Getting elected
Running a great election campaign
#nsuelections
Getting elected
Standing in Union Elections
What we will cover
Background to Students’ Union Elections The Election Process Key information on promoting yourself and
elections Voting System Campaigning Tips Answering your Questions
Getting elected
Students’ Union Elections
Students’ Unions have more elections than any other organisation
Elections offer important experience of democracy
Elections promote the work of the Students’ Union
Fairness between candidates must be ensured Fairness to the electorate must be ensured
A legal necessity
Getting elected
What is a Students’ Union?
Collection of the generality of students
1.The Union is the representative body– Speaks on behalf of students
2. The Union organises activities & campaigns– By Students
3. The union provides services– In Students’ Interests
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What is a Union Officer?
Representative elected by the generality of students
1.The Officers represent the students– To the institution and local community
2. The Officers support student activities– Such as campaigning and societies
3. The Officers direct union services– Such as ensuring its long term financial stability
Getting elected
Elected Officers
We have elections because students need to be represented, but they disagree.
Elections is a mechanism for appointing people to make decisions, research and represent views.
Supported by democratic structures for student body to set campaigning direction and hold elected officers to account
Choice of candidates should be based on – WHAT you want to change– HOW you seek to change it– WHO is trying to do it
Getting elected
Digby Jacks
Digby Jacks was NUS President in 1969 until 1971. He has the following to say about representation
Representation must never be seen, except in strategic and practical terms, as an end in itself. Too many union officers see it as a question of communication and merely sitting on the appropriate committee.
The purpose of representation is to secure social, educational and institutional change- large or small, grand or gracious, collectively or individually. The best officers see this and work on all levels to change things for the better”
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In other words…
Students’ Union officers are leaders of change for the good of all
students.
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Elected Officers Change Things
You can change things...– In the Union– In the Institution– In the Community/Country
HOW will these changes make students’ lives better? You will need to ask this to make yourself relevant to voters.
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Elected not Selected
Selected Best Person for the Job Skills and Knowledge Experience Selection by experts Best fit to job
Elected Most popular Policies and Ideas Credibility Selection by “the
people” Best fit to the students
Getting elected
The election process
Getting elected
The election process
Voting occurs over x weeks. You will need to get more votes than your
opponents. There are a number of rules and regulations,
enforced by the ‘Returning Officer’. Students can vote at x places Student can vote by post
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The Returning Officer
Ensures Election is run fairly and smoothly Can appoint deputies and officials Rules on complaints and disputes Interprets election rules and regulations and
may make rulings along the way
Your returning officer is xxxx Their deputies are xxxx
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Election Rules and Regs
Rules there to create a “level playing field” Attempt to control behaviour and use of
resource without stifling creativity The Law, Institution and Union rules all count
and become election rules
A sense of fair play and friendly competition reflects best on you as individuals and the election process as a whole – and gets more voters!
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The Rules (in general…)
1. If in doubt, ask2. Only do what others have had the opportunity
to do3. Must not use Union resources to promote own
campaign4. Do not break any general Union/Institution
rules4. Check first (don’t try and apologise later!)
Getting elected
Key information on promoting yourself and elections
Getting elected
Information
Explain the mechanics of: Balloting Arrangements – where and how to vote Question Time Events and Publicity Regulations –
where you can promote yourself in print or online “Campaigning” – where you can campaign Expenditure – how much you can spend Postal and Online Ballots – how students can vote
remotely Voting by Proxy – how students can enable others
to vote
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Transferable vote systems
Getting elected
Transferable votes
The union uses voting by preference Elects the “least unpopular” candidate Voters rank their candidates If I can’t have Jane (#1), I’ll have Tom (#2),
if neither then Alan (#3) A first preference is #1, a second is #2 and
so on Sometimes called Single Transferable Vote
(STV) or Alternative Transferable Vote (ATV)
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Explaining STV/ATV
You are succesful when you meet “quota” “Quota” is valid votes / positions to be elected
+1 (so in a one position race just over half of all votes)
First preferences (#1) counted If no-one reaches quota, then lowest excluded
and their #2’s counted… …and so on! Tip for campaigning is to explain the system
and get #2’s if they gave a first preference to someone else
Getting elected
ATV: First Round
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
BEN ALICE LUCY RON TOTALVOTES
Quota is 80
exclude ron
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ATV: Round Two
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
BEN+10
ALICE+0
LUCY+5
RONOUT!
TOTALVOTES
Quota is 80
exclude alice
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ATV: Round Three
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
BEN+30
ALICEGONE!
LUCY+5
RONOUT!
TOTALVOTES
Quota is 80
ben wins!
Getting elected
Does it ever happen?
When former NUS Treasurer Dave Lewis tried to re-stand as President at his union (Reading Uni) he almost failed…
Getting elected
RUSU President 06: Round 1
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
DaveLewis
ElinorCross
MikeJenkins
MattTebbit
BillSmith
RON TOTAL
Quota 768
Getting elected
RUSU President 06: Round 1
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
DaveLewis
ElinorCross
MikeJenkins
MattTebbit
BillSmith
RON TOTAL
Quota 768
exclude ronexclude mike
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RUSU President 06: Round 2
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
DaveLewis
ElinorCross
MikeJenkins
MattTebbit
BillSmith
RON TOTAL
Quota 768
Getting elected
RUSU President 06: Round 2
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
DaveLewis
ElinorCross
MikeJenkins
MattTebbit
BillSmith
RON TOTAL
Quota 768
exclude matt
Getting elected
RUSU President 06: Round 3
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
DaveLewis
ElinorCross
MikeJenkins
MattTebbit
BillSmith
RON TOTAL
Quota 768
Getting elected
RUSU President 06: Round 3
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
DaveLewis
ElinorCross
MikeJenkins
MattTebbit
BillSmith
RON TOTAL
Quota 768
exclude elinor
Getting elected
RUSU President 06: Round 4
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
DaveLewis
ElinorCross
MikeJenkins
MattTebbit
BillSmith
RON TOTAL
Quota 768
Dave wins by 4
Getting elected
Campaigning Tips
Getting elected
Why do people vote?
Research shows that people voted because
72% were asked directly 70% had seen a poster or flyer 60% knew what the candidate stood for 29% had read the manifestos 4% had read the union’s messageboard
Getting elected
Voting is an unusual thing
Elections (unusual)I don’t vote very often – in fact I may never have done it at all
You will need to explain why students should vote and why they should vote for you.
Supermarkets (usual)
I have to go food shopping every week - so supermarkets get me to choose them
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Getting votes…for you
Be Realistic“Beer prices at 10p a pint”? Be Relevant“Increase accessibility of Sabbaticals”? Be Representative“I will improve our union by…”
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Giving Students Choices
They don’t trust... I will listen to YOU I want YOUR ideas YOU are the most
important thing Putting YOU in charge
They listen to... Having listened to
students, I think... I believe.... Students tell me that... I know that... What I will do is...
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4 steps to “Smashing Apathy”
The Student Experience Injustice Injection Beliefs Action to Achieve
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4 steps to “Smashing Apathy”
“I play Rugby”... “The pitch is rubbish”... “You deserve better- it’s great at other
Uni’s”... “Proper sports facilities for all”... “Vote me #1”!!!
Getting elected
The Voters
Alan Apathy Don’t care but you could
impress
Ellie Educated Rely on your material
Norman Non Voter Don’t care and never will (?)
Ursula Unfriendly Hard work but often worth it-
apathy staircase...
Freddie Friend Friend Could swing to you…
Cassie Confirmed Ask for a #2
Getting elected
Planning the Campaign
Make a list of groups to target Get a team together Think about time vs votes (for you) Start with innovation and ideas How do all the activities you are doing
connect to each other?
Getting elected
Campaign Expenditure
You will receive an allowance At close of balloting produce receipts Campaign expenditure “any expenditure
that is carried out with the purpose of promoting a candidate’s election campaign”: – Check rulings
“sponsorship” or “favours” must be available to all candidates
Getting elected
Your Campaign Team
You are responsible for their actions Gather a wide range/strong personalities Make sure they are “On message” Do you allocate responsibilities or tasks? Make sure they aren’t just leaflet shovers Have meetings with them Support them, encourage them and thank them! Make sure they don’t try any “Dirty Tricks!”
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Posters and Flyers
Budget properly Think about design Consistency of message and images Take voters on a journey Include where/when you can vote
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Candidate Question Time
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Question Time
INSERT Format and details... Have confidence
The speech Intro- Who & Why (creative?) Do some Apathy Staircases Vary the pace Tell them a story Talk about beliefs and plans Talk in groups of three Finish with “vote for me” - where and when
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Question Time
5 minute speech for full time positions 2 minute speech for part time positions Questions in writing to chair All questions must be asked to all candidates Each candidate 1 minute to answer Rotate order in which candidates answer
questions
Getting elected
Top tips
Getting elected
Top (Campaigning) Tips
Talk to Students – be friendly and positive Target places where students congregate –
socially and academically Visit student venues Get invited to parties Target main entrances and buildings car
parks and bus stops Be near (but not bunched around) polling
stations
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Top (Publicity) Tips
Have a clear identity Highlight your main points Don’t use jargon or in jokes Tell them to vote Get leaflets and posters where you can’t go
Don’t be negative about the opposition or previous officers
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Top (personal) Tips
Have fun and be proud of the Union Don’t fail your course over it! Prepare for life after election Expect to win and be ready to lose
Don’t be negative about others – it will get you, your team and voters down
Getting elected
After the campaigning
Getting elected
The Count and Results
INSERT timings & location of count and Results Announcement
Getting elected
Complaints
Questions? Request for Rulings? Formal Complaints
– Must be in before the count commences– Written or emailed, which rule broken?– Evidence/Witnesses
Getting elected
Any Questions?
Remember play fair Ask before you act
If there are any questions remember to contact:
Deputy Returning Officer: Rob Balding [email protected] 0121 483 2225 – on campus
Returning officer Emma Powell – contact via Charlotte Bonner [email protected] – see further info.
Getting elected
Good luck!#nsuelections