So you want to run for an MSL office?
Congratulations! You’ve taken the first step. We’re so grateful for our members who want to step up and take on the responsibility of leadership in the Maryland Student Legislature.
Every year during the Annual Session, the body elects six students to serve on the Council of State. These six officers lead the statewide program, working together to put on MSL’s legislative sessions, support our member delegations, educate new members, and more.
Filing
In order for your name to appear on the ballot for the Council of State, you must file a candidacy form with the Attorney General no later than the universal deadline for the Annual Session. The candidacy form can be found at this link.
Campaigning
Candidates are encouraged to campaign! You should speak with your fellow members to encourage them to vote for you. Present a coherent argument for why you are the person best suited to fill this important role, and a plan for how you will contribute to the organization if elected. Students are welcome to create campaign materials, organize a campaign team, and promote themselves on social media. Get creative!
Candidates are also given the opportunity to announce that they intend to seek a Council of State office during the Spring Leadership Training Institute. This occurs before the filing deadline, so you do not have to announce your candidacy at the LTI to run.
Lastly, make sure you identify a member who you know will be at the Annual Session to move your nomination and another to second it. More on that below.
The Election
The election is held on Saturday during the Annual Session. The ballot will be printed by the Secretary of State before the event with the names of all candidates who filed and who met the requirements for the office they are seeking.
Each candidate who filed must have their nomination moved and seconded from the floor (this is why it’s important to line up your nominator and seconder in advance!). The people who move and second your nomination each get three minutes to speak about why they support your candidacy. Once all nominations have been moved and seconded, you will have the opportunity to speak for up to 10 minutes.
Nominations from the Floor and Write-in Campaigns
If you did not file on time, want to run, and no candidates filed to run for the office you are seeking, you can be nominated from the floor. In this case, nominations, seconds, and candidate speeches work the same way as they do for candidates who filed on time.
If you did not file on time, want to run, and there are candidates filed to run for the office you are seeking, you can mount a write-in campaign. In this case, you cannot be nominated from the floor and cannot give a candidate speech. If you run as a write-in, you will have to work doubly hard to convince your fellow members to support you and write in your name by speaking to them directly during breaks or outside the chamber.