Elections for the University of Connecticut’s Undergraduate Student Government (USG) open today, and will run until noon on Friday, March 5. These elections are a chance for students to choose who will serve as their representative voice for the next year. Between USG and the Board of Trustees, there’s a lot to cover regarding this week’s Joint Elections. This week, the Editorial Board provides the UConn student body with all the information to give students a full understanding of why their vote matters.
According to their mission statement, USG serves two primary functions: representing “the primary voice of students to all audiences” and “funding 600+ student Tier-II organizations.” In addition to voting on referendums, USG allocates funding for Tier-II organizations, which are student groups that hold regular meetings and may require “a larger degree of structure and advisement” than Tier-I organizations, according to the Department of Student Activities. These organizations are not funded by Student Activity fees and must request funding from a USG committee.
On the ballot are four executive positions: President and vice president as a joint ticket, chief diversity officer and comptroller. At the Storrs campus, each position has multiple candidates running. Furthermore, students can elect undergraduate senators representing each school within the university.
Only 3,053 students (approximately 15% of the undergraduate population) voted during the spring 2025 election. USG plays a crucial role in an undergraduate student’s college experience. For members of Tier-II organizations, USG elections could mean the difference between a club they care about receiving funding or not. More importantly, the referendums passed by USG impact UConn as a whole. Although USG does not possess total control over UConn affairs (it cannot require specific policies from the university administration or fund Tier-III organizations), it’s important to get involved in UConn politics and voting is a simple first step in getting involved. The Editorial Board encourages all undergraduate students to exercise their democratic right and select the candidates that they feel best align with their values. Every vote counts, and all students should seize the opportunity to make their voices heard. For more information on individual candidates and their policies, consult the “2026-27 Election Candidates” header on USG’s website or the Daily Campus’ overview.
Additionally, elections for student trustee positions are currently ongoing. Whereas USG funds Tier-II organizations and serves as a voice for undergraduate students, it is the Board of Trustees which is the highest legislative body in the university. This is the group which makes university wide decisions, based on the recommendations of a variety of committees, such as Institutional Advancement and Student Life. Of the 21 members, there will be one undergraduate student representative and one graduate student representative to the Board of Trustees. Ensuring that students have a competent, active representative on this body is of the utmost importance. For more information on the Board of Trustees candidates, consult the 2026 Joint Elections Ballot Initiative on the UConn Elections website.
Voting for all UConn-related elections can easily be done online by clicking on the link at vote.uconn.edu. Elections are open to all fee-paying undergraduate students. From there, it’s as simple as selecting candidates — don’t miss the opportunity to make your voice heard!
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