Undeb Bangor Elections Guide
Undeb Bangor Elections Guide
Hello,
Thanks for taking an interest in Undeb Bangor Elections. We are the Students’ Union at Bangor
University and here to represent the student voice and ensure that students are having the best
possible time at Bangor. As a democratic organisation, led by our members (the 11,500 students at
Bangor) the student voice is at the heart of all that we do. This is why we have various elections across
the year.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about our elections, the available roles and the
rules that govern our election processes.
Standing for election and being a representative is one of the most rewarding and interesting things to
do at University and can both ensure that the student voice is at the heart of the University
experience and provide you with the experience and skills to go on and do literally anything. Those
elected into the various positions will have the opportunity to shape the learning experience and work
with others to develop campaigns, change policy and raise issues about everything and anything. If
you haven’t had an opportunity yet to speak to a current Sabbatical Officer or member of the Student
Voice Team, then we suggest you do as they’ll be able to give you an insight into the various roles and
answer any questions you may have.
This guide contains information about Undeb Bangor Elections, this includes elections for Sabbatical
Officers (also called Officer Trustees), Student Trustees, Undeb Bangor Councillors and NUS Delegates
as defined by the Bangor University Students’ Union Constitution and Bye-Laws. As we elect various
positions, it is crucial that you fully understand the following:
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Officer Trustee roles are full-time, fixed term positions (often referred to as Sabbatical Officers,
or ‘Sabbs’) and successful candidates work in Undeb Bangor and receive a living allowance
(currently £18,412 a year) for the duration of their 12 months in office.
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Student Trustees are volunteers, serving on the Undeb Bangor Trustee Board, which exists to
ensure that Undeb Bangor is run effectively for the benefit of students here at Bangor
University. The Officer Trustees also sit on the Trustee Board and the President is the Chair.
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Undeb Bangor Councillors are volunteers who sit on the Undeb Bangor Council as
representatives of the student body. Undeb Bangor Council discussed issues of importance to
the student body, agrees policy and scrutinises the work of the Officer Trustees.
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NUS Delegates are elected to represent Undeb Bangor to the National Union of Students at
their various democratic, policy and campaigning conferences. There are a number of
delegate positions available that cover a wide spectrum of conferences and events. Delegates
are elected to attend NUS UK and NUS Wales events.
This guide does not cover the elections for Course Representatives, Societies Committee Executive,
Athletic Union Executive Committee, Student Volunteering Bangor Executive Committee, UMCB
Executive Committee or student group elections. For more information on those please speak to the
Student Voice Team directly.
We’ll provide a full and comprehensive training programme for all those elected and no previous
experience is needed. The only things you will need to do to be successful in any of the roles above is
supply ideas, be creative, bring energy and show enthusiasm. We also have a full staff team who work
to support and develop our involved students.
We hope you’ll consider standing for one of the positions.
If you have any questions pop into Undeb Bangor on the fourth floor of Pontio, call us on 01248
388000 or e-mail us through [email protected]
Thanks
Undeb Bangor Student Voice Team
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Elections Set Up
Election Officials:
To guarantee that our elections are transparent, fair and democratic we appoint an external person to
oversee all formal Undeb Bangor Elections. This person is called ‘The Returning Officer’ and they have
ultimate control and authority over interpretation and implementation of the rules and regulations
that govern Undeb Bangor Elections. Candidates should make every effort to understand the rules and
regulations and the University and Union policies that govern elections. We also appoint a Deputy
Returning Officer who will oversee and carry out the election operations on the ground. If anything is
unclear, then please check with that person before carrying out any action.
To ensure that our elections are democratic and fair we have an Elections Committee who ensure that
the elections run fairly on behalf of the student body and the University. They assist in the preparation
of the election and decide rules, publicity and the content of various briefings. Their role during the
elections is to support and safeguard the democratic process and be on hand during the campaigning
and voting periods. Election Committee members cannot link to any specific candidate or their
campaigns.
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The Returning Officer for Undeb Bangor Elections is James Dunn (A member of staff from the
National Union of Students) and has been appointed by the Undeb Bangor Trustee Board.
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The Deputy Returning Officer for Undeb Bangor Elections is Dylan Williams (Students’ Union
Director). Dylan should be your first point of call with any questions, issues or concerns, as he
will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the elections on James Dunn’s behalf. Dylan
can be contacted through 01248 388 011 or through [email protected]
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The Elections Committee for Undeb Bangor Elections as defined by the Undeb Bangor Election
Bye-Law
Election Timetable:
Each and every Undeb Bangor Election must have a clearly communicated timetable that is inline with
the Bangor University Students’ Union Constitution and Bye-Laws.
The timetable will be communicated through www.undebbangor.com and shall include the following
information with dates / times for each:
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Nominations Open
Nominations Close
Candidate Manifesto Deadline
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Candidate Briefing / Training
Candidate Question Time
Voting Period
Election Count and Results
In terms of when we normally hold elections:
Term One (September / October)
Undeb Bangor Councillors
NUS Delegates
Term Two (January – March)
Sabbatical Officers
Student Trustees
Sometimes due to resignation or removal it will be necessary to elect positions outside of their normal
election period. Where this is the case we shall open nominations at the most convenient time or the
next scheduled elections period.
Nominations Process:
To stand for election a formal nomination must be submitted through www.undebbangor.com
As defined in the Elections Timetable each election shall have specific requirements and deadlines.
Nominations submitted after the advertised deadline will not be accepted. It is strongly advised that
nominations are submitted well in advance of the nomination deadline so as to avoid any last minute
issues. Upon successful nomination an e-mail will be sent to confirm delivery of nomination and subsequent candidacy in the election. A full list of candidates is published www.undebbangor.com within
48 hours of nominations closing.
By submitting a nomination for election you agree to the following and give Undeb Bangor permission
to:
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Include your name in publicity and press releases for Undeb Bangor Elections
Display your manifesto/written statement and photo in publicity for Undeb Bangor Elections
Display your name and contact details on our website if you are successfully elected
Forward your name, email address and Student University Card Number to the University for
them to verify that the information you have provided is correct
Manifestos & Candidate Publicity:
All candidates in all elections are strongly encouraged to submit a candidate manifesto and publicity.
These must be submitted by the deadline agreed within the Election Timetable. There are specific
rules for each election so please ensure that you fully understand the requirements fro your election
(full info is included within the Election Regulations at the end of this guide.
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Candidate manifestos and publicity can be submitted in either Welsh or English and will be translated
by Undeb Bangor.
Candidate Publicity
Your candidate publicity is one of the most important things to get right and is widely disseminated
amongst the student body, normally via our website and on posters around campus and sometimes in
a special supplement in Seren. Therefore, it is crucial that your candidate publicity properly sets the
tone for your campaign and is a consistent message to voters.
There is no ‘right way’ to create your publicity but below are some suggestions:
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Ensure your name and the position is very prominent
If there is a background design/image, make sure that it isn’t obscuring any text
Make sure the layout is coherent and encourages people to read all of the information
Keep it simple and bold – don’t include too much text
Consider using a photo of yourself
Don’t use negative campaigning
Make sure your posters comply with the election rules and regulations set out in this guide
Be concise and use clear language
Include key policies but keep them as short as possible
Use an easy to read font, like Arial or Times New Roman; text should be readable and no
smaller than font size 12
Ask what friends and supporters think about the manifesto
And above all….make sure to check for typos!
If you are at all worried about this or are having trouble creating a manifesto, there are downloadable
templates online to help. Where possible Undeb Bangor will include training and support sessions on
manifesto and publicity design. One to one support with this can be obtained from the Student Voice
Team or by e-mailing [email protected]
Manifesto
A manifesto is your declaration of why you are running for election, what you hope to achieve if
elected, details of your main policies and why students should vote for you. Think about the following
points when creating your manifesto:
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What do you want to achieve in this role to benefit your constituents?
What has inspired you to run for this role?
What do you think is Bangor Students ‘Union’s key function and why?
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Student Voice Team Support:
We want to ensure that all students can stand in these elections. Therefore, we offer the following
support to all candidates running in elections:
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All potential candidates invited / offered to spend time with current Sabbatical Officers, Student Trustees or Undeb Bangor Councillors
Candidate manifesto and Publicity drafting and design support
Comprehensive training schedule for all candidates
Enforce strict election rules and regulations to ensure that no candidate has an unfair advantage (these are included within this document).
Offer one to one support for all candidates in the run up, during and post elections
Funding for elections (to ensure that no candidate has an unfair advantage)
In-house printing service
All candidates, where possible, will have the opportunity to complete a post-election questionnaire at
the conclusion of the elections where feedback is welcomed and suggestions for future support of
