Candidates Election Rules

Sabbatical Officer

Main Election 2019

Campaigning

 

Each candidate is responsible for the actions of themselves and every member of their campaign team. A candidate may be penalised for actions by their team that they are unaware of – it is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure all their team know the election rules.

 

1. Candidates should not break the law or any UCASU and University policies such as the UCA Bullying and Harassment Policy.
2. All candidates/teams must let students cast their votes without pressure. If a student needs help, they should ask a member of Union staff. Candidates cannot cast votes on behalf of others.
3. All votes will be cast via paper ballot at designate polling tables. Candidates must not interfere with any ‘polling station’[1].
4. Candidates or their team shall not interfere with/remove/change other candidates’ promotional material.
5. Candidates should not bribe, impersonate, or harass any student during campaigning.
6. All candidates will receive 100 pages of A4 printing free from the Students’ Union.
7. Candidates must not spend more than £20.00 in total on their campaign but can use materials they already have (provided it is reasonable for other candidates to have access to similar/equivalent materials). Candidates are required to provide receipts for any campaign expenditure to the Union and overspending could result in a penalty.
8. We cover candidates’ cost of travel (by car or public transport) between campuses. If you are travelling by car, please give 24 hours’ notice of your planned journey to Sophie Jackson on [email protected] If you would like to travel by public transport, please also give Sophie Jackson at least 24 hours’ notice and she can book your travel for you. If you fail to give notice, you will not be compensated for your travel spending and may face a consequence in your election.
9. Candidates should not attack other candidates’ campaigns in a derogatory or inflammatory manner, this includes comments made online. They may however, point out weaknesses in their opponent’s campaign. (The difference between “You’re rubbish” and “I don’t think this idea of yours will work, I offer a better alternative…”)
10. UCASU and its staff cannot endorse any candidate and serve to ensure the election is run freely and fairly.

 

Incumbent Officers

11. Candidates who already hold a position within UCASU may not use Union time or resources to enhance their own campaigning or that of another candidate.

Election Process

12. The election will be conducted in accordance to the Election By-law, which the Returning Officer shall be the final interpreter of.
13. Manifestos must comply with any format requirements stipulated by the Returning Officer – 1 A4 page.
14. Candidates cannot campaign with other candidates as a formal team or pool their resources. Candidates can recommend other candidates to voters but cannot form or operate formally as a candidate team or slate.
15. Any candidate may withdraw from the election at any point by informing the Deputy Returning Officer.
16. Any candidate or their appointed deputy may, if they so wish, attend the counting of the votes as observers only. The Deputy Returning Officer must be made aware of this 24 hours before the count is due to start.
17. The election count will be conducted through paper ballot only.

 

 

Complaints

19. Any challenge or complaint concerning the administration and good conduct of the election shall be heard and determined by the Returning within two (2) University days of such a complaint being lodged by any full member, candidate, or candidate nominee.
20. Any complaint against the conduct or administration of the election must be received by the Returning Officer before the end of polling.
21. No candidate may challenge the result of the election once the count has started.
22. If candidates wish to make a complaint about another candidate’s campaign they must report this in writing to Deputy Returning Officer, Sophie Jackson at: [email protected]
23. Any candidate who has an appeal logged against them will be notified at the earliest opportunity.
24. You will have 24 hours to appeal any complaint in writing to the Returning Officer on [email protected]
25. Any challenge or complaint during or following the count shall only relate to the conduct of the count and shall be lodged with the Returning Officer or Deputy Returning Office who shall resolve the complaint within two (2) University days of it being lodged.
26. The Returning Officer will decide on the penalty (if any) of any candidate complaint. This can range from a verbal warning to disqualification from the election.

 

The Returning Officer is responsible for the final interpretation of these rules and final decisions will lie with them.

Deputy Returning Officer – Sophie Jackson, UCASU.
Returning Officer – Rob Lambert, National Union of Students.

[1] Polling station – dedicated table in which a student can cast their vote for candidates in the election. Locations for polling stations can be found on the Union website and advertisement posters.

Candidates Election Rules

Student Governor

Main Elections 2019

 

Campaigning

 

Each candidate is responsible for the actions of themselves and every member of their campaign team. A candidate may be penalised for actions by their team that they are unaware of – it is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure all their team know the election rules.

 

1. Candidates should not break the law or any UCASU and University policies such as the UCA Bullying and Harassment Policy.
2. All candidates/teams must let students cast their votes without pressure. If a student needs help, they should ask a member of Union staff. Candidates cannot cast votes on behalf of others.
3. All votes will be cast via paper ballot at designate polling tables. Candidates must not interfere with any ‘polling station’[1].
4. Candidates or their team shall not interfere with/remove/change other candidates’ promotional material.
5. Candidates should not bribe, impersonate, or harass any student during campaigning.
6. All candidates will receive 30 pages of A4 printing free from the Students’ Union.
7. Candidates must not spend more than £10.00 in total on their campaign but can use materials they already have (provided it is reasonable for other candidates to have access to similar/equivalent materials). Candidates are required to provide receipts for any campaign expenditure to the Union and overspending could result in a penalty.
8. Candidates should not attack other candidates’ campaigns in a derogatory or inflammatory manner, this includes comments made online. They may however, point out weaknesses in their opponent’s campaign. (The difference between “You’re rubbish” and “I don’t think this idea of yours will work, I offer a better alternative…”)
9. UCASU and its staff cannot endorse any candidate and serve to ensure the election is run freely and fairly.

 

Incumbent Officers

10. Candidates who already hold a position within UCASU may not use Union time or resources to enhance their own campaigning or that of another candidate.

Election Process

11. The election will be conducted in accordance to the Election By-law, which the Returning Officer shall be the final interpreter of.
12. Manifestos must comply with any format requirements stipulated by the Returning Officer – 1 A4 page.
13. Candidates cannot campaign with other candidates as a formal team or pool their resources. Candidates can recommend other candidates to voters but cannot form or operate formally as a candidate team or slate.
14. Any candidate may withdraw from the election at any point by informing the Deputy Returning Officer.
15. Any candidate or their appointed deputy may, if they so wish, attend the counting of the votes as observers only. The Deputy Returning Officer must be made aware of this 24 hours before the count is due to start.
16. The election count will be conducted through paper ballot only.

 

 

Complaints

19. Any challenge or complaint concerning the administration and good conduct of the election shall be heard and determined by the Returning within two (2) University days of such a complaint being lodged by any full member, candidate, or candidate nominee.
20. Any complaint against the conduct or administration of the election must be received by the Returning Officer before the end of polling.
21. No candidate may challenge the result of the election once the count has started.
22. If candidates wish to make a complaint about another candidate’s campaign they must report this in writing to Deputy Returning Officer, Sophie Jackson at: [email protected]
23. Any candidate who has an appeal logged against them will be notified at the earliest opportunity.
24. You will have 24 hours to appeal any complaint in writing to the Returning Officer on [email protected]
25. Any challenge or complaint during or following the count shall only relate to the conduct of the count and shall be lodged with the Returning Officer or Deputy Returning Office who shall resolve the complaint within two (2) University days of it being lodged.
26. The Returning Officer will decide on the penalty (if any) of any candidate complaint. This can range from a verbal warning to disqualification from the election.

 

The Returning Officer is responsible for the final interpretation of these rules and final decisions will lie with them.

Deputy Returning Officer – Sophie Jackson, UCASU.
Returning Officer – Rob Lambert, National Union of Students.

[1] Polling station – dedicated table in which a student can cast their vote for candidates in the election. Locations for polling stations can be found on the Union website and advertisement posters.