March is an exciting month for collegiate athletics fans, but it’s also a thrill for those who follow student government (which, frankly, should be you). The campaign period officially opened Monday morning in the University Park Undergraduate Association’s 13th Assembly elections.

Candidates were announced before spring break, including 32 students running to fill 20 at-large seats, 17 students running to fill their respective academic college seats, and just one executive ticket (Cody Heaton and Laura McKinney) running for the presidency and vice presidency.

You can now find information about each candidate on the election website. Heaton and McKinney have also created a separate website showcasing their qualifications and platform. The Elections Commission will also hold the following events leading up to election day:

• Meet the Candidates Mingle: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 20 in 233A HUB
• Executive Tickets Debate: 7-10 p.m. Thursday, March 22 in 302 HUB

“With the fact it is a one ticket race we will create this event to be more of a town hall event,” Head Election Commissioner Reilly Ebbs said. “We are also open to any ideas to make it even more interesting and welcoming to all students to attend. But our main idea is to allow students to ask Cody and Laura questions.”

No write-in executive campaigns have come forth yet, but if they do, they won’t be permitted to participate in sponsored elections events like the debate. Because of an elections code provision changed this year that doesn’t allow candidates to place their names on the ballot for both an executive and representative candidate, any current representative candidates who wish to strike up a write-in executive campaign must first withdraw their representative candidacy.

The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, March 28. Results are expected to be announced shortly thereafter. In the meantime, we’ll continue to provide updates on the election and more information on this year’s candidates.