Elections Commissioner

Greetings on behalf of the Howard University Elections Commission!

My name is Willie White III, and I proudly serve as the 2025-2026 Elections Commissioner. The purpose of the Elections Commission is to plan, organize, and publicize all Howard University Student Elections. In every action that we take and move that we make, we will continue to uphold strong values of equity, integrity, and transparency as we strive to make the elections process smooth and efficient throughout the year.

Shirley Chisholm once stated, “You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas!” After the events of last year, it was not only wanted, but it’s necessary that we revitalize what the Commission looks like and what Campaign season feels like moving forward.

This year, I am prioritizing the following initiatives:

• Expanding the Commission: Growing to a team of 50+ members to improve efficiency and provide more students with the opportunity to engage in the elections process. After this election season, we will also launch a new intern program to welcome more freshmen into the work of the Commission.

• Elections Code Modifications: Partnering with the Senate Elections Committee and Judiciary to update the Code for clearer rules, stronger candidate protections, and transparent guidelines on violations, documentation, and Commission responsibilities.

• Stronger Student Government Collaboration: Building closer relationships with HUSA, Senate, and other branches to improve campaign culture, leadership training, and overall coordination across student government.

• Transparency & Accountability: Hosting Press Conferences, Public Code Review sessions, and Q&A opportunities to ensure students can ask questions, give feedback, and hold us accountable throughout the school year.

• Boosting Student Engagement: Revamping events like Speakouts and Crossfires, expanding Local Chairs initiatives, and launching new civic engagement programs in every school to encourage voter participation and deepen student involvement in elections.

These initiatives represent more than just improvements to the electoral process; they reflect our commitment to restoring trust, fostering collaboration, and making student elections a true reflection of what democracy is supposed to look like. As your Commissioner, I make a promise to you that the Elections Commission is here to serve the student body, and we invite every Bison to engage, participate, and hold us accountable as we build a stronger, healthier democratic culture on campus. Please reach out to us if you have any questions, concerns, or just advice on how we can serve you.