As March approaches, the time has come for the annual Student Government Association elections. Candidates have begun the process of getting their message out to students through campaigning.

Campaigning officially began on Feb. 23 at 6 a.m. and is a time for candidates to interact with their constituents and get their ideas and opinions out there and show the student body why they’re the best fit for their respective office.

“To me, campaigning is part of the relationship building with candidates,” said SGA Coordinator Rachel Bourgeois. “I think it’s important for the candidates to get their platforms out there.”

According to Bourgeois, this year there is an election in every college except for graduate studies. As for president and chief justice, candidates Branden Summers and Kayla Turner, respectively, will be running unopposed. For vice president, students will have the option of voting for Shawndreka Gatlin or Megan Wiggins.

Summers and Wiggins are running as a ticket, while Turner and Gatlin are running independently.

“They can run on independent tickets. Meaning if you are running for vice president, you don’t have to have someone running for president to run,” said Bourgeois.

Despite running unopposed, current Chief Justice and Election Chair William Takewell explained that the two candidates would still be required to participate in the SGA Executive Elections Debate on March 6.

“They are still going to present their platforms and be asked questions regardless. I’m a very big proponent of people addressing their audience,” said Takewell. “They still have to let us know what their platform is all about and why they are serving in this position.”

Candidates must follow rules laid out by the SGA which includes a budget for campaigning. For president, vice president and chief justice, candidates are allowed to spend $500 for campaigning while senators and justices are allowed $100 for campaigning.

“Basically, what the SGA wants is the people representing the students that are truly about representing students,” Bourgeois explained when asked about the budget. “That’s why the election rules and campaign rules are set up the way they are. It’s formatted so that the best candidate will win, not necessarily the person who is spending the most money.”

Takewell calls on all Southeastern students to come out and vote for the person they think will make the changes they want to see.

“You have this right to vote. I’ve heard people complain and complain and complain. Well, the only way to change things is to come out and vote for the people you think are going to change the things you want to see changed,” said Takewell. “Get involved on your campus. Try to change something. Vote for the people you think are going to make the most change.”

The SGA Executive Elections Debate will be held at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre. Voting will be done exclusively online and will begin March 12 at 8 a.m. in the Student Union and end on March 14 at 4:30 p.m.