Elections for Student Senate for Spring and Fall 2014 is drawing closer, and the packets for students interested in running are now available.

They are available on the student government website and Facebook page. Hard copies are also available in the Student Activity Center in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

To become a candidate students must fill out an Intent to Run form, which will include basic information about the perspective candidate. They also must maintain a 2.5 GPA and be a current student at Eastern.

They then must acquire 50 signatures from either undergraduate or graduate students currently enrolled.

Student Body President Kaylia Eskew said they check the E-numbers of all of the people who signed the petition to validate the candidate.

Currently, many of the Student Senate members were appointed, which only grants them the position for one semester. Many are looking to be elected for next year.

The completed packets and the candidate petition are due by 4 p.m. Nov. 6 in the Student Activity Center.

Candidates will then be required to go to a meeting on Nov. 7, which will be an informational meeting about the rules while campaigning.

Eskew said they are not allowed to place fliers in the residence hall floors as well as the dining halls.

“Not everyone has access to the residence hall floors,” she said.

Eskew added the dining halls are neutral zones for students to eat without being hassled.

Student Activity Center is also a safe zone, and is off-limits for any campaigning.

Elections will take place online from midnight Nov. 11 until 11:59 p.m. Nov. 12.

Students will be sent an email, which will link to the site where they will vote.

The unofficial results will be announced at the Student Senate meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Arcola-Tuscola Room in the Union. Grievances over any of those elected can then be issued but only three days following the unofficial election.

The official results will be released at the Student Senate meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 in Arcola-Tuscola Room.

Jarad Jarmon can be reached at 581-2812 or jsjarmon@eiu.edu.