1. UOS UNION ELECTIONS CANDIDATES BOOKLET uosunion.org/elections
#UOSELECTIONS

2. UOS SU ELECTIONS! CONTENTS uosunion.org/elections VOTING CLOSES
INTRODUCTION KEY DATES KEY CONTACTS CAMPAIGN TIPS RULES & REGS
HOW WE CAN HELP 8 YOUR NOTES 3 4 5 6
VOTING CLOSES
MARCH 17 at 3pm 9
UOS SU
ELECTIONS!
uosunion.org/elections
#UOSELECTIONS

3. INTRODUCTION ELECTIONS Message from the Current SU
Vice-President Johnathan
Hello, you wonderful person you!
Now, you might ask yourselves how I know that you’re a wonderful person? Well, the thing is that student officers are some of the most important people in the whole university and the fact that you have nominated yourself to run means I know that you’re a wonderful person. So thank-you, and well done!
Elections can be one of the most enjoyable experiences of your time at university, whether you win or lose, as you meet new people, try new things and generally get an insider view of the running of your Students’ Union.
This guide will be your sidekick through the journey of elections, so read and take note. But also don’t forget that your SU staff are here for you over the elections period.
I hope you enjoy the elections and I cannot wait to see you out and about campaigning!!!
INTRODUCTION
CONGRATULATIONS on your
nomination. This is your first step towards leading the Students’ Union to greatness!
Our aim as a Students’ Union is to enable and support our students to make positive differences in their own lives, and in society. This will be achieved through the hard work of a team of experienced staff, and enthusiastic and driven student officers, each of whom will set direction for the organisation and aid it in its progression.
However before you can get stuck into driving change, you have to win you elections. This booklet will provide you with all the essential information you need to run a successful and engaging campaign encompassing all areas of the campus and student body!
Ensure you read this through guide in order to get the most out of your
campaign. There is a copy of all the rules and regulations which you need to sick to, a list of tall the important times and dates as well as some great ideas for your campaign.
All the best!
Your Students’ Union

4. Student Voice Co-Ordinator and Elections Officer
UOS UNION
KEY DATES
KEY CONTACTS 10
Nominations Close
Josh Younespour
Student Voice Co-Ordinator and Elections Officer
Direct all your queries to the Elections Officer in the first instance. If you would like to escalate your query, please speak to the Deputy Returning Officer.
MAR 8
MAR
Compulsory Candidate
Briefing at 11am or 3pm OR 10
MAR 13
VOTING OPENS!
MAR 14
Bury CampusVisit for Full-Time Candidates 11am-1:30pm
Peter Robertson
Returning Officer
MAR 16
Candidate Question Time
MAR 17
Voting
MAR 17
MAR
RESULTS
PARTY!
4pm
On Campus
uosunion.org/elections
#UOSELECTIONS

5. CAMPAIGN TIPS Talk to people: Posters Social media
ELECTIONS
CAMPAIGN TIPS
Talk to people:
This is the best way to get votes. Students want to see you and your passion when you speak about what you plan to do for the year ahead. By talking to the students you can ensure that they understand your manifesto and why you are running.
The more people you talk to the better your chances of a successful campaign.
Posters
You will be given a number of posters as part of your candidate pack. By making these look interesting, you will engage more students.
We will also give you materials to promote the election to help direct your followers to the website so they can vote!
Social media
Use social media platforms to promote your campaign. A separate page will need to be created for your campaign, but you can get inviting as many students as you like! Just make sure you are posting links to the voting pages to ensure your ‘likes’ are all translated into votes.
Make a film
It’s incredibly common for candidates to create a short film showing themselves talking about why they should be elected. You can spread them on Facebook, YouTube, etc.
Some candidates have sung along to favourite songs or copied famous movie scenes. Your imagination is the limit!
Get friends involved
Your friends can be an excellent network to encourage their network of friends to vote for you as well. Campus is a small place and everyone is connected through friends, clubs, and so on!

