SGA Elections

Each Spring, the Student Government Association holds elections for Executive officers, Class officers (who serve as Senators), and additional Senate positions.  Also included on that ballot are student leadership positions for the Honor Board and the Senior class member Commencement speaker.

Each Fall a similar process occurs for the new First Year Class officers and Senators.

To be eligible, candidates must be in good disciplinary standing (not on disciplinary probation or higher) and will be expected to maintain a 2.7 GPA throughout their tenure.

Spring 2025

Each Spring, the Student Government Association holds elections for Executive officers, Class officers (who serve as Senators), and additional Senate positions.  Also included on that ballot are student leadership positions for the Honor Board and the Senior class member Commencement speaker.

To be eligible, candidates for SGA must be in good disciplinary standing (not on disciplinary probation or higher) and will be expected to maintain a 2.7 GPA throughout their tenure.

Executive Branch

  • President of the Student Body
  • Executive Vice President

NOTE: the Vice President of Communications and Vice President of Finance are filled through an application, interview, nomination by the President, and confirmed through the Senate.  If you are interested in these roles, applications will be available at the same time the elections packet is made available.

Senate Positions

Senator obligations include:

  • Actively engage in all Senate meetings and functions required by office: weekly (Thursday evening) Senate meetings, Town Halls, committee meetings, retreats, special events as participants or volunteers, or otherwise.
  • Serve as a member of at least one Senate committee. (Class Treasurers serve on the Finance Board that meets weekly and may serve on other committees if desired.)
  • Participate in a minimum of four (4) hours of programming sponsored by a campus cultural identity group, center or organization.

Senior Class

  • President
  • Treasurer
  • Senators (5)

Junior Class

  • President
  • Treasurer
  • Senators (5)

Sophomore Class

  • President
  • Treasurer
  • Senators (5)

Academic Senators

Each School is awarded Senate position based on their enrollment.  The current number of Senators for each  include:

  • School of Arts & Sciences Senator (5)
  • School of Communications Senator (3)
  • Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education Senator (2)
  • Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Senator (4)
  • School of Health Sciences Senator (1)

Initiative Senators

The Initiative Senators shall represent the priorities of the Student Government Association as determined by the SGA Bylaws.  There may be slight changes to this list for next year, but for the 2024-2025 term the positions included:

  • Civic Engagement Senator
  • Community Outreach Senator
  • HealthEU Senator
  • Inclusive Excellence Senator
  • Mentorship Senator
  • Sustainability Senator

Process for Spring 2025 SGA Elections

NOTE – Some details for the Spring 2025 elections are still being finalized.  Updates will be made as they are available.

Monday, February 10
Information Session (optional), TBD
Curious or have questions about running for a position on SGA?  An optional information session about SGA and each position for prospective candidates will answer your questions as the applications become available.

Monday, February 24 – No later than 5 pm, PhoenixCONNECT
Applications DUE 
The application and candidacy statement for elections is a form on PhoenixCONNECT.  Yours must be submitted (online) no later than 5 pm. ABSOLUTELY NO LATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Applications for the Vice President of Finance and the Vice President of Communications are also due this day, but are a separate form.  Interviews for these positions will be conducted after elections at the end of March.

Monday, February 24 at 5:30 pm, TBD
Mandatory All-Candidates Meeting
Please dress in business casual; election/ballot photos will be taken at this meeting. Campaigning may begin after the conclusion of this meeting. Requirements and limitations will be reviewed at this meeting. Contact the Elections Committee Chair (Alexander Siler, rsiler@elon.edu) at least 24 hours prior to the meeting to request an excused absence if you are unable to participate. (Excuses may be granted for an academic commitment, religious observance, participation in a varsity athletic event, a family emergency, or a medical emergency.) Any unexcused absence will result in a suspension of one’s candidacy.

Tuesday, February 25 at 8:00 pm
Candidate Speech Drafts Due
Email – elonsgaelections@gmail.com

Wednesday, February 26, TBD
Candidate Speeches
Your optional 3-minute (maximum) speech will be recorded by Elon News Network, shared on SGA’s social media account(s), and may be hyperlinked on the ballot.