candidates can be given.
Voting:
Voting is held completely online through www.undebbangor.com and is done using the alternative
transferable vote system. In short this means:
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You vote with numbers instead of a tick or a cross, giving the number 1 to the candidate you
like the most.
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You then rank the candidates in order of preference, number 2 for your second favourite, 3 for
your third and so on.
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Once voting is completed, all of the first preferences are counted and if no one has achieved
50% plus one of the vote, the lowest ranked candidate is eliminated and their votes
transferred to the next preference. This continues until a candidate passes the 50% plus one
threshold, or until there is only one candidate left.
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This system means that your vote continues to influence the result of the election even if your
first preference does not win.
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Re-Open Nominations is included as a candidate within all elections
Voting will normally take place over a three-day period with the election count and results held as
close to the close of voting as reasonably possible.
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I’m not interested in running but I’d like to be involved somehow...
You can still get involved. You can support a candidate and be one of their campaigners. You’ll need to
speak to them first but candidates always need volunteers to go out amongst the people and spread
their message. It is a great way to get involved in the process if you’ve not experienced student
elections before. It’s an exciting and vibrant time and you’ll meet loads of people and have a good
laugh whilst doing it.
(it’s also good practice for next year...)
Undeb Bangor are always looking for volunteers to marshal the election. If you are not aligned to a
campaign or candidate and would like to help by promoting the election generally then please get in
touch with the Student Voice Team.
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Elected Roles within Undeb Bangor:
Sabbatical Officers:
Sabbatical officers are current students elected to run Undeb Bangor for a year (normally from June to
July in the following year) to make sure that we are run according to the wishes of the students here in
Bangor. This is a one year paid position, with two years being the maximum amount of time anyone
can do it. This is fixed by law within the 1994 Education Act and within the same piece of legislation is
the requirement that every Students’ Union poll its membership to elect it’s Sabbatical Officers for the
year ahead.
Any current, registered, Bangor student (or current first year Sabbatical Officer) can put themselves
forward to stand in the election.
The role descriptions for all Student Officers should be viewed as for guidance and general direction,
rather than policy of Undeb Bangor. The role descriptions should work in conjunction with what the
Student Officers’ want to achieve in their year in Office and should not restrict Student Officers from
undertaking responsibilities based on their skills, experiences, backgrounds and style of working.
All Student Officers (when in their capacity as elected Officers as opposed to Trustees) are ultimately
accountable to the membership of Undeb Bangor by the democratic processes detailed in the Undeb
Bangor Articles of Association and Bye-laws. This accountability is exercised through Undeb Bangor
Council, where the Student Officers are expected to report to each meeting. Any Student Officer
may be removed from Office by the democratic processes outlined in the Undeb Bangor Elected
Member Accountability Procedures (included within the Undeb Bangor Bye-Laws).
Here at Undeb Bangor we currently have five Sabbatical Officer positions:
President
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Shall be a Trustee of the Union
Shall be considered a ‘major union officer holder’ as defined by the 1994 Education Act
Shall be chief officer of the Union and head of the Sabbatical Team.
Shall be the chief representative of the Union to the University, local community and local
and national media.
Shall maintain contacts with other students’ unions and relevant external organisations.
Shall be responsible for the coordination and drafting of the Union budget on behalf of the
Board of Trustees.
Shall make a report on the work of the Sabbatical Officers to every meeting of Undeb Bangor
Council and Undeb Bangor General Meeting.
Shall have delegated line management responsibility for the Students’ Union Director between meetings of the Board of Trustees.
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Shall be the lead officer on matters relating to staffing issues within the Union.
Shall chair meetings of the Board of Trustees.
Shall be the lead officer on matters relating to Union democracy and shall be responsible for
upholding and interpreting the constitution.
Shall be the officer responsible for the Union’s community remit, including (and not limited
to) the ‘Love Bangor’ scheme, students in the community project work, local and global community campaigns, the citizenship agenda and liaising with residents’ groups and the local
council.
Shall be responsible for the drafting and implementation of Union strategy and shall oversee
operational policy in conjunction with the Board of Trustees and the Students’ Union Director.
Shall support the Vice President for Education in the coordination of the Union-related aspects of the University’s course representative system.
Shall encourage and promote healthy living whilst at university
Shall fully support the work of Union officers and staff.
Along with all other Union officers is expected to promote the values of the Union at all
times and ensure that their work is properly and effectively communicated to students.
Shall be expected to regularly provide articles for Union publications, including the website.
Along with all other officers, shall coordinate, delegate the responsibility to staff and/or provide support for Union events.
Shall be a full voting member of the Union’s Board of Trustees and Executive Committee.
Vice President for Education
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Shall be a Trustee of the Union
Shall be considered as a ‘major union officer holder’ as defined by the 1994 Education Act.
Shall work with the Sabbatical Officer Team to support and deliver the Union’s Welfare remit,
including (and not limited to) Academic Welfare, Student Housing & Health Promotion.
Shall be the Sabbatical liaison with Bangor University Student Services.
Shall take the lead on matters relating to Equal Opportunities on behalf of the Board of Trustees.
Shall be the officer responsible for the Union’s Education remit, with particular focus on matters of national and local education policy, funding and quality. This shall also cover all matters dealing with postgraduate education
Shall be the officer responsible for the coordination of the Union’s role in the University’s
course representative system.
Shall work with the Sabbatical Officer Team to run change campaigns on matters of student
welfare.
Shall encourage and promote healthy living whilst at university
Shall fully support the work of Union officers and staff.
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Along with all other union officers is expected to promote the values of the Union at all times
and ensure that their work is properly and effectively communicated to students.
Shall be expected to regularly provide articles for Union publications, including the website.
Along with all other officers, shall coordinate, delegate the responsibility to staff and/or provide support for Union events.
Shall be a full voting member of the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee.
Vice President for Sport
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Shall be a Trustee of the Union
Shall be considered as a ‘major union officer holder’ as defined by the 1994 Education Act.
Shall attend all relevant meetings of UWAU and BUCS.
Shall be the Athletic Union President, responsible for its operation and finances, and ensuring that its clubs have the resources and information they require to function.
Shall uphold the procedures outlined in Undeb Bangor Bye-Laws with regards to the Athletic
Union.
Shall be jointly responsible for organising Freshers’ Week activities, including a Freshers’ Fair.
Shall liaise with the University, local community and national bodies on sporting matters.
Shall work with the Sabbatical Officer Team to support and deliver the Union’s Welfare remit,
including (and not limited to) Academic Welfare, Student Housing & Health Promotion.
Shall work with the Sabbatical Officer Team to run change campaigns on matters of student
welfare.
Shall liaise with the Vice President for Societies and Volunteering and the UMCB President in
coordinating a comprehensive training package for committee members of AU, Societies and
UMCB groups.
Shall encourage and promote members’ participation in both competitive and recreational
sport in the University, offering assistance through the Athletic Union.
Shall encourage and promote healthy living whilst at university
Shall fully support the work of Union officers and staff.
Along with all other Union officers is expected to promote the values of the Union at all
times and ensure that their work is properly and effectively communicated to students.
Shall be expected to regularly provide articles for Union publications, including the website.
Along with all other officers, shall coordinate, delegate the responsibility to staff and/or provide support for Union events
Shall be a full voting member of the Union’s Board of Trustees and Executive Committee.
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Vice President Societies & Volunteering
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Shall be a Trustee of the Union
Shall be considered as a ‘major union officer holder’ as defined by the 1994 Education Act.
Shall be jointly responsible for organising Freshers’ Week activities, including a freshers’ fair.
Shall be the officer responsible for the Union’s societies remit, including being responsible
for its operation and finances, and ensuring that its societies have the resources and information they require to function.
Shall be the officer with political responsibility for the Union’s Student Volunteering Department.
Shall work with the Sabbatical Officer Team to support and deliver the Union’s Welfare remit,
including (and not limited to) Academic Welfare, Student Housing & Health Promotion.
Shall work with the Sabbatical Officer Team to run change campaigns on matters of student
welfare.
Shall encourage and promote healthy living whilst at university
Shall liaise with the Vice President for Sports and UMCB President in coordinating a comprehensive training package for committee members of AU, Societies and UMCB groups.
Shall encourage and promote recreational activity in the University, offering assistance
through the Union’s Clubs and Societies Department.
Shall fully support the work of Union officers and staff.
Along with all other Union officers is expected to promote the values of the Union at all
times and ensure that their work is properly and effectively communicated to students.
Shall be expected to regularly provide articles for Union publications, including the website.
Along with all other officers, shall coordinate, delegate the responsibility to staff and/or provide support for Union events.
Shall be a full voting member of the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee.
UMCB President
The role description for the UMCB President is property of UMCB but is included within the Undeb