6. Failure to comply with these rules will result in disqualification.
UOS UNION
RULES & REGS
Failure to comply with these rules will result in disqualification.
Conduct
1. All candidates must abide by the Students’ Union’s policies and procedures including the Equality & Diversity Policy which is available from the Students’ Union website and by request from the Returning Officers.
3. Candidates must take reasonable steps to ensure that their supporters’ actions comply with the election rules at all times and must be able to demonstrate this in the event of a complaint against them.
4. Bribes or inducements may not be offered in any form to any person. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes sweets and other small gifts. If in doubt speak to Elections Committee.
5. All candidates and campaigners are responsible for ensuring that in any area they are campaigning that there is freedom of access for any student who needs it and that doors, stairwells and passage ways are not blocked or made difficult to pass through.
2. All publicity material shall be approved by the Student’s Union Elections Officer prior to use to ensure it adheres to SU policy.
6. All candidates and their election agents should attend one of the Candidate’s Briefings. Candidates may request a meeting with the Deputy Returning Officer if they cannot attend either briefing.
Publicity material will not be approved if it:
•Refers to any individual Students’ Union member or staff member (past or present) by name other than him or herself
•Contains factual inaccuracies
•Contains opinion expressed as fact
•Advocates discrimination
•May be prejudicial to the fair running of the elections.
7. Candidates should attend any further meetings called by the Returning Officer or Deputy Returning Officer during the
course of the campaign or make alternative arrangements to meet with them.
8. Candidates should, at all times, act as directed by staff and raise any concerns directly with the Returning Officers.
uosunion.org/elections
#UOSELECTIONS

7. Campaigning Complaints ELECTIONS
No campaigning of any sort should be done before elections open.
Candidates may only use the materials provided by the Students’ Union for their Campaigning.
All candidates may make use of social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter and these will be linked from the Students’ Union elections pages if details are supplied to the Deputy Returning Officer.
Any social media pages created for campaigning, whether private for public, needs to have the Deputy Returning Officer as a member.
Use of sport and societies as a platform is strictly prohibited.
No campaigning may take place in the Library or Students’ Union Offices.
Candidates must not campaign in lectures without permission from lecturer, and must not cause disruption to lectures by loitering outside teaching rooms.
Candidates and campaign teams may only alter, move or remove their own campaign publicity.
Once a student has begun the process of voting, no candidate or campaigner should make any attempt to speak to them or to influence or interfere with their decision in any way. For the avoidance of doubt – “helping” a voter or “showing them how to vote” will be regarded a breach of the rules. If a voter needs assistance with voting then campaigners should refer them to polling station staff or to the Deputy Returning Officer.
Complaints
Any complaints regarding the conduct of any candidate or campaigner should be made to the Returning Officers in writing or
by using the Complaints Form provided and with any evidence submitted alongside the complaint.
No complaints will be accepted more than one hour after the close of polls.
Complaints will be dealt with at the discretion of the Returning Officers but all will be addressed by the final meeting of the Elections Committee which takes place after the final deadline for complaints.
If candidates are in any doubt the interpretation of these rules they should ask the Deputy Returning Officer for clarification.
A copy of the form can be requested by ing

8. office in the Union to enquire about the roles and the campaigning
UCS UNION
ELECTIONS
Training & Briefing
Each candidate must attend a candidate training/briefing before the election week. These will take place on 8th & 10th March. We will go through the campaigning process,
the election timetable, rules & regulations and to answer any questions that you may have.
Drop-in Sessions
From the day nominations open, any student who is thinking of running for any of the roles is able to drop by the Student Voice
office in the Union to enquire about the roles and the campaigning
process.
On-going
Support
If elected, we will provide you with all the training and
support you need so you can undertake your role as an elected Officer.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Speed-meet the staff
Design Help
All candidates running for a full-time position will be
given the opportunity to spend some time the Advice & Rep manager to work on poster design. This is a great way to get your campaign looking feisty!
Candidate Breakfast
As well as the chance to get some free breakfast to start off your day of campaigning, you will receive up-to-date voting stats and elections
updates.
All candidates will have the chance to spend up to 10 minutes with members of the Union staff
to ask any questions about the organisation they may have – This
could be very useful for your campaigning and finishing off
your manifesto.
uosunion.org/elections
#UOSELECTIONS

9. ELECTIONS
YOUR NOTES

10. UOS UNION