Student Council Election Campaign Shirts

Student council election campaign shirts work the same way real campaign apparel works: a clear name, a clear position, and enough shirts on enough supporters to look like a movement. Candidates print 10 to 30 tees for their campaign team. The shirts go out to friends, homeroom contacts, and high-visibility school spots. Below is how to design the shirt, what to print on, and how to make sure they arrive before voting day.

Campaign Shirt Design Template

• Front: "VOTE [NAME]" in large block letters, "FOR PRESIDENT" (or the specific office) underneath, school name and year at the bottom.
• Back (optional): A short campaign promise or slogan. Examples: "Longer Lunch. Better Dances." or "Your Voice on Council."
• Sleeve (optional): Small year mark or campaign team initials.

Keep the front simple enough that the name reads from across the hallway. Block letters in school colors carry the message.

Which Tee Blank for Campaign Shirts

The Next Level Premium CVC Jersey Tee (Free base $29.95, VIP base $24.88) is the right blank for campaign shirts. The heavier weight prints block lettering crisply and the shirt feels more like a real campaign piece than a basic cotton tee. For a budget option, the Bear Grips Airlume Cotton Athletic Tee at $19.88 VIP base works equally well for the message but feels lighter.

Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.

How Many To Print

Standard quantities by race:

• President race: 25 to 40 tees. The candidate, the campaign team, and high-visibility hallway placements (locker hallway, lunch line, morning drop-off).
• VP, secretary, treasurer races: 12 to 20 tees. The candidate and their close team.
• Historian race: 8 to 12 tees. Smaller race, smaller team.

Each candidate orders their own shirts through their own private mini-shop or through a council store with a campaign collection.

Cost To Run the Campaign

At VIP base $24.88 per tee, a 25-shirt presidential campaign costs the candidate $622 in shirts. Most candidates split the cost with their campaign team. Some candidates ask supporters to pay $5 each for the campaign tee, recovering most of the cost while still distributing the tees broadly.

The Free plan at $0/month works fine for a single-election campaign. The candidate does not need the VIP subscription unless they are running multiple drops.

Order Timing for Election Day

Print times average 7 days from order to delivery. Order campaign tees at least 10 days before election day to allow for shipping buffer. Most school elections happen in the spring; aim to order by mid-March for an early-April election or by mid-April for a late-April election.

For multi-stage elections (primary then runoff), order the primary tees first. Once the primary winner is set, order a second runoff drop with updated messaging.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are campaign tees against any school rules?

Most schools allow campaign apparel during election season. Some schools restrict it to the election week itself. Check your school's student handbook before printing.

What happens to leftover tees after the election?

The candidate keeps them as a campaign keepsake. With no minimum order, there are usually no leftover tees because each shirt is printed when it is ordered.

Can the candidate sell the shirts to recoup cost?

Yes. Many candidates set a small retail price ($5 to $8 above base) and sell the shirts to recoup the campaign cost. Supporters get a campaign keepsake; the candidate breaks even.

Can we print "VOTE [NAME]" on multiple color variants?

Yes. The same design prints on every color variant we carry for the tee. Some campaigns use a different color for each grade level (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior).