Student elections are the maddest, baddest, loosest, most unhinged form of politics still found festering in the Australian landscape.

This is politics untamed. Politics on the edge. Politics undiluted. This is politics without media managers and focus groups. This may be the most real taste of politics you’re ever allowed.

If you’ve been caught up at all in this campaign, which has seen Shake Up’s Cameron Allan style himself as a party president to Lift’s tenacious and formidable Eleanor Kay, you’ll probably have some inkling about how you’ll vote this week.

If so, excellent. Go and vote.

If not, please read on.

Yes, student politics matters. It may not matter to many people outside the Acton postcode, but if you’re an undergraduate student who’ll be around the ANU next year, policies which have been been styled on BuzzFeed and discussed on Tinder in recent weeks will inform decisions which will affect your time at university.

It’s very easy to switch off from all of this madness, but it’s worth investing a little time into considering why these fellow students want to throw themselves into student governance and advocacy.

They all have the best interests of the student body at heart. They differ in just how they want to go about this.

Allan has vowed to lead a more ‘vibrant’ and ‘creative’ student association, while Kay seeks to continue to tackle tough dilemmas facing ANUSA at the ANU in a time of accelerated change.

Both Kay and Allan are progressives. They believe in equity, equality and making sure everyone’s time at university is accessible and productive and rewarding.

Consider, too, options for general representatives. Who would you like to hold your president and executive to account? Your vote can be valuable. Make it count.

There are two very good choices for president. You have to work out which one is excellent.

Then vote for them.