Bangor Elections.
There shall be a provision for the UMCB President to be part of the Sabbatical Officer team, should
this be the wish of both the UMCB and Undeb Bangor membership.
For clarity, if UMCB is considered as an organisation separate to the Union at any time, then the
UMCB President would still be considered as a de facto member of the Sabbatical Team. This is due
to the strategic and cultural importance of the relationship between the Union and UMCB. In this
instance the UMCB President would continue to be engaged with Undeb Bangor Council and hold
speaking rights at the Undeb Bangor Executive Committee and Board of Trustees.
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Shall not be considered as a ‘major union officer holder’ as defined by the 1994 Education
Act.
Shall be a Welsh speaker and represent all Welsh speakers and learners.
Shall uphold the procedures outlined in the UMCB Constitution as detailed in the Undeb
Bangor Bye-Laws
Shall be the President of UMCB, being responsible for its operation and finances, and
ensuring that its groups have the resources and information they require to function.
Shall liaise with the University on issues regarding Welsh language provision and widening
participation amongst Welsh speakers.
Shall liaise with the Vice President Societies and Volunteering and the Vice President Sport in
coordinating a comprehensive training package for committee members of AU, Societies and
UMCB groups.
Shall encourage the inclusion and promotion of the Welsh language and culture in all
University and Undeb Bangor affairs.
Shall work to engage the local Welsh speaking community in the work of the Union and liaise
with the Vice President Societies and Volunteering on community work.
Shall fully support the work of Union officers and staff.
Along with all other Union officers is expected to promote the values of the Union at all
times and ensure that their work is properly and effectively communicated to students.
Shall be expected to regularly provide articles for Union publications, including the website.
Along with all other officers, shall coordinate, delegate the responsibility to staff and/or
provide support for Union events.
Shall be a full voting member of the Union’s Student Representative Council, and a nonvoting member of the Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees.
The hours are long and the job is varied. You will be expected to be the advocate of students’ rights,
project leaders, event planners, co-ordinators of a staff team, figureheads of student opinion,
organisers of a host of activities, general dogs-bodies, charity trustees, budget holders, and
ambassadors from the student body to the University and the wider community. You may even have
time for a social life, but it‘s doubtful.
As a team, Sabbaticals are responsible and held accountable for the entire Union. They make day-today decisions about all levels of your Union’s activities. Specifically, you will
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Be a trustee of the Undeb Bangor
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Serve as a member of the Trustee Board
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Be responsible for the day to day direction and management of the Union through close
working with Students’ Union Director and Senior Management Team.
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Work within the Equality and Diversity policy of the Union
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Develop and implement a plan of activities with the rest of the Trustees
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Listen to and involve students in areas of your work
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Attend Student Community Forums and Scrutiny Committees as required
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Sit on a variety of University Committees representing student opinion to the University
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Represent the organisation and students to other external organisations e.g. Local Council
and NUS
Having said all that, being a Sabbatical is fun, it’s creative and great experience. It’s also your chance to
contribute to your student community, to create something that will last long after you’ve moved on
from Bangor and if you’re really good you might even get a building named after you, though this
happens less frequently than you might hope.
Sabbatical positions are full time paid positions at the Union. Any student at Bangor University can
stand, whether you’re a first year, midway through your course or in your final year. The Sabbatical
year of office begins in June, so you’ll need to take a year out of your studies or stay in Bangor for a
year after you complete your course.
Student Trustees:
Trustees have and must accept ultimate responsibility for ensuring that Undeb Bangor is run
effectively, making sure that it is solvent, legally complaint, and delivering the objectives for which it
has been set up. They should maintain a collective responsibility at all times.
Trustees make sure that Undeb Bangor is running well and is doing what it was set up to do. This
includes ensuring the union:
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has the money it needs
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spends its money sensibly, on the activities it was raised for
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follows the law, including preparing reports and accounts to send to the Charity Commission
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doesn’t break the rules in its governing document (its constitution, trust deed or articles)
Trustees are encouraged to get advice from external sources like solicitors or other experts if they
need to. All trustees make decisions about Undeb Bangor collectively, working as a team. Decisions do
not usually need to be unanimous so long as the majority of trustees agree.
The Trustee Board meets quarterly throughout the academic year to set, and monitor progress
towards, Undeb Bangor’s aims and objectives. Collectively the Board reviews the impact of activities,
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monitors the management of resources, and ensures that the union is delivering clear benefit for its
members.
Trustees will attend all meetings (or send apologies in advance if unable to attend), ensure that they
are well prepared by reading documentation and asking questions, maintain confidentiality at all
times, and embody the values and mission of Undeb Bangor throughout the course of their duties.
Trustees must make decisions based on the considerations of the organisation as a whole, and to
ensure that the union continues to exist for the benefit of students at Bangor University. Trustees are
expected to declare any potential conflicts of interest in line with the Undeb Bangor Conflict of
Interest Policy.
Trustees must:
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follow the law of the land and the rules in the charity’s governing document
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act responsibly and only in the interests of the charity
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use reasonable care and skill
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make well-informed decisions, taking advice when needed
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be committed to the mission, vision and values of the union
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be constructive about others opinions and contributions
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be inquisitive and able to analyse and challenge information
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be able to act reasonably and responsibly
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be able to maintain confidentiality
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be ready to contribute in a meeting environment
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understand the difference between strategic and operational involvement
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embody the Nolan Principles: standards of behaviour in public life.
Trustees will be given access to training and induction opportunities, and supported by the board
throughout the course of their role. Being a Trustee is an amazing experience and not only will you
have the opportunity to strategically lead your Union, you’ll also be doing something that looks
fantastic on your CV. Give it a go.
Undeb Bangor Councillors
There are 15 Undeb Bangor Council positions with each position representing a demographic section
of the Bangor community or elected specifically to hold elected leaders to account. Undeb Bangor
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Council also has a number of sub-committees that report directly in to it. These are structured to ensure that the various parts and activity areas of Undeb Bangor have an avenue for their student voice
and can influence policy and campaigns. Undeb Bangor Council meets once a month and all students
are welcome to attend, submit policy and speak on issues they feel passionate about.
Ultimately, Undeb Bangor Council is there to guarantee that any student can submit ideas and debate
change for the Union and the University. The idea will be discussed and then voted on and if adopted
you’ll be involved in creating a work-plan for Undeb Bangor to realise your idea. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get involved, shape your experience and ensure that the Union is relevant for all students at
Bangor.
In terms of commitment, it is quite light and you can do as much or as little as you want. There are
around six meetings a year and you will work closely with the Sabbatical Officers to make real change.
The following positions are elected onto Undeb Bangor Council:
International Students Undeb Bangor Councillor
Responsible for:
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Attending the meetings of Undeb Bangor Council and representing Bangor University’s International Students.
Creating, passing, and approving policy to better the International Student experience at
Bangor University.
Working with the Sabbatical Officers to improve the experience of International Students at
Bangor University.
European Union Students Undeb Bangor Councillor
Responsible for:
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Attending the meetings of Undeb Bangor Council and representing Bangor University’s European Union Students.
Creating, passing, and approving policy to better the European Union Student experience at
Bangor University.
Working with the Sabbatical Officers to improve the experience of European Union Students
at Bangor University.
Postgraduate Taught Students Undeb Bangor Councillor
Responsible for:
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Attending the meetings of Undeb Bangor Council and representing Bangor University’s Postgraduate Taught Students.
Creating, passing, and approving policy to better the Postgraduate Taught Student experience at Bangor University.
Working with the Sabbatical Officers to improve the experience of Postgraduate Taught Students at Bangor University.
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Postgraduate Research Students Undeb Bangor Councillor
Responsible for:
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Attending the meetings of Undeb Bangor Council and representing Bangor University’s Postgraduate Research Students.
Creating, passing, and approving policy to better the Postgraduate Research Student experience at Bangor University.
Working with the Sabbatical Officers to improve the experience of Postgraduate Research
Students at Bangor University.
Mature Students Undeb Bangor Councillor
Responsible for:



Attending the meetings of Undeb Bangor Council and representing Bangor University’s Mature Students.
Creating, passing, and approving policy to better the Mature Student experience at Bangor
University.
Working with the Sabbatical Officers to improve the experience of Mature Students at Bangor University.
Part-Time Students Undeb Bangor Councillor
Responsible for:



Attending the meetings of Undeb Bangor Council and representing Bangor University’s PartTime Students.
Creating, passing, and approving policy to better the Part-Time Student experience at Bangor
University.
Working with the Sabbatical Officers to improve the experience of Part-Time Students at
Bangor University.
Disabled Students Undeb Bangor Councillor
Responsible for:



Attending the meetings of Undeb Bangor Council and representing Bangor University’s Disabled Students.
Creating, passing, and approving policy to better the Disabled Student experience at Bangor
University.
Working with the Sabbatical Officers to improve the experience of Disabled Students at Bangor University.
Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic Students Undeb Bangor Councillor
Responsible for:



Attending the meetings of Undeb Bangor Council and representing Bangor University’s Black,
Asian, and Minority Ethnic Students.
Creating, passing, and approving policy to better the Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic Student experience at Bangor University.
Working with the Sabbatical Officers to improve the experience of Black, Asian, and Minority
Ethnic Students at Bangor University.
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Undeb Bangor Elections Guide
Welsh Speaking Students Undeb Bangor Councillor
Responsible for:



Attending the meetings of Undeb Bangor Council and representing Bangor University’s Welsh
Speaking Students.
Creating, passing, and approving policy to better the Welsh Student experience at Bangor
University.
Working with the Sabbatical Officers to improve the experience of Welsh Speaking Students
at Bangor University.
LGBT+ Students Undeb Bangor Councillor
Responsible for:



Attending the meetings of Undeb Bangor Council and representing Bangor University’s
LGBT+ Students.
Creating, passing, and approving policy to better the LGBT+ Student experience at Bangor
University.
Working with the Sabbatical Officers to improve the experience of LGBT+ Students at Bangor
University.
Trans Students Undeb Bangor Councillor
Responsible for:



Attending the meetings of Undeb Bangor Council and representing Bangor University’s Trans
Students.
Creating, passing, and approving policy to better the Trans Student experience at Bangor
University.
Working with the Sabbatical Officers to improve the experience of Trans Students at Bangor
University
Women Students Undeb Bangor Councillor



Attending the meetings of Undeb Bangor Council and representing Bangor University’s
Women Students.
Creating, passing, and approving policy to better the Women Student experience at Bangor
University.
Working with the Sabbatical Officers to improve the experience of Women Students at Bangor University.
Accountability Undeb Bangor Councillor (Open Place)
Responsible for:



Attending the meetings of Undeb Bangor Council and Undeb Bangor Council Accountability
Panel.
Holding the Sabbatical Officers, Undeb Bangor Councillors, and Undeb Bangor Council Opportunities Forum Members to account.
Ensuring meaningful progress is being made on Undeb Bangor Council approved policy (by
its respective Sabbatical Officer).
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Undeb Bangor Elections Guide
Accountability Undeb Bangor Councillor (Women’s Place)
Responsible for:



Attending the meetings of Undeb Bangor Council and Undeb Bangor Council Accountability
Panel.
Holding the Sabbatical Officers, Undeb Bangor Councillors, and Undeb Bangor Council Opportunities Forum Members to account.
Ensuring meaningful progress is being made on Undeb Bangor Council approved policy (by
its respective Sabbatical Officer).
Chair of Undeb Bangor Council
Responsible for:


Chairing the meetings of Undeb Bangor Council, Undeb Bangor Council Opportunities Forum
and Undeb Bangor Council Accountability Panel.
In said meetings:
o Maintain appropriate order.
o Ensure they run to the agenda and to time.
o Ensure that Undeb policies are followed throughout.
o Ensure the debate is balanced, considered, and fair.
Undeb Bangor Opportunities Forum
The Undeb Bangor Opportunities Forum provides a forum for discussion and debate around matters
relating to Undeb Bangor Council Student Opportunities and extracurricular activity. The forum provides an opportunity to submit ideas for development and improvement of Undeb Bangor and the
student experience. The majority of places on the forum are reserved fro students who are already
actively involved with the executive committees within each activity area but two spaces are reserved for any student and are elected cross campus at the same time as the Undeb Bangor Council
positions are elected. These positions are:
Accountability Undeb Bangor Council Opportunities Forum Member (Open Place)
Accountability Undeb Bangor Council Opportunities Forum Member (Women’s
NUS Delegates
Undeb Bangor is a proud affiliate member of the National Union of Students. Our affiliation allows us
to directly influence policy, democracy and campaigns within the national union. Our delegates are
elected to represent and be the voice of Undeb Bangor. There are a number of delegate positions
available that cover a wide spectrum of conferences and events. Delegates are elected to attend NUS
UK and NUS Wales events.
The structure and make up of the NUS can be confusing and difficult to understand. This handy guide
has been produced to explain the NUS and how its democracy and policy development programme
works http://www.nusconnect.org.uk/articles/2016-nus-membership-guide-launched
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Undeb Bangor Elections Guide
Undeb Bangor sends delegates to the following conferences across the year:
NUS UK National Conference (normally held in March or April)
NUS UK LGBT Students’ Conference ((normally held in March or April)
NUS Disabled Students’ Conference (Normally held in March or April)
NUS Women Students’ Conference
NUS Black Students Conference
NUS UK Trans Students’ Conference
NUS Wales Conference
NUS Wales LGBT+ Students’ Conference
NUS Wales Students with Disabilities Conference
NUS Wales Womens’ Conference
NUS Wales Black Students’ Conference
NUS normally produce a calendar of events for the year and it can be found here
http://www.nusconnect.org.uk/shape-our-work/articles/nus-calendar-of-events-2016-17
The number of delegates for each event is decided at the start of each year and full information will
be posted on www.undebbangor.com as part of the election information.
All delegations to NUS Conferences must be gender balanced and in 2014 NUS passed the ‘Fair Representation on NUS Conference delegations’ policy. The policy means that all delegations will have
to have at least 50% self-defining women on them (rounded down). This does not affect nominations
or how many people can stand it just means that when it comes to the election count we have to follow a process to ensure we are electing in accordance with the rule.
What support is available for me if I run for an NUS Delegate position?
Sabbatical Officers and staff at Undeb Bangor will be able to support you in exploring your plans in
how to get other students to vote for you during the voting period. This will either be done via oneto-one support or drop in sessions and these aim also to answer any questions you might have about
the conference or about running for these positions. Delegates will also be briefed before any conference in order to fully understand their role as delegate, explore what they might be able to get
out of the conference in terms of the networking, workshop or social aspects of the conference too!
Finally, don’t worry about travel and accommodation this will all be covered by Undeb Bangor and
we’ll ensure that you get there and get back.
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Undeb Bangor Elections Guide
Election Rules and Regulations:
As discussed at the start of this document Undeb Bangor Elections follow a set of rules set out in our
Bye-Laws and regulations approved by our Trustee Board. The following rules and regulations are
standard across our range of elections and must be followed. These rules have been designed to be as
clear, easy to follow and easy to enforce as possible. If anyone has any queries regarding the rules,
please speak to the Deputy Returning Officer, Dylan ([email protected]) to seek
clarification in the first instance.
Breaking any of these rules may result in sanctions being placed on a candidate, campaigner or
campaign.
By-Law 7 – Elections
This by-law is the property of the Undeb Bangor Council & the Undeb Bangor General Meeting and
can be amended by either body, in line with their procedures.
1 Elections
1.1 Elections shall be held according to this Bye-Law for the following positions each year:
1.1.1 NUS Wales Conference and Liberations Conference Delegates,
1.1.2 NUS UK Conference and Liberations Conference Delegates,
1.1.3 Officer Trustees,
1.1.4 Student Trustees,
1.1.5 Undeb Bangor Councillors
1.1.6 Accountability Panel Members
2 By-elections
2.1 Subject to Article C, Clause 3.10, any vacant positions which arise during the course of the year
should be filled by a by-election held according to this Bye-Law.
3 Rights of Members
3.1 All Members have the right to stand as candidates in any election, with the following exceptions:
3.1.1 Candidates for Undeb Bangor Councillor positions must satisfy the relevant eligibility conditions
defined in Bye-Law 6, .
3.1.2 Officer Trustees and Student Trustees are limited to two terms of office.
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Undeb Bangor Elections Guide
3.2 For each position in any election, all Members have the right to propose or second one other
Member as a candidate.
4 Appointment of the Returning Officer
4.1 The Returning Officer shall be appointed annually by the Undeb Bangor Trustee Board
4.2 The Returning Officer shall be independent and shall not be a Member.
5 Powers and Duties of the Returning Officer
5.1 The Returning Officer shall be responsible for the good conduct and administration of the
elections and shall have sole interpretation of the Election Bye-Law and Regulations.
5.2 The Returning Officer shall appoint a Deputy Returning Officer and other election officials to
ensure the good administration and promotion of the election. The Deputy Returning Officer and
Election officials shall be instructed by the Returning Officer on their duties and shall perform these in
an impartial manner.
5.3 The Returning Officer may remove officials who are not carrying out the Returning Officer’s
instructions or acting in an impartial manner.
5.4 The Returning Officer may seek legal advice if they believe that statements made or the contents
of publicity could leave Undeb Bangor open to legal action.
5.5 The Returning Officer can rule out of order any statement or the contents of any publicity which in
their view is in breach of the Undeb Bangor Constitution, Bye-Laws or Regulations.
5.6 The Returning Officer will select an appropriate voting method for each election and ensure that
this is publicised and explained to Members.
5.7 The Returning Officer will publish elections rules and regulations prior to any election. The rules
and regulations will be focused on establishing a fair, transparent and equitable election process and
provide clarity regarding campaigning behaviour, publicity and expenditure. These rules and
regulations must be presented to the Undeb Bangor Elections Committee for adoption prior to the
start of the election process.
5.8 The Returning Officer will publish a complaints procedure prior to any election. The complaints
