Elections of the Student Union

Sections:

SCH2 Schedule II: Elections of the Student Union

0. Preamble

1. Process

2. By-Elections to the Executive Committee

SCHEDULE II: ELECTIONS OF THE STUDENT UNION

Preamble

The membership of the SU Executive consists of 4 officer positions, 13 other executive positions, 2 College nominees and up to 5 co-optees.

The two key principles behind the election system are:

1. That those seeking officer positions are required to put themselves forward to a second ballot
of all elected executive members.

2. That the non-officer executive positions shall be as at section 7 of this constitution in order to
ensure that there is as broad a representation of the student body as possible in terms of gender, ethnicity, disability, mode of study etc.

Process

1. The Student Union Liaison Officer shall be the Returning Officer for all Union Elections.

2. The Term of Office of the Officers of the Union and Executive committee shall be from 1st
November in one year until 31st October in the following year.

3. The election of the elected members of the Executive Committee shall take place in the Autumn
Term of the College Academic year on such date as the Returning Officer shall appoint. The
Returning Officer may order the holding of further elections for positions which were not filled
in the preceding Autumn.

4. The dates of all elections and a copy of the election regulations shall be posted on the
Union Notice Board by the Returning Officer at least two weeks before the date of the elections.

5. The Student Union Liaison officer shall prepare nomination forms whereby candidates can be
nominated for either a “generic” officer position or a specific “executive” position.

6. A Nomination Form signed by each candidate together with a manifesto shall be handed to the
Returning Officer (given the size of the institution the returning officer may nominate other
persons/locations – such as Student Services – to accept receipt of nominations on his behalf)
not later than 1700 hours on the day seven days before the date of the election. A list of
candidates (together with the proposers and seconders of each candidate) shall be displayed on
the said Union Notice Board within 24 hours of closure of nominations.

7. The Returning Officer shall give reasonable publicity to the location of the polling station(s) for
the elections.

8. Only members of the Union may stand for election or vote at an election and must produce
acceptable identification.

9. Votes will be cast in sealed ballot boxes.

10. Voting slips shall bear the name of each candidate and the “generic” officer position or the specific executive position being contested.

11. The simple majority system of voting shall be employed to determine the result of the election for
each executive position being contested.

12. For officer positions, (up to) the seven candidates polling the most votes will be eligible to proceed for a second ballot for specific officer positions.

13. The seven officer candidates who poll the most votes will be required to present their manifesto to a panel of the other executive members and outline their case for office. Candidates will be required to “bid” for a 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th choice officer position.

14. The executive panel will then discuss and vote on the allocation of the officer posts. Allocation will be based on a simple majority vote.

By-Elections for members of Executive Committee

If any seat on the Executive Committee falls vacant the Executive Committee shall appoint a successor who shall hold office until the 31st October next following, subject to section 17 of the Code of Practice.