Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in a weekly series about the people and responsibility behind Iowa State University’s Government of the Student Body.

With general elections approaching, Sam Umbach, Government of the Student Body election commissioner, finds his to-do list continually growing.

Umbach was appointed to his position by GSB President T.J. Schneider. Umbach became involved with the election commission when former election commissioner Steve Skutnik recruited him to be a technical consultant. From there, his involvement continued.

“[Being the election commissioner] is the best way for me to be involved without running for a position,” Umbach said.

The position of election commissioner is independent from GSB itself. This separation allows for the commissioner to be free of a possible conflict of interest, Schneider said.

Umbach said he views his position as more of a resource rather than a branch of GSB.

During the fall semester, Umbach is responsible for calculating the distribution of the GSB senate according to fall enrollment numbers released from the Office of the Registrar. He is also required to release the timeline for general elections before the end of the fall semester, he said.

Umbach said he is responsible for recruiting six voting members to the GSB election commission.

As a former commission member, he said he believes involvement in the election commission provides an opportunity for students to be involved with and learn about GSB, without the consequences of a high-pressure position.

The election commissioner is required to manage meetings of the election commission, although he or she does not have a voting seat in the group, he said.

Umbach is the person who coordinates the general election.

“The GSB bylaws don’t have many guidelines [for the position of election commissioner],” Umbach said. “It mainly says, ‘run the election.’ “

In an effort to improve the election process, Umbach has created a new checklist and made the election code more descriptive. The checklist will make deadlines clearer to the candidates than previous years, he said.

“I have done my best to make things more accessible to the candidates,” Umbach said.

As part of his duties in running the elections, Umbach will announce the results of the elections, he said.