Although ASUA elections aren't until March, the election process begins tomorrow when ASUA holds a candidate forum for students who are interested in running for student government positions.

The meeting, hosted by Dan Suh, the ASUA elections commissioner, will be held in the Pima room in the Student Union Memorial Center at 5 p.m. tomorrow.

There are thirteen ASUA positions available for the 2004 - 2005 year. Students can run to be a senator, an executive vice president, an

administrative vice president or president.

At the forum, interested students will hear about the available positions, campaign rules and procedures and how to run.

"Anyone with a remote interest in running should come to the meeting," Suh said.

The session will also discuss the various positions and what are feasible campaign promises, especially with regards to the senate.

This year a number of senators abandoned their campaign promises after realizing they would not be able to achieve their initial goals.

The reason the elections process is starting earlier this year is specifically for students to take the time and do research on the position they are interested in running for, Suh said.

"Students should really research what the position entails and the best way to do that is to talk to current ASUA officials," Suh said.

Any UA student who is taking at least nine units is eligible to run for the ASUA positions.

Blake Buchanan, an ASUA senator, said researching and gaining experience in ASUA committees or class councils is something every interested student should do if they want to run for senator.

"I think that a lot of people view the senate as an introduction into ASUA. I don't, because it is a lot of responsibility," Buchanan said.

Suh said that having prior experience is not a necessity.

"It is ultimately up to the voters if a candidate is qualified without prior experience, they have the right to decide that," he said. "People need to realize that you don't get elected just because you want to or on a whim."

Suh added that candidates need to reach out to the student body, which takes time and effort.

"But as long as someone has the desire and sincerity, they are the perfect candidate to run," he said.

Suh said he hopes to have more applicants this year than last, but that he cannot yet say how many people he believes will run.

In last year's elections there were approximately 28 applicants.

The number of signatures that a candidate must collect will be decided on in today's ASUA senate meeting.

Candidate applications will be available Dec. 10 at 8 a.m. in the ASUA offices.

Candidates will have to fill out an application, obtain a certain amount of student signatures, and then begin campaigning on Feb. 9.

Presidential candidates must also participate in a debate on the Mall March 2.

Personal mandatory meetings intended to assist candidates begin on Jan. 15 and application packets are due Jan. 23. Primary elections are Feb. 25 and 26 and general elections are March 3 and 4.

Interested students can pick up an application packet starting on Dec. 10 at the ASUA offices, located above the UofA BookStore.