procedure will clearly establish a route for members to complain about the behaviour of candidates
and elections officials and outline the powers that the Returning and Deputy Returning Officers are
able to use. The complaints procedure must also highlight a route of appeal for candidates who do not
agree with the decisions of the Returning Officer. The complaints procedure must be presented to the
Undeb Bangor Elections Committee for adoption prior to the start of the election process.
5.9 The Returning Officer may delegate any task to the Deputy Returning Officer or Undeb Bangor
Committee but retains responsibility for the election at all times.
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6 Undeb Bangor Elections Committee
6.1 The core function of the Undeb Bangor Elections Committee will be to assist and support the
Returning Officer in the smooth running of the elections process and to ensure that this Bye-Law is
being adhered to at all times.
6.2 The membership of Undeb Bangor Elections Committee shall be:
6.2.1 The Elections Returning Officer, appointed by the Undeb Bangor Trustee Board in accordance
with this by-law.
6.2.2 The Elections Deputy Returning Officer, appointed by the Returning Officer in accordance with
this by-law.
6.2.3 Two full members of Undeb Bangor Student Council, elected at Undeb Bangor Council
6.2.4 Two open places which may be filled by any full member of Undeb Bangor, elected at the first
General Meeting of the year.
6.2.5 An Undeb Bangor Officer Trustee, or the UMCB President, appointed by Undeb Bangor Executive
Committee.
6.2.6 A Undeb Bangor Student Trustee, appointed by the Undeb Bangor Trustee Board.
6.2.7 Any additional persons selected by the Returning Officer for their expertise and advice, though
only those members detailed in clauses 6.2.3 – 6.2.6 are full voting members.
6.3 It is essential that members of Undeb Bangor Elections Committee are independent of all
candidates and potential candidates in an election. No member of the Undeb Bangor Elections
Committee may endorse, or campaign on behalf of any candidate, and must pledge neutrality prior to
the start of any elections process.
7 Election Timetable
7.1 The Returning Officer shall produce an Election Timetable, which shall include the dates and times
for the notification and completion of the following:
7.1.1 Nominations
7.1.2 Candidates’ Training
7.1.3 Manifestos
7.1.4 Candidates’ Question Times
7.1.5 Voting
7.1.6 The count
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7.2 The Election Timetable shall be published and adequately circulated with materials promoting the
election.
7.3 The Election Timetable shall allow sufficient time to ensure the highest level of participation in the
election.
8 Nominations
8.1 Nomination forms will be made available on the Undeb Bangor website, and elsewhere as
determined by the Returning Officer.
8.2 The nomination period will be a minimum of five (5) clear days prior to the start of canvassing
8.3 When the Returning Officer is satisfied, all valid nominations will be confirmed with the
candidates.
9 Candidates’ Training
9.1 The Returning Officer shall arrange for training to be provided to which all candidates will be
expected to attend.
9.2 The training will include briefings on campaigning skills, the election regulations, Candidates’
Question Time, publicity, and the role of Trustees.
10 Manifestos
10.1 The Returning Officer will issue guidance on manifestos in the elections rules and regulations.
10.2 Manifestos must be submitted by the date laid down in the Election Timetable.
10.3 Manifestos will be displayed on the Undeb Bangor website, and elsewhere as determined by the
Returning Officer.
11 Incumbent Candidates
11.1 Incumbent Undeb Bangor Officer Trustees must declare paid holiday to the Returning Officer if
they wish to undertake campaign activity during normal office hours in the election period.
11.2 Incumbent Undeb Bangor Officer Trustees may not use any of the resources of their current
position to assist any election campaign.
11.3 The Returning Officer will produce a guide to assist incumbent Undeb Bangor Officer Trustees in
complying with Clause 11 of this Bye-Law.
12 Candidates’ Question Time
12.1 The Returning Officer shall arrange at least one Candidates’ Question Time.
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12.2 The Returning Officer or their nominated appointee shall chair Candidates’ Question Time.
Candidates’ Question Time will be conducted according to a process agreed at the candidates’
training.
12.3 Questions should be directed to all candidates standing for the post. The Chair may rule out of
order any questions which are not directed to all candidates.
12.4 Candidates on placement, or studying abroad, may nominate a deputy to speak on their behalf.
13 Voting
13.1 Details of the elections and voting process shall be published through the Undeb Bangor website,
and elsewhere as determined by the Returning Officer.
13.2 The ballot shall bear the name of each candidate and the office being contested.
13.3 There shall be the option to vote for ‘Ro-open Nomination (RON)’
14 Complaints
14.1 Any complaints regarding the conduct of the election must be submitted in writing to the
Returning Officer before the start of the count. The Returning Officer shall decide on any complaints,
and there will be a route of appeal as laid out in the complaints procedure required by Clause 5.8 of
this Bye-Law.
15 The Count
15.1 The candidate or their appointed representatives or any other Member may, if they so wish,
attend the counting of the votes, as observers only.
15.2 Any Member wishing to observe must apply to the Returning Officer prior to close of voting.
15.3 The Returning Officer, or their nominated deputy, is the only person who can initiate the count.
15.4 The count will commence only if the Returning Officer is satisfied that all complaints relating to
the conduct and administration of the election have been resolved. Complaints after the count has
commenced may only relate to the conduct of the count.
15.5 The count will be conducted according to the guidelines laid down by the Electoral Reform
Society where possible, or as agreed by the Elections Committee where no guidelines exist.
16 Declaration
16.1 Results of the elections shall be declared by the Returning Officer when the count for each post
has been successfully completed.
16.2 Results of the elections shall be posted on the Undeb Bangor website within one (1) working day
of the count.
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Election Regulations
Nominations:
a)
A candidate is only entered into the election when they have successfully attained the
following criteria:
b)
Returned the completed nominations form to the Deputy Returning Officer (via submission of
the online form) by the nominations deadline.
c)
Is a current, registered, student at Bangor University or (in the case of Officer Trustee
elections only) is a current serving Undeb Bangor Sabbatical Officer in their first year of office.
d)
Submitted the manifesto and publicity text in either English or Welsh ready for translation, by
the nominations deadline.
Manifesto and Publicity text limits (each):
Officer Trustee: no more than 350 words of whichever language it has been submitted in
Student Trustee: no more than 350 words of whichever language it has been submitted in
Undeb Bangor Councillor: no more than 350 words of whichever language it has been
submitted in
f)
Attended the Candidates’ Briefing, or received a verbal briefing from the Deputy Returning
Officer if they were not able to attend and had sent apologies in advance.
g)
Agree to be bound by these rules.
Campaign Period:
a)
Candidates may publicly declare and discuss their candidacy at any time prior to the election.
Printed material (e.g. posters/leaflets/handouts) will be ready for collection prior to the official
start of campaigning.
