Delegates to the 2019 SMOB nominating convention found faster lines at the polls, more secure ballots, and a drastic change in the voting methods. The Special Election Committee (SEC) enacted these changes following past years of voting mayhem. Once the time came to vote, every delegate would rise and scramble to a voting station and attempt to grab a ballot. This voting method was flawed, as voter fraud was rampant and voting shortened time for debate.

In previous years, voting took an extended period of time and were insecure. This was because there was no system to regulate the number of ballots someone could cast, and waiting times were extended as paper ballots were hand counted.  Without proper voting groups, these problems were exacerbated as the cluster of delegates grew to clot the voting halls.

The SEC’s found solutions to the problems they faced and made a multitude of changes to secure the ballot box and speed up voting waits. One of these changes made is the decision to use Chromebooks to vote instead of paper ballots. Another is establishing voting groups which would call people in certain sections of the auditorium to vote; similar to airplane boarding groups. Furthermore, voters will be assigned wristbands to combat voter fraud.

The SEC eliminated the true ranked ballot method, where delegates would choose their top three choices, and each choice would receive a share of votes. In past conventions, the first choice received three votes, second choice received two votes, and third choice received one vote. However, the SEC scraped this voting method in favor of a few one.

Now only the first choice selection receives a vote, while second and third choice votes are used as tiebreakers. The reasoning for this is unclear, as nothing seems to have prompted this move, however a possible explanation for this change may be the ranked ballot voting consumed too much if the SEC’s time. This would be congruent with many of the other changes made by the SEC.

After the convention, we are now left with two candidates, Zoe Tashev and Nate Tinbite, who are facing off to be the next SMOB.

Tashev has spent much time advocating for students by attending marches, testifying in front of the Board of Education, and communicating with students. Her election would secure another year of an all-female Board of Education.

Tinbite currently serves as the President of the Montgomery County Regional SGA, having been very active in gun control walkouts and protesting Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. If Tinbite is elected he would be the first African-American Student Member in nearly a decade.

No matter who you decide to vote for, just make sure you believe they are the best person for the job.