<p>Hey, I'm part of my college's debate team and we're having elections soon, for President, Vice President, Treasuerer, etc.....</p>
<p>I'm running for both VP and Secretary.....and I was wondering the types of tactics that we can use to ensure that we win? Most of us are qualified, and the deciding factor is how well we get along with other candidates/voters on a personal level.</p>
<p>Like for example, I've been having lunch with some candidates and voters and getting to know them better one by one.</p>
<p>I was also thinking about....maybe, pacts? Like "hey, if I talk about you and root for you for President, will you root for me for Treasuerer?"</p>
<p>Because we're not just voting. We'll be discussing at a table who we think would win. What are some good strategies to use?</p>
<p>I was thinking about making a pact with each cadidate, mhaving lunch with them, and basically saying, "look, ill say this about you, if you say this about me" and create alliances?</p>
<p>what are some things we should do and cant do? what are some good ideas?</p>
<p>Student political elections are almost always about who (and how many) you know and often very little about any actual issues (unfortunately, this often applies to real politics too). Meet as many people as you can, convince them to vote for you and to get their friends to vote for you. If you do that more than your opponent's then you'll likely win...</p>
<p>rocketman is right: The tactic is to know as many people as possible and to make an impression - easily said, but if there is an election and I don't know anything about the candidates, I will vote for the person I know.</p>
<p>Be careful with alliances - support isn't always a good thing - if there is a candidate, who divides people, better stay neutral.
And do not overrate alliances. Most people aren't as subtle as they think they are, and people don't like feeling manipulated... It's a bit like: "You tell Anna that I'm a nice guy, and I'll tell Kathi... " - a bit pathetic, don't you think?</p>
<p>Try to listen to the people. I have seen so many candidates fail because their program were about their wishes and ambitions - and not ours. It is okay to only appeal to certain groups of people. But try, with your arguments, to be the only choice for them.</p>
<p>Know about basic psychology. People like hearing themselves talk. People like to feel smart. People love random compliments (as long as you don't add: Oh, and I'm running for VP) - would it hurt to tell a girl that you think her shoes look nice? Have you ever asked somebody where he bought that cool shirt? Even if you think it's beyond ugly? </p>
<p>What made me win an election is, that I talked to a concurrent, who was very similar to me, and told him that, no matter who would win, I'd hope to remain friendly - because I admired his way to deal with people and his fairness.
A lot of people heard that, and, as they told me later, they supported me because of that - because it made me seem very fair and professional - and later, when he attacked me personally, he was the 'bad guy'...</p>