Elections
Be the Change You Want to See on Campus!
During winter semester, Student Senate holds elections where students can run for a seat on the Senate body. Candidates are required to collect petition signatures to appear on the voting ballot. Candidates on the ballot and will run a campaign to acquire as many votes as possible from their peers.
You may be wondering, who is voting in the Student Senate elections? That would be you! Anyone who is a registered student at Grand Valley State University is eligible to cast a vote to represent them!
Steps to Run for Student Senate
Your Guide to Joining Student Senate
Step 1 - Petitioning
Students interested in running for election can pick up an official petition packet from outside the Student Senate Office (KC 0008) or by downloading and printing a copy from our website. To get on the 2026-2027 election ballot, students need to collect 75 signatures (150 for President/VP) from GVSU students, and two signatures from GVSU faculty on the official petitioning packet.
Signatures must be collected in-person, on paper. Electronic signatures are not considered valid. Petitioning starts Monday, February 2nd at 8AM, and are due to the Office of Student Life on Friday, February 27th at 5PM. More rules and guidelines available in the Rules and Regulations Packet below.
Step 2 - Campaigning
Once the Elections Commission reviews and approves petitions, eligible candidates will receive an email confirming their candidacy. They will be asked to fill out an informational form, which includes space to write candidate platforms. These platforms, which express why candidates are seeking election, will be published on the ballot, as well as on the Lanthorn’s website and in physical printings.
Starting Saturday, March 7th at 12AM, students may begin campaigning. Campaigning helps to get candidates’ names out there and spread the word about Senate elections. In the past, students have made social media posts and made posters to hang around campus. See Rules and Regulations Packet for approved methods of campaigning.
Campaigning lasts until the end of election week, and must be done individally (with the exception of President/VP tickets).
Step 3 - Voting
Election week will begin Monday, March 16th at 8:00 AM and will end on Monday, March 23th at 5:00 PM.
GV students will receive an email with the link to the ballot; QR codes will be posted around campus, and Student Senate’s Instagram will also promote the link to the ballot.
All current students may complete one ballot. On that ballot, the will vote for:
- A President–Vice President ticket
- At-large candidates
- College representatives
- Students may also write in candidate names for college or at-large seats.
In each section, the candidates with the highest number of votes will win the election. For sections with more than one seat (for example, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has allocated seats), the top nine candidates will win.
Elections Resources
Helpful Information to Know Before You Run
For any questions, please contact the Elections Commission Chair, William Laurin, or Student Senate directly.