How to Make Student-Council Election Posters

Markers are an easy, colorful tool for expressing your views.

It is important, if you are running for a student-council position, to let the other students know what you stand for and to make yourself memorable. Student-council election posters that reflect your message and personality can be a creative way to express yourself and help the voters get to know you better. When strategically placed around the school, your posters offer the students a visible reminder of why they should vote for you.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Permanent markers in bright colors
• Poster board
• Photos of candidate
• Glitter (optional)
• Glue
• Masking tape

Instructions

1. 

   A catchy slogan can help voters remember you on election day.

   Choose a slogan or catch phrase that reflects your campaign message. Keep it short so that it's easy for voters to remember and can be displayed prominently on your posters.

2. 

   Start your posters with pencil sketches.

   Use pencils to sketch out your lettering on a piece of posterboard. According to Jeff Marx's "How to Win a High School Election," your name should be the most prominent text on your posters; your slogan and desired student-council position should also be included. Make your letters are large enough to be read from far away, evenly spaced and neat. Draw lightly so that you can either draw over the pencil marks or erase them.

3. 

   Use colors that you like and that stand out.

   Draw over your pencil lettering with markers. Use color combinations that reflect your style and draw attention to your posters.

4. 

   Your photo should show you as approachable and serious about the position.

   Glue a photo of yourself to your poster. This can help voters make the connection between your name, your face and the position for which you're running.

5. 

   Glitter can add sparkle and shine to a poster.

   Accent some of your lettering or create a border around your photo with glitter, if wanted. Put glue on the poster where you want the glitter and pour glue on top of the glitter. Wait a few minutes and then shake off the excess glitter.

6. 

   Use tape to attach posters to the walls.

   Let your poster dry completely, then put masking-tape loops on the back of the poster to hang it up.

7. 

Tips & Warnings

• Review your school's guidelines about what is and what is not allowed on posters, how many you can post and size limits.

• Gather your supplies and get your friends together to help you make your posters. Having a poster-decorating party is a fun way to make numerous posters more quickly and to let your friends know what your campaign is all about.

• Use a theme for your posters, such as a color scheme that's carried through all of your campaign materials, to help students remember your campaign.

• Take your time and be neat to show the student voters that you care about your campaign and the student council.

• Profanity or inappropriate jokes on your posters could result in your being disqualified from the election, losing the election or getting into trouble at school.

• You will lose credibility if you put down the other candidates on your posters. Show the school what makes you a great addition to the student council instead of belittling the others.

References

• SchoolElection.com: Getting Your Name Remembered from "How to Win a High School Election" by Jeff Marx

Resources

• "How to Win a High School Election;" Jeff Marx (online version)