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STUDENT LEADER ELECTIONS

Have your say in who will be your next Student Leaders!

SUBU exists to make student life better and our student leaders are fundamental to this. They lead on specific aspects of how we are run and can have a real impact on all students, so what are you waiting for, cast your vote below!

Voting is now closed!

No elections are currently running

If you get an error message when voting, click below as you may need to opt in to the union. If you get an error message to say that you do not meet the requirements to opt in, this means you are already opted in. You will only be able to apply and vote for roles for groups you are a member of. If you have any other issues voting, please contact subudemocracy@bournemouth.ac.uk.


How Does Voting Work?

Voting will take place online via the SUBU website. SUBU uses the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system which provides voters with much more choice and influence. STV means that candidates do not need to win a majority but instead must reach a quota/proportion of the vote. The quota is determined by the number of votes cast and the number of positions to be filled. For roles where there is only one position available the quota is half the total number of votes cast + 1.

When voting students select their candidates in order of preference and are able to vote for as many or as few as they like. When the voting has closed, Candidates are excluded if it is impossible for them to reach the quota, their votes are then transferred in order of preference, which ensures that fewer votes are wasted.


The Roles

Elections are your opportunity to make your voice heard! Each year, you have the opportunity to elect other students to become SUBU Those elected leaders then represent you, run your clubs and societies and media outlets but also some will campaign on your behalf by working on local and national issues ranging from student welfare to changes on students' courses. They make sure that SUBU is student-run. If you care about improving student lives then make sure you vote in every SUBU election!

But voting isn’t all you can do! If being a student leader is something that you would be interested in, you can run for a position! This is your chance to make a difference for Bournemouth University students.


Key Dates

Applications Open

Monday 15th April, 2024  •  10am

Applications Close

Tuesday 7th May, 2024  •  12pm

Candidate Briefing

Part-Time Officer and Faculty Rep applicants only

Wednesday 8th May, 2024, 3-4pm, Zoom

Candidate List Published

Thursday 9th May, 2024

Start of Campaigning

Friday 10th May, 2024

Voting Open

Monday 13th May, 2024  •  10am

Voting Closes

Thursday 16th May, 2024  •  4pm

Results Announced Online

Friday 17th May, 2024  •  4pm


Regulations & Complaints

All SUBU elections should be free and fair, which is why we have rules which govern our elections. You can find out more about election regulations and submit an elections complaint here.

Part-Time Officer and Faculty Rep Elections

The Election Officers are as follows:

Returning Officer: Peter Robertson (NUS)

Deputy Returning Officer: Kayleigh Heckford

Independent Elections Adjudicator: Laura Greenwood-Pearsons (Brighton SU)

 

Clubs & Societies Elections

The Election Officers are as follows:

Returning Officer: Tammy Bowie

 

Nerve Media Elections

The Election Officers are as follows:

Returning Officer: Shani Wortley


Expenses

Part-Time Officers and Faculty Reps only

Candidates shall have £20 to spend on their election campaign. This must cover all materials purchased or primarily used during the campaign. This will be reimbursed by SUBU after the election, upon the presentation of proof of spend. Any products or services offered at a reduced price will be assigned a fair price by the Returning Officers.

Expenses must be declared by 4pm on the 16th May.


FAQs

What are Part-Time Officers?

Part-Time Officers (PTO) are voluntary roles, which include Liberation Officers and Faculty Officers. Each PTO represents a specific group of students, and it is their responsibility to promote the interests of that group. They are key student decision makers within the Union and ensure that as a Union we are student led.

What do the Liberation Officers do?

The Liberation Officers represent and campaign on the behalf of the students they represent by leading their Liberation Network. They do this in a number of ways including organising events, running campaigns, attending SUBU’s Executive Committee and participating in the SUBU Summit, all on behalf of their members. These roles are important for making sure that marginalised students are heard at SUBU and BU and have a community that share similar lived experiences.

You can find out more about the Liberation Officers and Networks here.

What do the Faculty Officers and Reps do?

Faculty Officers and Reps represent their Faculty at senior levels within the Union and University. Each Faculty can elect up to 3 Faculty Reps, the candidate who receives the most votes will become the Faculty Officer.

What does a committee member do?

SUBU exists to make student life better and Clubs & Societies Committee Members are fundamental to this. They lead on specific aspects of how we are run and can have a real impact on all students. A club or society consists of mandatory elected committee members and additional optional roles who are the leadership team for the society members. These members are a group of like-minded individuals with the same interests in a particular area such as a hobby or a sport, a profession or career, a culture or faith for example. The club or society is a place where students pay a fee to become a member and will come together to build friendships, take part in activities together and, in some cases, compete in competitions. Committee members lead a club or society, creating a safe space for students to feel part of a community.

