“It’s a popularity contest” is the age-old tale told about ASB and class office elections. Although it’s impossible to fully remove the influence of popularity on students’ voting decisions, Lynbrook should consider implementing a two-step application process for candidates and more in-person election activities to ensure that candidates are qualified and foster more student body engagement with their campaigns.
Currently, in-person campaigning is limited to candidates walking from table to table, sharing posters with lengthy speeches. Many students are indifferent to who is elected and would often rather focus on their lunches than a rushed presentation. Different interactive activities, like Q-and-A sessions or debates, would allow candidates to promote themselves while reaching a larger and more interested audience.
“If a lot of people go, then it would be an interesting debate that could definitely, at minimum, raise awareness for elections going on,” Class of 2028 president-elect Justin Jung said.
A Q-and-A session would provide a way for students to voice their concerns and for candidates to adjust their campaigns based on student input, building mutual understanding. Additionally, debates where candidates respond to questions about their future goals would give an opportunity for candidates to showcase solid ideas that they can defend and explain, similar to the United States’ current presidential elections. The benefits of having a unique, defendable campaign would also impel candidates to run on more specific platforms.
“I don’t know what the turnout of those events would be, but I’d be supportive of them,” junior and ASB treasurer-elect Erin Chen said.
However, the problem of low student turnout remains an issue. One solution is to place the interactive activities in the quad, where frequent student traffic would increase participation and visibility. If students want officers who will speak for them well, they also need to take responsibility for being informed about the candidates. Locating big events like debates in the quad would make it easier for students to do so, promoting both campaigns and voter education.
While social media is a key factor in spreading election awareness, online campaigns can distance voters and candidates, especially when candidates are not making their own posts — some candidates pay more experienced students to create graphics, videos and other materials for them. This disadvantages those with limited budgets and those who simply don’t want to spend large sums of money on their campaigns. Restricting candidates from outsourcing work for their campaigns would make online campaigning not only fairer but also more authentic.
Previously, ASB adviser Anna Kirsh and ASB officers discussed having candidates fill out an application about why they are running for their position and what their qualifications are, instead of being allowed to run right away. The proposal was ultimately rejected to avoid extinguishing the voice of the student body, but combining applications with student votes would ensure winning candidates are both qualified and chosen with student input. In this two-step process, adviser and current ASB officers could use written applications to select serious and capable candidates for the ballot. This way, students would still be allowed to vote for their representatives.
“It’s important that we keep the elections as having a student voice,” Kirsh said.
If chosen candidates have solid backgrounds in leadership and students take the responsibility to educate themselves and learn about their campaigns, ASB elections will be more effective
“In-person connections are genuine,” junior and ASB vice president-elect Amie Wu said. “Those connections are something really special.”
