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

Getting elected

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”

Getting elected

In other words…

Students’ Union officers are leaders of change for the good of all

students.

Getting elected

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.

Getting elected

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

Getting elected

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

Getting elected

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

Getting elected

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

Getting elected

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

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

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

Getting elected

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

Getting elected

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 r.d.balding@newman.ac.uk 0121 483 2225 – on campus

Returning officer Emma Powell – contact via Charlotte Bonner charlotte.bonner@nus.org.uk – see further info.

Getting elected

Good luck!#nsuelections