Neighborhood Council Campaign Guidelines

Campaign Financing 

• No campaign is to spend more than $20.00 (if any money at all) on their campaign. 
• Submit copies of all receipts with your name and the position you are running for to your Coordinator of Student Development (CSD) at your Neighborhood’s Front Desk.  
• Candidates are responsible for any campaign-related purchases and will not be reimbursed.
• For assistance in accessing poster making supplies, please contact your Student Leader or CSD. Find your CSD here on your Neighborhood dropdown menus.

Printed Posters & Signage 

• Prior to posting, ALL signs must be approved by the CSD for your Neighborhood.
• Approval process: Email a photo of the electronic design/physical (handmade) posters to your CSD. They will either stamp or sign the front of one poster for you to copy and distribute with that approval on it.  
• If unapproved/inappropriate signs are posted, judicial action may be taken, and you may be disqualified from the election. 
• Signs may only be posted in public places within the housing footprint (e.g., lounges, main lobby, etc.). All campaigning should remain within your respective community, only your neighborhood residents will elect your council representatives.
• Campaigning materials should not be posted outside the Housing footprint (e.g., Recreation Center, Dining Facilities, University Union, academic buildings, etc.) 
• Signs must be hung up using blue painters’ tape, provided for you at your front desk. That is the only item that University Housing/your Neighborhood is permitted to contribute to your campaign.  
• Signs may not be posted on railings, windows, doors, floors, or safety equipment (e.g., fire alarms, fire extinguishers, emergency equipment, etc.). Sidewalk chalking is prohibited. 
• No signs can, in any way, cover up another candidate’s sign that was hung previously.  
• If a person running for a Council position, or an acquaintance of that person, removes or damages any of their competitors’ signs, they will be disqualified. 
• Signs must be taken down by 11:59pm the day after Council Training Day.

Electronic Advertising 

• Approval process: Email advertisement to your CSD before posting.  
• Candidates may campaign via personal social media accounts, but should keep all communications appropriate. If inappropriate campaign-related communications take place, judicial action may be taken, and you may be disqualified from the election. 

Important Campaign Dates | Fall 2026

Tuesday August 25th – Sunday September 6th	IHC Neighborhood Council Recruitment Events (Various locations, check with your Student Leaders for details)
Tuesday August 25th – Friday September 4th	Neighborhood Council Zoom Info Sessions (Various Times)  Zoom Link Here & on IHC Linktree
Monday, September 7th	Neighborhood Council Election Campaigning can begin!
Monday, September 7th	Candidate Registration Deadline at 9:00 pm. NO late registrations accepted.
Tuesday, September 8th	“Meet the Candidates” Night at 8:00 pm (Various Locations)
Sunday, September 13th - 15th	Election Voting Period! 9:00 am – 9:00 am. Vote through Survey Ballot link sent to your Cal Poly e-mail.
Tuesday, September 15th	Election Reveal Party in the evening!!!
Friday, September 18th	Pre-training Mixer: IHC Executive Board host mixer for Council Officers & Senators
Saturday, September 19th	Inter Housing Council (IHC) Council Training Day for all newly elected leaders. Hosted in the yakʔitʸutʸu Community Center.
Monday, September 21st	Week of First Full Neighborhood Council Meetings!
Friday, September 25th	First Advocacy Board Meeting!