The campaigning has begun, but it’s unlikely it will take as much time to elect NIU’s new Student Association leaders as it did Florida to declare George W. Bush the winner.

SA elections are March 27 and 28, and for the first time at NIU, the student trustee will be chosen by popular vote. Current SA vice president Alex Alaniz and Sen. Brad Kuhn are competing for the position on NIU’s Board of Trustees.

Running for president this year are current president Ken Getty, current treasurer Troy Caldwell, Sen. Shawn McGady and Sen. Will Reilly.

Wednesday was the first day for candidates to campaign.

“Students campaign in various ways, from running ads to chalking, mostly anything visual to catch the eye,” Caldwell said. “The craziest thing I saw during last year’s campaigns was a presidential and a vice presidential candidate sleeping in their cars outside the Campus Life Building the night before petitions were due so they’d be the first in line.”

Vice presidential candidates include Sen. Jamie Garcia and Sen. Mitch Star. Up for treasurer are undeclared business major James Regelin and Sen. Karega Harris. Earlier this year, Regelin withdrew his application for 6th Ward alderman after learning he did not live in the ward.

Alaniz said campaigning doesn’t get crazy until the week before the elections.

“You may see candidates in the (King Memorial) Commons handing out fliers and meeting the students,” Alaniz said. “This is the time for students to meet us and see what we’re all about. But the week before the election is when you want everyone to see your face.”

During that week, most candidates won’t get much sleep, Alaniz said.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun,” he said. “I’ve never met so many people in all my life.”