Student Government Association elections will begin later this year, and SGA will hold its election informational meeting today for those interested in running for a position.

“We moved them back for two reasons. The first is so that our SGA body falls in line with University Board and Committees,” said SGA President Connor McCarthy. “The second reason is to get us closer in line with the fiscal calendar, so that way we’re responsible for our administration’s finances and we’re not responsible for the administration after us or before us.”

“We encourage any parties to register as a campus organization so that they can reserve any campus space for themselves,” said Mark Clifford, chair of the elections committee and SGA attorney general. “This year there is a shortened time period [for campaigning]. It was two weeks, and we felt like that wasn’t necessary so we cut it back a week.”

All potential candidates must submit a petition and statement of intent, McCarthy said. According to the election code, students intending to run for an executive office must submit a petition of 300 signatures, and students running for a senator’s seat must submit either 100 signatures for those enrolled in a college of more than 1,000 students, or signatures of 10 percent of the students who are enrolled in their college.

“Students won’t officially be candidates until they return the petitions and they go through the process and attend one of the candidate seminars,” McCarthy said.

Though this meeting is not mandatory, candidates are expected to attend one of two candidate seminars, Clifford said.

“It is best that students come so they will know the code and won’t get into any trouble for anything,” he said.

There are no official parties yet, but “we’re looking like two parties have picked up,” Clifford said. SGA parties are not allowed to announce their intent to run until the campaign begins.

McCarthy said he doesn’t plan on endorsing a party, but he said he will stay around SGA after the new administration is elected.

“I might go to a meeting every blue moon,” he said. “But I’ll be there for advice and support, but in the end it’s still the best interest of the student body at heart.”

Campaigning begins for all candidates March 18 and ends March 26. Voting will take place March 23 to March 26. Students who don’t want to run with a party can campaign as independent candidates.

Both Clifford and McCarthy encourage candidates to be proactive throughout the election.

“Be out there, be energetic and try to get students involved – especially in the debates so they can know what you stand for,” Clifford said.

“Every last vote counts, and I can say that because we won by 49 [votes],” McCarthy said. “Get out there as early as you can and stay out on the final day.”