Who can stand and vote for the roles?

In order to be eligible to contest one of the roles you must be eligible at the point of election and for the remainder of the 2023/24 academic year.

In order to be eligible to vote or stand for a Liberation Officer you must be a Student Member of the Union and self-define as a part of the Liberation Group that the position represents.

In order to be eligible to vote or stand for a Faculty Officer or Rep role you must belong to the relevant Faculty. In order to be elected to the Faculty Officer position you must also be a Student Member of the Union. This is a multi-seat position with 3 roles available per Faculty. The individual who receives the highest number of votes in the election shall be elected as the Faculty Officer for that Faculty, provided that they are a Student Member and willing to undertake the role. Further information can be found in SUBU’s Bye-Laws.

In order to be eligible to vote or stand for a Club and Society position you must be a Student Member of the Union and be a paid member of the Club or Society. Affiliate members are not able to vote for any roles, or stand for a mandatory role (President, Treasurer, Secretary) but they may stand for a non-mandatory role, such as Health and Safety Officer.

In order to be eligible to vote or stand for a Nerve Media position you must be a Student Member of the Union and be a paid member of Nerve Media.

Can I run for two roles?

Candidates can only contest one Part-Time Officer position. They may also contest a Faculty Rep position, but must indicate on nomination that they do not wish to contest the Faculty Officer role. Candidates can only contest one committee position per Club and Society.

Candidates can only run for one position across Nerve Media. For example, if you wanted to run for Station Manager you could not run for any other role under the Nerve Media umbrella. However, candidates can run for a Part-Time Officer position, a Nerve Media position, and a Clubs & Society position - so long as they meet the requirements. For example, if you run for Station Manager for Nerve, you could also run for a Part-Time Officer role such as Women’s Officer.

How much time do the roles require?

Part-Time Officer roles are all voluntary so the there is no formal time commitment, but expect to spend between 1-5 hours per week on the role. Depending on the role you apply for there will be different meeting commitments that you’ll be expected to attend, such as the Executive Committee, Student Summit and other university meetings.

What will I get out of it?

Being a Student Leader is an incredible opportunity for you to shape SUBU and BU by having a direct say in how SUBU is run. It’s also a great developmental opportunity for you where you’ll learn transferable skills that’ll look great on your CV, as well as being fantastic for developing networks and improving your confidence!

What support will I get if elected?

Student Leaders have a full induction programme to help them learn about the Union and their role, this includes ongoing training throughout the year. Student Leaders will also work very closely with other SUBU Officers and Staff who will help them achieve their goals.

What is a manifesto?

A manifesto is how candidates sell themselves to voters; it sets out their aims and priorities and may also include a little bit about themselves and why they are the best person for the job. Manifesto’s become candidates promises to students about what they want to achieve if they are elected so it is important that they are realistic and achievable.

Candidates are asked to submit a 100-word manifesto during their nomination.

What is campaigning?

In the context of elections, campaigning is what candidates do to get votes - it's not just handing out leaflets though! Successful candidates take time to listen and speak to students, find out about the current issues relevant to the role they're standing for and persuade voters with ideas and enthusiasm. Don’t worry if this all sounds a bit daunting because all candidates have to attend a briefing where we’ll provide some tips and tricks.

There are regulations surrounding campaigning behaviour. Candidates must not supply or handle voters devices. Candidates for Club and Soceity postions should also not be campaigning outside of specific Club and Societies spaces, e.g. closed groups, socials etc.

Candidates for Clubs & Societies and Nerve Media positions should also not be campaigning outside of their specific times. To find out more information please read the election regulations

How can I apply?

Once applications open, simply fill out the online form at the top of this page.

How does voting work?

Voting will take place online via the SUBU website. SUBU uses the Single Transferable Vote (STV) and Alternative Vote (AV) system which provides voters with much more choice and influence. STV/AV means that candidates do not need to win a majority, but instead must reach a quota/proportion of the vote. The quota is determined by the number of votes cast and the number of positions to be filled. For roles where there is only one position available the quota is half the total number of votes cast + 1. When voting students select their candidates in order of preference and are able to vote for as many or as few as they like. When the voting has closed, Candidates are excluded if it is impossible for them to reach the quota, their votes are then transferred in order of preference, this ensures that fewer votes are wasted.

How can I find out more?

If you have any questions, or want to have an informal chat about the election, drop us an email at subudemocracy@bournemouth.ac.uk


Contact

If you have any questions about the election process get in touch with the Elections Team at subudemocracy@bournemouth.ac.uk or for clubs and societies elections please contact studentopportunitiesteam@bournemouth.ac.uk  or for Nerve Media elections contact sumedia@bournemouth.ac.uk