At some point before midnight tonight, voting for the 2012-13 GUSA executive will begin. After two weeks of campaigning, two debates, and more square footage of signs than the Pennsylvania turnpike, you’ll finally be able to vote. Here’s Vox’s cheat sheet for the election.

Candidates, in ballot order

We won’t elaborate much on the individual platforms here because you’ve probably been beat over the head with these names and buzz words more than you’d like. So here is the list of candidates in the order they will appear on the ballot, with links to their responses to a Vox questionnaire (they were assigned the order randomly):

• Nathaniel Tisa & Sheila Walsh
• John Morris & Lauren Weber
• Colton Malkerson & Maggie Cleary
• Clara Gustafson & Vail Kohnert-Yount
• Daniel LaMagna & A. Markel Starks
• Tyler Sax & Michael Crouch
• Murphy Kate Delaney & Michael Appau

In case you’re nostalgic, here are links to everything that has happened over the past two weeks GUSA-wise: We have candidates and their platforms; two debates; Youtube videos; some anonymous attacks (on us too); and finally the straw poll and two endorsements.

Don’t forget the IRV

Given the sheer number of candidates and the the relative aggressiveness of the campaigns compared to years past, don’t be surprised if the winner receives less than a plurality of first-choice votes. With instant run-off voting, the results are iteratively re-tabulated after eliminating the candidate with the lowest number of votes until one candidate receives a majority. For reference, Mike & Greg won last year with 30% of first choice votes and only received the necessary majority after four rounds of elimination. In 2010, Calen & Jason received a majority right off the bat. But since the 2010 election wasn’t nearly as competitive, how you rank your second, third, and fourth place candidates could decide who wins, so pay attention (and a note to the candidates, campaigning to get already-decided voters to rank you in second place is probably a good idea).

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As of right now, it looks as though we’re going to be spared the worst of Irene’s wind strength and rainfall: WJLA is reporting that Washington will likely not face tropical-storm force weather, with winds instead peaking around 50 mph, with heavy rain reaching D.C. late Saturday. Storm conditions will likely peak Saturday night, with heavy wind expected into Sunday afternoon.

However, just because Georgetown will (probably) be spared the worst, don’t think that the city will not see some serious effects from the storm. As a person who has seen his fair share of Hurricane hits and near misses, your loyal Vox editor advises erring on the side of caution. Pepco is warning that D.C. residents could face extended and severe power outages, several major events in the District have been cancelled this weekend, and the University has postponed convocation from Sunday to Tuesday.

Given that the District and the University have a somewhat uneven reputation for handling major crises, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to be prepared. Fortunately, various D.C. agencies and newspapers have published guides for everything a person should do to prepare for a storm, dealing with issues including:

Where has all the power gone?

Pepco is cautioning its customers that they could face significant power outages possibly lasting several days, with the company’s President Joseph Rigby warning that “there is a very real possibility for significant damage to [Pepco's] electrical infrastructure.”

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UPDATE 4:15 – A university email confirms that all residence halls are now open and that “it is now safe for [students] to return to and remain in campus residence halls, townhouses, and apartments.” Leo’s will be open, although most other university buildings will remain closed.

UPDATE 4:00 – A DPS officer from the main office states that all dorm buildings should be “open for move in” and that students cleared for early move-in today should be able to continue to bring belongings inside. The officer also noted that all on-campus evacuation proceedings are being coordinated by DPS.

UPDATE 3:27PM  – University alert states “GU closed. Occupants now permitted to enter buildings for the sole purpose of retrieving personal belongings. Monitor email for further information.”  There are overheard reports of a gas leak in Leavey, with facilities investigating. Mass evacuation of cars in Leavey is currently resulting in a large traffic jam.

Original Post: At approximately 1:50PM this afternoon, a magnitude 5.9 Earthquake struck Mineral, Virginia, some 80 miles southwest of DC.

All campus buildings appear to be evacuated and persons on-campus are ostensibly being directed towards the football field, although it appears that less than a hundred people actually congregated onto the field. Students evacuated from buildings report shaking, rumbling noises and brief power flickers.

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