Wednesday, March 5, TBD
Executive Candidates Forum
Participating in the Candidates Forum is optional yet strongly encouraged for all Executive Positions. The Forum shall be moderated by the Elections Committee Chair, in which the Chair will ask the candidates questions related to their respective positions.

Monday, March 10 (at 8:00 am) – Tuesday, March 11 (at 5:00 pm)
Elections
All voting will be conducted through Elon University’s web-based voting system – PhoenixCONNECT. Results will be announced shortly after the voting ends.

March 24 – April 5
Interviews for Vice President of Finance and Vice President of Communications
These executive roles are filled through an interview process.  Prior to elections, candidates for these roles will be asked to select an interview time during this period.  Selection will be made by a committee of newly elected officers, past officers, and advisors.

April 10 at 7:30 pm, Moseley 215
First 2025-2026 Senate Meeting
New SGA members will take the oath of office at this first Senate Business Meeting of the new Legislative Year.

Fall 2025 (TBD)
SGA Retreat
The mandatory SGA Retreat is an opportunity for all members of SGA to get to know each other better and begin working on their goals for the year.  It is typically held after first year class elections on the first weekend without a home football game.

Fall 2024 Elections

In the Fall, First Year Senate Elections were held September 17, 2024.

See the ELECTIONS PACKET for more detailed information. Contact the Elections Committee Chair (Maddie Williams, mwilliams101@elon.edu) or the Speaker of the Senate (Robin Falkow, rfalkow@elon.edu) to learn even more or come by the SGA office in Moseley 213.  Open positions include:

  • Class President
  • Treasurer
  • Senators (6)

Senator Obligations

  • Actively engage in all Senate meetings and functions required by office (Senate Business, working, and committee meetings; Town Hall; retreats; SGA volunteer activities; etc.).
  • Serve as a member of at least one Senate committee. (Class Treasurers serve on the Finance Board and may serve on other committees if desired.)
  • Participate in a minimum of four (4) hours of programming sponsored by a campus cultural identity group, center or organization.

First-Year Elections Process (Fall)

READ the Elections Packet and make sure you understand all of the requirements.

Interest Session
Monday, September 2 at 6pm, LaRose Commons 200
Join us to learn more about the Student Government Association, the election process, and the campaign requirements/allowances.

Application DUE
Monday, September 9 – No later than 5 pm
Complete the application and candidacy statement as directed on PhoenixCONNECT. All application materials must be completed and submitted by 5:00 PM on Monday, September 9, 2024.  No late applications will be accepted.

Mandatory All-Candidates Meeting
Monday, September 9 at 5:30 pm, LaRose Commons 200
Please dress in business casual; election/ballot photos will be taken at this meeting. Campaigning may begin after the conclusion of this meeting. Requirements and limitations will be reviewed at this meeting. Contact the Elections Committee Chair (Maddie Williams, mwilliams101@elon.edu) at least 24 hours prior to the meeting to request an excused absence if you are unable to participate. (Excuses may be granted for an academic commitment, religious observance, participation in a varsity athletic event, a family emergency, or a medical emergency.) Any unexcused absence will result in suspension of one’s candidacy.

Speech Drafts Due
Tuesday, September 10 at 5 pm
Speeches are optional, yet strongly encouraged. Drafts must be emailed to the Elections Committee Chair (Maddie Williams, mwilliams101@elon.edu).

Candidate Speeches
Wednesday, September 11 at 7pm, Jane and Brian Williams Studios (in Schar Communications)
Your optional 3 minute (maximum) speech will be recorded by Elon News Network, shared on SGA’s social media account(s), and may be hyperlinked on the ballot.  More instructions (including how to get to the ENN Studio) will be discussed at the candidates meeting.

Election Day
Tuesday, September 17 from 7am – 7pm (online – PhoenixCONNECT)
Elections will run on Tuesday, September 17 from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm.  All voting will be conducted through Elon University’s web-based voting system (PhoenixCONNECT). Election results will be announced later that evening.

Please refer to the elections packet for further information on the First-Year Elections process.