Conduct:
a)
Candidates and campaigners who through their involvement with, or who hold (or have held)
positions of responsibility within, Undeb Bangor may not use resources available to them and
not to other students. This includes Undeb Bangor purchased equipment and clothing, any
central Undeb Bangor mailing lists and official Undeb Bangor social media groups. This list is
not exhaustive, but does not include any individual club or society held mailing lists or social
media accounts.
b)
Candidates are responsible for all campaign activity carried out in their name; this includes the
actions of third parties on their behalf.
c)
Candidates and campaigners may not:
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d)
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Undeb Bangor Elections Guide
force, coerce or in any way intimidate students, particularly when they are near or in
the act of voting.
ii)
vote on behalf of another student
iii)
intimidate any participant in the election
iv)
deliberately sabotage any campaign other than their own
v)
deface another candidate’s materials, publicity, online media, social networking site
etc
vi)
make an attempt to defraud the election
vii)
make any attempt to influence the impartiality of the Returning Officer, Deputy
Returning Officer, Elections Committee or Undeb Bangor staff
viii)
discuss the personal traits of another candidate
ix)
misrepresent another candidate’s views or make claims about themselves or any
other candidate that are untrue.
x)
Set up their own 'voting station', hand voters an electronic device for the purpose of
voting, supervise or watch a voter in the act of voting, or demand that voters take out
their own electronic device in order to vote immediately
xi)
bring the election process into disrepute
Candidates and campaigners must:
i)
Uphold the letter and spirit of the election rules and the Undeb Bangor Equal
Opportunities, Zero Tolerance to Harassment and Bilingual policies at all times.
ii)
Follow the laws and regulations of both the land and the University at all times.
Example of positive campaigning:
Ben and Jerry are standing for election to the same position. Ben wants to convince voters that he
is best for the job. It is not acceptable for him to say: “Jerry! What does he know about running the
union? He’s an idiot”.
He could say “Hi, I’m Ben. I believe that I’m the best candidate in this election. Please read my
manifesto, it sets out what I’m going to do for students over the next twelve months. If you like
what you read please vote for me on February 23rd.” He could also say “I believe that I am the best
candidate for the job, with the most experience and the clearest plan for the future. I don’t believe
that my opponent has a clear view of what he wants to achieve, neither do I believe that his ideas
are practical”.
It is never acceptable to make personal comments about other candidates or their supporters,
though all candidates are encouraged to read each others’ manifestos and debate each others’
ideas.
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Publicity:
a)
Candidates have a spending limit, which may not be exceeded or increased. This figure does
not include printing but does cover all other election expenses. Receipts covering all
expenditure need to be submitted to the Deputy Returning Officer by 10AM on the morning
of the election count. Undeb Bangor will cover the expenses costs of candidates up to the
maximum amounts detailed below for each election:
In the case of:
Officer Trustee Election: £25
Student Trustee Election: £10
Undeb Bangor Councillor Election: £10
b)
Candidates are limited to 100 A3 sheets of printed publicity. Undeb Bangor will cover the cost
of this printing for candidates.
c)
Candidates are limited to three publicity designs prior to the start of campaigning. This is to
ensure that all candidates have the opportunity to have their publicity printed and ready for
the start of campaigning.
d)
Everything used in the election is given a cash value by the Returning Officer, or their
nominated Deputy (excluding items listed in Section 4, f below). For clarity, this rule applies to
‘campaign gifts’ which may have cost you nothing but hold a ‘real world’ cash value.
e)
All resources and methods that you use in your election campaign that could be given a
monetary value should be available to all of the other candidates. It is the responsibility of the
candidate to check this before using them with the Deputy Returning Officer.
For Example:
As well as being a student, Ana works in a local nightclub and is running for election. Her boss
would like her club to have a close link with a union sabbatical and so gives her 100 free-entry
tickets for the Wednesday night event. Ana gives these out to students who promise to vote for
her in the election.
When Elsa, another election candidate, approaches the club owner to ask for free tickets to help
promote her campaign she is refused and turned away.
In this example, Ana would have to check whether free tickets were available to all candidates
before agreeing to use them. The Returning Officer would also want to place a financial value
on the tickets and her election budget would decrease as a result of their use. If the value of the
tickets exceeded her remaining budget she could find herself removed from the election.
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The following items for example are readily available to all candidates and their supporters
and so their fair use does not carry a cash value:
Old T-shirts; Paint; Old bedsheets; Marker Pens; Blu-tack; Pre-used cardboard; Old wood;
Pencils; String; Sticky tape; Pins, Pre-owned Fancy Dress items. This list is not exhaustive and
any questions should be directed to the Deputy Returning Officer.
NOTE: This rule has been included to assist candidates in making election time exciting,
vibrant and high profile. The returning officer and their deputy are aware that this rule may be
open to abuse and will be closely monitoring campaign resources as a result. Please
remember that they are the people who determine ‘fair use’
For Example:
It is perfectly reasonable to ask all of your campaign supporters to collect their old t-shirts and
turn these into campaign t-shirts by painting, drawing or stencilling designs on them. This would
not cost you any of your election budget.
If you were to go out and buy matching t-shirts, you would have to pay for this out of your
election budget.
If you screenprint or use transfers on your t-shirts or banners, you would have to pay for this out
of your election budget.
g)
All election printing of manifestos, flyers, posters etc must be done by Undeb Bangor by the
appropriate members of staff.
h)
To assist with preparing material for all candidates prior to the start of campaigning,
candidates are initially limited to three pieces of print-ready artwork (flyers, posters, leaflets
etc...)
i)
All elections publicity must include the polling dates and the elections website.
j)
All printed elections publicity must be fully bilingual and translated and/or checked by
Canolfan Bedwyr in advance of printing. The only exception to this rule is campaigning carried
out on social networking sites where the following rules apply:
k)
Social Networking
i)
Facebook:
If campaigning on Facebook, you should have your introduction, manifesto (or
extended manifesto) and the election timetable and voting instructions displayed
Bi-lingually.
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Undeb Bangor Elections Guide
Your status updates, notes, wall posts and discussion topics may be displayed in the
language of your choice.
ii)
Twitter: You may campaign in your language of preference.
iii)
Other social media: where applicable you should have your introduction, manifesto
(or extended manifesto) and the election timetable and voting instructions displayed
bi-lingually
Translation timetable:

Your manifesto text and ALL of the text for your publicity material (posters / leaflets / flyers /
banners / t-shirts etc…) must be handed in with your nomination by the publicity deadline

Your text will be translated, checked and returned to you. It is your responsibility to ensure
that you give Welsh and English equal prominence on your publicity. For consistency we
recommend that Welsh is to the left or above the English. Examples of previous election
publicity exist on the Undeb Bangor website to help guide you.

The translation limit for publicity prepared before the start of campaigning is no more than
700 words per position applying for.

Following the translation of all of the publicity received by the deadline candidates may
submit further designs or text for translation if they so wish but should allow the translation
unit a reasonable amount of time to carry out the work. Delivery of this translation cannot be
guaranteed, although all efforts will be made.
Publicity design

You are responsible for the design of your own publicity, including the design of your
manifesto pages. Each candidate should design two sides of A5 for your manifesto, it is up to
you how you design it but it must be bilingual. Undeb Bangor can provide support with this if
necessary.

Undeb Bangor will publish an A5 manifesto booklet, containing each candidate’s manifesto
pages. An example booklet is available for you to view on www.undebbangor.com

The Deputy Returning Officer will set out the publicity procedures and deadlines for each
election period at the start of the elections process.
Elections videos

You are encouraged to make elections videos and publicise these on social media. Any written
text featured on these videos needs to be bilingual.
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Additionally one video per candidate may be uploaded by Undeb Bangor to the voting site to
help voters make their decisions. Candidates may:
o
EITHER create a short video themselves (no more than 2 minutes) outlining ideas and
manifesto pledges. Any written text featured on these videos needs to be bilingual.
File format will be specified by the Deputy Returning Officer and the video will need
to be uploaded to the Undeb Bangor YouTube channel.
o
OR Undeb Bangor will offer to help make a simple 2 minute video for each candidate,
Complaints:
a)
All complaints made about candidates, campaigners, election officials or the voting process
should be submitted in writing, by e-mail, to the Deputy Returning Officer. Only complaints
submitted in writing will be considered. The complaint must highlight the election rule that
has been broken, provide evidence of the breech
b)
In the first instance the Deputy Returning Officer will consider a complaint and make a ruling
within 24 hours. If it is a deemed to be a serious matter the Deputy Returning Officer may
refer it immediately to the Returning Officer for consideration.
c)
Complaints regarding the conduct of the Deputy Returning Officer should be made in writing
directly to the Returning Officer.
d)
Complaints have to be submitted before the election count has taken place. Only complaints
about the process of the count itself will be considered once the count has started, and these
must be submitted within 24 hours of the results being declared.
e)
The sanctions available to the Deputy Returning Officer are:
f)
i)
Warning a candidate of their future conduct.
ii)
Taking steps to level the playing field to right an election regulation breech.
iii)
Fining a candidate through either reducing the amount of money they may spend, or
by confiscating printed publicity material.
iv)
Prohibiting a candidate and their campaigners from campaigning for a period of time
(up to 24 hours).
v)
Banning a campaigner from the rest of the campaign (where the campaigner is not
the candidate).
In addition to all of the above sanctions, the following are available to the Returning Officer:
i)
Suspending a candidate from the election pending an investigation
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ii)
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Suspending the election process pending an investigation
iii)
Recommending to the elections committee, and to the University, that a candidate be
disqualified
iv)
Recommending to the elections committee, and to the University, that the election be
re-run or a vote annulled.
Candidates may appeal against decisions made by the Returning Officer and their Deputy by
submitting their appeal in writing, by e-mail, within 24 hours of the decision being made,
following the appeal procedure detailed below:
i)
First stage appeal is heard by the Returning Officer; if the candidate remains
dissatisfied then,
ii)
Second stage appeal is to the Elections Committee who will hear the case put forward
by the candidate and the case put forward for imposing sanctions by the Returning
Officer, or their nominated Deputy.
iii)
Final stage appeal is to the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Students, or their nominated
deputy.
Any e-mail communication to the Returning or Deputy Returning Officer will be acknowledged via email return within 24 hours, if this is not received please do not assume that we have received it contact 01248 388000 to check.
Thank you for reading. Good luck!
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