The Students Union is running by-elections and referenda for November 2008. Visit our Elections Blog for the latest news and information.

 

Referenda

A Referendum is where every student can vote towards a decision, just like an election. This autumn, referenda will be voted on at the same time as the by-elections. Anything to do with the Students' Union can be put to referenda, from entertainment, to clubs & societies, to campaigns, to banning products, to the rules of the SU itself. The only things not permitted are those relating to staffing matters, disciplinary procedures or anything that would contravene the law.

Submissions for referenda have now closed, and amendments have been finalised.

Voting occured alongside the by-elections between Wednesday 5th November and Friday 7th November. 

The Anti Racism and Anti Fascism motion for referendum won a majority of votes, however this was less than the 3% of members required for referendum. Therefore the motion has not passed, and since it does not require an amendment to the Constitution, it may be taken to Council instead.

By-Elections

The Union is also running by-elections to fill any unfilled officer positions.

Nominations for elections have closed, and candidates can be viewed here. Those candidates who have not yet completed Candidate Training are not permitted to campaign.

Candidate Question Time (aka Hustings) will be in Stoke at 6pm on Thursday 6th November, located at the GKradio studio. All candidates should come to this, as there will be no other opportunity for media exposure. Travel for candidates should be covered in your campaign budget.

Voting will be between 10am Wednesday 5th November and 5pm Friday 7th November. The polling will be online. Assisted polling stations will be available in Stafford and Stoke between 10am and 4pm on Thursday 6th and Friday 7th November.

Votes will be counted and results announced at Election Night Live, at Legends in Stafford, on Friday 7th November at 9pm. !FRIDAY! will continue as normal in the Lounge, and move into Legends after the elections.

For more information, questions or complaints, email the Steering committee at steerings@staffs.ac.uk.

Elections and Referenda are goverened by the Students' Union Constitution, supplemented by Election Rules determined and provided by Steerings. When these rules are confirmed, they will be published here.

Results

The results of the elections can be viewed here. A detailed analysis of the results can be seen on the Elections Blog. As usual, these results are not confirmed until the next Students' Union Council Meeting, with the exception of NUS Delegate positions.

Following a number of concerns and complaints, the Steering Committee has been investigating the results of the election. We agree that the results are unusual – we aren’t aware of any previous win for Re-Open Nominations, but RON won 7 last week. However, we have found no evidence of proxy voting or voter intimidation. Therefore, all votes cast shall count as valid and have been counted as such.

However, there has been a notably low turnout for voters in these by-elections. The Union Constitution is not clear what is required, but 3% quorum is required for referenda. The 295 votes cast in these by-elections does not reach that 3%, so there is doubt on whether the votes are enough.

Steerings offered Council the opportunity to uphold the elections, null the elections (and run co-options) or to take the elections as indicaive of the student voice and co-opt the winners accordingly. Council chose to uphold the elections, and determined that co-options should be opened for all vacant positions, including those that were won by Re-Open Nominations (RON).

Co-Options

A co-option is where Council votes someone onto Council, as opposed to them being elected. A co-option is still a legitimate form of selection, and that person would be an officer as normal. However, co-options can be superseded by elections, just as the main elections in March supersede any by-elections.

The co-options were held at Council on 11th December 2008. All vacant positions were open to any member. Those running in the co-options are listed here. Results can be seen on the Elections Blog.

One officer position remains unfilled: Part-Time Students' Officer. This position can be co-opted at any Council, so email steerings@staffs.ac.uk if you would like to take this position. All positions, including those for Full Time Officers, will be up for election in the Spring.