The University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) transition group approved an elections code and elections commissioners this weekend, clearing the way for campaign beginnings at the end of the month.

The UPUA will become the official student voice after elections are held Oct. 11. It will replace the Undergraduate Student Government (USG).

There are 26 representative positions to be filled, in addition to a president and vice president who must run on a joint ticket.

Andrew Reeve, chairman of the transition group, said candidate applications will be available Wednesday in the UPUA office in 314 HUB-Robeson Center. They are due on Sept. 27 -- the day campaigning begins.

According to the election code, prospective presidential and vice presidential candidates must collect 250 signatures. Potential representatives must get 100 signatures. Candidates must also turn in a platform statement and confirmation that they are full-time undergraduate students at University Park campus in "good academic standing" -- meaning they must have a GPA above 2.0.

Reeve said no campaigning, which includes actively encouraging people to vote for a candidate or posting flyers, will be allowed until Sep. 27.

"The idea is to prevent free-for-all in the interim," he said.

Once campaigning does begin, candidates will operate under spending limits and other rules. Presidential campaigns are limited to $600. Representative campaigns are limited to $150. Candidates who violate the rules can have their spending limits reduced or can be disqualified.

To ensure compliance with the limits, Reeve said the election commission stamps all campaign materials.

The given spending limits are slightly higher than those given during the USG election last spring.

USG President Nick Stathes said his campaign was allowed to spend up to $550. USG Senate President Brock Coleman said Senate campaigns were limited to $100.

Andrew Smith, former USG deputy commissioner of voting and publicity, said the campaigning limitations are similar to the rules presented in last spring's USG election code.

According to the UPUA code, the election commission will consist of four members. Former USG president and chair of the transition group elections committee Galen Foulke said the head commissioner, Ashley Hill, was USG chief of staff when he was president. The candidacy and campaigning commissioner is Katie Vogel, a former USG senator, and the publicity commissioner is Sara Snyder, a Lion Ambassador.

Reeve said none of the election commissioners are members of the current 13-member transition group.