VFM Implementation Steps

For maximum benefit to students, it helps to complete all steps and launch the contest early in the school year. Then media can start covering campus issues and building their reputations among voters.

1. Determine source & amount of funds.
- VoterMedia.org founder Mark Latham is sponsoring contests at several student unions.

2. Create VFM committee.
- e.g. 3 to 5 people

3. Decide structure of contest:
- voting system – e.g. approval voting for first implementation; Interpolated Consensus after that; or consider preferential voting;
- entry fee [see discussion] – e.g. $100 for award pool of $5000; $150 for award pool of $8000;
- eligibility to enter – e.g. as wide open as possible, including existing media, off-campus people and organizations; maybe disallow registered electoral candidates, elections committee including VFMA;
- sequence of contestant names on web and ballot – e.g. chronological order of completing registration.

4. Amend elections bylaw code to include VFM competition.

5. Student council deliberation and formal approval.

6. Hire VFM Administrator – e.g. as a member of the elections committee, paid from entry fee funds.

7. Publicize contest.
- announcement in main campus newspaper;
- contest web pages on student union website, showing rules and entry form.

8. Start registering contestants.
- link from contest web page to contestant websites.

The above steps were written for an annual VFM contest; they would need to be adapted if the newer design for Continuous VFM is adopted instead.