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Run for MAYOR!

How to vote for SA Smart Mayor

of SA Smart

Middle School City

of SA Smart

High School City

As a competition at the intersection of STEM, civics and entrepreneurship, SA Smart benefits from strong vision, wise policies, and responsiveness to the schools, teachers and students we serve.  This sounds like the job of a Mayor!  We invite you, the students, to join us in a democratic process that brings your leadership to the SA Smart Challenge. 

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The SA Smart Middle School City Mayor, and the SA Smart High School City Mayor, will be sworn in at the SA Smart Competition Clinic.

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Vision: Picturing in detail what a better future could look like.

Policies: Rules of the road that improve life overall for those being served.

Responsiveness: Actively hearing, considering, and acting on input from those served.

Overview: How to Run and Vote

The detailed rules to run and vote for Mayor are below.  There are lots of details, but the process is simple.  Follow these steps!  Refer to the text below for details.

  1. To run, review How to Run (File for Office).

  2. Then file for office!

  3. Make sure your teacher or adult sponsor registers your team by December 13.

  4. To vote, watch for ballots a few weeks before the Competition Clinic.  They'll arrive through your teacher or adult sponsor.

  5. If you win, assume office and carry out your duties as Mayor!

The Details

Job description

Job Description

The Mayor of SA Smart Middle School City will share a vision for the future of the SA Smart Challenge, and recommend policies, all in consideration of the input of those served in SA Smart Middle School City.

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The Mayor of SA Smart High School City will share a vision for the future of the SA Smart Challenge, and recommend policies, all in consideration of the input of those served in SA Smart High School City.

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Specific Duties:

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  1. Deliver a short (three minute) speech after being sworn in at the Competition Clinic.

  2. Publish a vision for the future of SA Smart, working with teachers and SA Smart staff.

  3. Give a 15-minute recorded interview sharing their vision for SA Smart.

  4. Review the SA Smart Smart Rules and Rubric (policies) and recommend changes.

  5. Serve as an ambassador for the SA Smart program as permitted by schedule.

How to file

How to Run (File for Office)

People interested in serving as Mayor become a candidate by filing for office.  Use the link below to complete the application.  Your application will be processed by the SA Smart City Clerk, who will reply with questions, or will confirm successful completion of the application and that you are an official candidate for office.

 

The City Clerk will request a one-half-page Statement of Candidacy of why you are running for Mayor and your plans as Mayor, to be shared with all voters.  That Statement is required for you to appear on the ballot.

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Additional important details for filing:

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  1. ​Eligibility: Any SA Smart competitor may file for office.  Competitors are students who are members of teams who have officially registered for the competition, and whose participation has been confirmed by their teacher.  Students will run in the "City" (middle school or high school) in which their team will compete.

  2. Filing is open until the date indicated in the voting schedule.  Late applications cannot be accepted.

  3. Students must maintain a C average as defined by their schools.  Students must attest they are maintaining this average on filing.

  4. The teacher or adult sponsor will be asked to confirm the student's candidacy.

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FILE FOR OFFICE

Voting

Voting

Voting will be conducted according to the year's voting schedule.

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Ranked choice voting will be used.

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In simple terms, each voter must make a first choice, must make a second choice, and can make a third choice.  If there is no outright winner at 50% or more based on first choices, a process of eliminating the lowest vote getter and using second and third choices commences until a candidate meets the 50% requirement to be declared the winner.

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Details:

  1. A candidate receiving 50% or greater of first choice votes will win the election.

  2. If no candidate receives 50% or greater, the candidate receiving the least number of votes will be eliminated.  Votes for that candidate will move to each voter's second choice, and results will be recalculated.

  3. If there is still no candidate with 50% or greater of the votes, the next lowest candidate will be eliminated, and voters' third choices will become active if a voter's first two candidates have been eliminated.

  4. If there is still no candidate with 50% or greater of the votes, the process of eliminating the candidate with the lowest vote total will continue.  Each time a candidate with the lowest vote total is eliminated, votes will be recalculated.  Any ballot not naming one of the remaining candidates will not count in the percentage calculation.  The process stops, and a winner is declared, when a candidate has 50% or greater of the votes.

  5. If the process reaches the final two candidates, the candidate with the most votes will be declared the winner.

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Voting Process

  1. Voting will be conducted electronically per the year's voting schedule.

  2. Access to ballots will be shared with students via their teacher/adult sponsors as indicated at registration.

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Voter Eligibility

  1. Voters are eligible if they are a member of a registered team.

  2. Voters will provide their "ID" with their vote.  Their ID is <School Name> + <Team Name or Number> + <a token randomly chosen by the student>.

  3. Voters may vote one time.

  4. SA Smart reserves the right to confirm voter eligibility and adherence to "one student one vote" with teachers/sponsors.  Information shared will be limited to the ID of the voter.  Voters' selections will be strictly confidential.

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Final Decisions

If for any reason the above process does not yield a clear winner, or if disputes are raised, the SA Smart Steering Committee will declare a winner after review of the voting rules, and will do so consistent with the spirit and intent of the voting rules.  Attempts to manipulate or abuse the process in the judgment of the Steering Committee will be quickly dismissed.  The decision of the SA Smart Steering Committee is final.

How to vote
Assuming office

Assuming Office / Swearing In

The Mayor of SA Smart Middle School City, and the Mayor of SA Smart High School City, assume office upon taking the Oath of Office from a member of the SA Smart Steering Committee or their delegate.  The oath is as follows:

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I, <Mayor Elect's name>, do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of Mayor of SA Smart <Middle School or High School> City, and will to the best of my ability execute the duties of the office.​

Schedule

Schedule / Term of Office

The Mayor of SA Smart Middle School City, and the Mayor of SA Smart High School City, will assume their office at the SA Smart Competition Clinic, generally scheduled for mid to late January or early February.  Their term ends at the end of Competition Day (the Competition Finals), generally in mid to late May of the same year.

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The 2025 schedule (spanning 2024 and 2025) is as follows:

  • Monday, October 7, 2024: Announcement of open offices, filing is open.

  • Friday, December 13, 2024, 11:59:59 pm: Office filing deadline.  The student's team must also be registered by this date.

  • Tuesday, January 7, 8 am: Voting opens; ballots distributed via teachers/adult sponsors.

  • Wednesday, January 8, 5 pm: Voting closes.

  • Thursday, January 9, 10 am: Announcement of results.

  • Competition Clinic Day: Swearing in, Mayors-Elect assume office.

  • Competition Day (Finals): Mayors exit office.

Ethics

Ethics and Policies

All candidates and officeholders are expected to represent themselves, their schools, and the SA Smart program with high ethical standards and in adherence with the policies of the SA Smart program.  In addition to the Competition Rules and Competition Rubric, the following policies are in effect.

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  1. Candidates and officeholders will remain in good standing in their schools.  Suspensions, formal disciplinary actions, or other actions deemed a violation of ethical standards by their schools or by the SA Smart Steering Committee may result in removal from candidacy or from office.

  2. Campaign rules:​​

    • Campaign activities will be limited to the publication of a policy paper, the creation of a campaign video, and one social media post, as described in the filing process.​

    • Using funds to support campaign activities is strictly prohibited.

    • Topics within the policy paper, interview, and social media post are strictly limited to the topics of the competition and the specific duties of each Mayor.

    • Advocacy for specific political candidates in active or prospective political races is strictly prohibited.

    • Advocacy for specific religions or religious practices is strictly prohibited.

  3. The SA Smart Steering Committee is given authority to enforce these rules by removing candidates from contention, and removing officeholders from office.​

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FILE FOR OFFICE!

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