voting system allowed all votes to be weighted equally, regardless of the voter’s involvement in ASB. The new system not only allows the general school population to have a vote, but also members of ASB and the administration. This will allow candidates to be elected with more depth, as current ASB members are able to assess a candidate based on his or her day-to-day performance, rather than solely on the candidate’s video.
“ASB members are going to be the ones that are working with the officers for the next year,” ASB member junior Rachel Pinkelman said. “And it’s those people that they have worked with and will possibly work with next year that have the best idea of who is a good fit for which job.”
Each of the three groups–the overall population, ASB and administration–will have delegate points. The general population has a total of 100 delegate points, and the percentage of the population that votes for a candidate will be added to the candidate’s total points. For example, if half the school votes for a candidate, the candidate will have 50 points.
ASB members’ decisions also count for 100 points. Candidates presented five to seven minute speeches to members of ASB, who then voted based on the candidates’ speeches as well as their perceived ability through their performance during the year.
A panel of administrators, including Assistant Principal Cristy Dawson, Principal Wynne Satterwhite and others, have votes that count as 30 delegate points.
A candidate attains their position by having the most points combined from each section, and in this way, the new system is meant to help candidates be elected more for merit than popularity.
“Sometimes the masses are too apathetic or don’t really know who would be the best for the job and who wouldn’t,” Rachel said. “As much as people try to deny it, the popular vote is usually a popularity contest.”
