Selection Process
Selection as a UNC Royal consists of three parts: ballot petition, application process and election process. Details are as follows:
A. Ballot Petition and Board of Election Certification
All candidates must follow the BOE guidelines regarding election and campaign laws on Heel Life. Please note any violation of election laws is a violation of the Honor Code.
Candidates should collect 200 signatures in order to be considered an official candidate. Candidates will have at least five days to submit the required signatures in accordance with the rules and regulations of the BOE. Candidates may collect online signatures via ONYEN through Heel Life. Please note NO signatures can be obtained until Friday, Oct. 13. No duplicate signatures will be accepted, which means no one person may sign your form twice, but they can have signed another candidates’ form. Signatures must be turned over to the BOE, both electronically or physically, before 11:59 p.m. (EDT) Friday, Oct. 20. If this date conflicts with a candidate’s schedule, they are encouraged to submit the signatures earlier.
B. Application Process
Each applicant is required to complete an application, which includes a resume, one letter of recommendation with a focus on scholarship, leadership and service, as well as a project proposal and an acceptable transcript. We encourage applicants to watch the Zoom recording prepared by the Homecoming Committee and to follow up with any additional questions. The completed application and the signed proclamation form must be submitted on the Google document before 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, Oct. 20, per Google timestamp received. We will not accept late or incomplete applications.
C. Election Process
All certified candidates will participate in the election process by a general student body vote. Voting will open Tuesday, Oct. 31 until Wednesday, Nov. 1. Election day is Nov. 3. Only the contestants’ names will appear on the official ballot. The BOE is in charge of the tabulation of all votes. The top two senior candidates with the most votes will be selected as UNC Royals and announced on Saturday, Nov. 11 before or during the UNC vs. Duke football game. Because the BOE uses an instant run-off system for Homecoming Court elections where voters rank all the candidates, a tie is not possible.
Spending Limits and Reimbursements
Each candidate will have a maximum spending limit of $200 for the general election. A portion of this is reimbursable in accordance with the Student Code. Any approved expenses should be submitted to the Board of Elections. Please confirm with the BOE any details for what can be reimbursed and any deadlines for submitting receipts as these deadlines are often within a few weeks of the election.
A financial statement form, which will detail all campaign spending for the election, will be due electronically to the BOE. Further information will be given once candidates are chosen. Any violations will be reported to the BOE and to the Homecoming Committee.
Service Projects
Candidates will be required to submit a proposal that describes a service opportunity with an established organization in the UNC, Chapel Hill, Carrboro community. The proposal asks the candidate to describe the planned service and have an official representative from the beneficiary organization confirm knowledge of the plans to support the organization if selected as a Royal. Those selected as UNC Royals will be required to start the service idea submitted before Jan. 22, 2024. It must be completed by April 12, 2024.
Upon selection as a UNC Royal, you will be contacted by the Homecoming Committee and/or Carolina Alumni to confirm your plans regarding accomplishing your service in a timely manner. Note: Carolina Alumni will contribute $300 towards the service efforts by reimbursing expenses towards the effort.
Harassment
Harassment of UNC Royals candidates, endorsing organizations or anyone else is strictly forbidden. Harassment is defined as, but not limited to, urging a candidate to withdraw from the selection process, threatening a candidate or banning a candidate from open functions. Should a candidate or their endorsing organization be found guilty of harassment, the BOE, upon consultation and request of the homecoming committee, will disqualify the candidate. If pre‐voting harassment on the part of the UNC Royals candidates or their endorsing organizations is discovered after the naming of the winners, they will be stripped of the title and relinquish all prizes, either actually or by monetary compensation to the Homecoming Committee. The first runner up shall assume the position. Please note that it is a violation of the Honor Code to engage in any acts of harassment.