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Student Member of the Board: Election Process

The SMOB election will be held on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. This information is updated as of April 2, 2025.

The Student Member of the Board (SMOB) is a voting member of the Montgomery County Board of Education. The SMOB election takes place from January to April and is run by the Special Elections Committee. Any current sophomore or junior may run to be SMOB in their junior or senior year.

2024-25 SMOB Election ProtocolsBallot Link (only open for specified voting periods)

The Special Elections Committee hosted their annual virtual SMOB 101 event to inform students about the SMOB position, eligibility requirements, and to hear from the direct experiences of former and current SMOBs: Arvin Kim, Sami Saeed, and Praneel Suvarna.

MCPS Special Elections LogoSpecial Elections Committee

The Special Elections Committee (SEC) is a group of middle and high school students that handles the logistical details for running the SMOB election. They hold the SMOB 101 event, write and enforce the election rules, ensure all candidates have a fair, equal chance in the election process, and collaborate with the Director of Student Leadership and Extracurricular Activities to verify all students are informed voters before election day and are encouraged to vote.

Applications for the SEC Executive Board usually open in June. Check the SEC's Instagram for more updates: @mcpssec

SMOB Elections Timeline

ACTION DATE NOTES
SMOB Candidate Nomination Filing January 2-23, 2025
  • SMOB candidate nomination filing closes on January 23, 2025, at 5 p.m.
  • Candidate nomination forms can be found in the SMOB Election Protocols (pages 31-32).
  • Completed forms should be scanned and emailed to Mrs. Shella Cherry, Director, Student Leadership & Extracurricular Activities at: Shella_B_Cherry@mcpsmd.org.
Mandatory SMOB Candidate Meeting January 23, 2025
6-7:30 p.m.
  • Held virtually from 6-7:30 pm.
  • Meeting information will be sent to all approved candidates.
  • Candidates meet with the Special Elections Committee and the current SMOB to review the election process, protocols and expectations, and the job and current work of the SMOB.
  • The original nomination form must be postmarked by January 23, 2025, and mailed to:
    Montgomery County Public Schools
    Special Elections Committee
    c/o Mrs. Shella Cherry, Director, Student Leadership & Extracurricular Activities
    850 Hungerford Drive, Room 174
    Rockville, MD 20850
SMOB Candidate Profiles Due Date January 31, 2025
5 p.m.
  • SMOB candidate profiles should be emailed to Mrs. Shella Cherry, Director, Student Leadership & Extracurricular Activities at: Shella_B_Cherry@mcpsmd.org by 5 p.m. to be included in the SMOB Nominating Convention Candidate Profiles document.
  • SMOB candidate profiles must include:
    1. Student Name, grade, and school
    2. Picture
    3. Answers to three questions (shared at the January 23, 2025, mandatory candidate meeting) 
Mandatory SMOB Candidate Nomination Convention Review Meeting & Rehearsal February 10, 2025
6-8 p.m.
  • Held at Carver Educational Services Center (CESC) Auditorium from 6-8:00 pm.
  • SMOB candidates submit the following for review at this meeting:
    1. Copies of stickers, posters, and flyers that will be handed out at the Nominating Convention
    2. Financial report (pages 39-40 of the SMOB Election Protocols)
    3. Names and permission forms of the 5 members of the campaign team
    4. Presentation slides for Nominating Convention speech
    5. Speech talking points
  • SMOB candidates will participate in a rehearsal of the SMOB Nominating Convention agenda
SMOB Nominating Convention
February 19, 2025
(Snow date: February 25th)
  • This experience will be held in person at Watkins Mill High School.
  • Delegates will be selected at the school level. Students may check with their School SGA Advisors for more information about the selection process.
"Meet the Candidates" Experience TBD
  • SMOB finalists participate in a recorded Meet the Candidates experience with a question-and-answer component that all secondary students will view.
  • The finished video will be published on the MCPS-MD YouTube channel.
Election Day April 23, 2025
  • Election polls open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 3:30 p.m.
  • Results will be shared with finalists and made public at 5:30 p.m.
  • In the event of distance learning and an online election, the election window may be extended. Election results should be made public after 8:00 p.m.
SMOB Swearing-In Ceremony TBD
  • The SMOB-elect will be sworn in to the Board of Education.