Britnye Godwin Senior Class President Denver, Colorado

What won student elections in my school was a good sense of humor and respectability, not really popularity in a social sense.

Keith Zarriello Class President Suffern, New York

People who would be running against a popular opponent often forget that the "in" crowd probably makes up no more than 10% of the school (and therefore only 10% of the vote), and the rest are just the normal kids (90% of the vote).

Shawn A. Gaudette Voter Springfield, Massachusetts

Many students will really vote for the candidate that they actually think will do the most for the class, not just the person who everyone expects to win because of popularity.

Kris Long Class Vice-President Davie, Florida

Don't back down from an election just because the "popular" person is running. Most of the time, they're relying on their popularity to get them the job and don't have many new or good ideas to bring with them. If you do have the ideas, go for it. The "public" may support that popular person during their campaign, but when it comes down to the pencil and the ballot, most people go with the better choice, even if they lie about it later.

Katie Burnett Voter Naples, Florida

I have noticed over the years that people who think they are going to win usually don't, no matter how popular they are. What you must think is that you have to work hard and campaign in order to win.

Steve Choate ASB President Orange, California

Your typical popular girl who had been our Class President the previous year was running against a jock who no one expected to win. But the jock was the one who made the effort to talk to everyone, not only the "popular" kids. He was sincere in his actions and it led to a victory. Be genuinely friendly. Not the fake-smile friendly, but taking the time to hear everyone's thoughts and opinions. People who already think they will win don't always necessarily take advantage of this and often lose because of it.

Mel Mack Voter Wilbraham, Massachusetts

Yes, elections are definitely a popularity contest--but not who one hangs out with or how many touchdowns one's scored, but rather how one presents oneself as a leader and a speaker. What makes a good teacher? Not how much they know, or where they went to school, but how they present the information. With elections it's the same thing. Any student who can present him or herself as comfortable in front of a large audience, can speak fluidly and casually, can keep a crowd alive with a little humor and down to earth points, and at the same time sell his or her campaign, can consider him or herself the next school president.

Robert O'Brien Senior Council Senator Portland, Maine

Those ultra-popular people won't win against the everyday person, because there are many more everyday people in school than ultra-popular people. If you get the vote of the everyday Joe and Bob, you've gotten the vote of the majority of the students. Everyday people don't want to see those ultra-popular people have positions of power. Everyday people should realize this and not hesitate to run for office!

Olivia Wood Student Assembly Representative Eastpointe, Michigan

I find that the most important aspect of any candidate is how sympathetic and compassionate he/she is rather than how intelligent, powerful, or persuasive. The best candidate is somebody the students can relate to--which usually is NOT the most elite and popular one.

Gina Protopapa President, National Honor Society Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio

There is always some popular kid running, but the majority of the student body isn't in the "popular" crowd, they just happen to know the kids that are and would prefer to vote for someone they've heard of. But if you take your time to meet people and get to know them, you'll find that their votes can be easily altered.

Jennifer Galipault Student Council Treasurer Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Instead of telling the audience what she would try to do in office, this one girl who was running for Junior Class President just stood up and relied on her cheerleading/popularity and said, "Most of you know me by now, I'm (name), and I wanna make our Junior year the best EVER! Yeah!" A few moments later, another girl got up and told everyone that she was open to any suggestions that we had to make it a great year, but at the time she was particularly focused on getting the number of absentee days raised (because the teachers had more than the students and everyone was sick from the construction going on in school at the time). She addressed everyone as intelligent human beings and relied purely on their judgment, not outrageous claims or popularity. Needless to say, she became our President.

Michelle Girton Senior Class Treasurer Levittown, Pennsylvania

Focus not on what you've been involved in or how popular you are, but on what you intend to do once elected.

Christopher F. Heck Voter Fairborn, Ohio

A girl who ran for Senior Class President was very unlikely to win because nobody saw her as popular. She did win, and by a very large margin. What was her secret? She knew everybody and didn't really realize it. She was just friendly and spoke to people. You don't have to have tons of friends to be popular and you don't have to force yourself upon people. Just be friendly and speak to everyone and they will remember you.

Shelby Olson Voter Rapid City, South Dakota