Voting in RSU Society elections is restricted to current members. This means, if you are not a member of a given Society, you cannot vote or stand in its election. Non-members will not be able to see candidates or cast votes.

If you have forgotten to get your Society membership and want to stand or vote, you will need to do so before nominations open - memberships are frozen during the Societies Elections period.

At RSU, all Society elections voting is done online. This ensures that it can be conducted freely and fairly, reduce admin for current Society leaders, and that there are no hidden barriers for members to get involved.

At RSU we use a system called Single Transferable Vote. A handy explanation of what this means can be found via the RSU Youtube channel.

General Rules

1. Any activity or publicity that is illegal, breaches University rules, policies and codes, or SU byelaws, regulations, policies, constitution, or data protection legislation, is deemed to be in breach of the election rules.
2. The Elections will be conducted in accordance with RSU byelaws, and Societies Signatory Agreement. The Returning Officer’s interpretation of the Elections Rules and guidelines is final.
3. All Society members have the right to vote free from influence exerted by candidates.
4.  A student is allowed to put in a nomination for a maximum of one Committee Member position in each Society, provided they hold a valid membership for the Society before the Nomination period begins.
5.  Societies Elections will be conducted through an online election software through our provider Membership Solutions Ltd (MSL). No other forms of Societies Elections will be accepted.
6. Candidate nominations will be through the RSU Societies Elections Website and completing the nomination form. This includes the submission of a photo of the candidate, and manifesto consisting of fewer than 250 words total and submitted by close of nominations at 11AM on Thursday 20th March 2025.
7.  Re-open Nominations (RON) shall be a candidate for all positions.
8.  All candidates must attend the candidate briefing to ensure that their campaign abides by election rules. Any candidate unable to attend must inform the Deputy Returning Officer with a minimum of 24 hours’ notice, to elections@roehampton.ac.uk. Candidates and campaign teams are subject to Elections Rules and Guidelines whether they have attended the candidate briefing or not.
9. Candidates are responsible for the actions of their campaign teams. Candidates will face sanctions if a member of their campaign team breaks the rules.
10. Candidates may withdraw from the Election at any point by informing the Deputy Returning Officer at elections@roehampton.ac.uk.
11. The Returning Officer reserves the right to postpone or stop the Election at any time if they believe the Election is not being conducted in a free and fair manner.
12. Societies created in December will not be included in the Societies Elections, provided that at least 3 committee members are continuing students at the University of Roehampton in the next academic year.

Candidate Campaigning

1. The official campaigning period opens 11AM (GMT), Tuesday 25th March 2025 and will close at 11AM on Thursday 3rd April 2025.
2. No campaigning will be permitted outside of the stated period dates.
3. All publicity must be in English only or have an English translation of anything said in a foreign langugage, the translation being equal or greater in prominence.
4. Candidates are allowed to use social media or digital communication chat functions, mailing lists, and other forms of group communication only if they have collected consent to be contacted from those individuals during the campaign period and the group was formed for the sole purpose of campaigning in this election. If candidates wish to use digital lecture chat functions (e.g. MS Teams channels or meeting chats) to campaign, they must acquire permission of the lecturer or organiser before doing so.
5. The University is still a place of work for students and staff alike during the election period. Candidates must not do anything to disrupt the normal operations of the University or the Union during campaigning.
6. Lecture shout outs (announcements by a candidate at the beginning or end of a lecture) are prohibited.
7. Candidates and their campaign teams must not obscure, tamper with or remove the publicity of any other candidates, even if the material posted is in breach of the Societies Elections Rules and Guidelines, nor any publicity for non-election related issues or events. Candidates should notify the Elections team through elections@roehampton.ac.uk if they believe promotional material is in contravention of the Societies Elections Rules and Guidelines.
8.  Candidates and their campaign teams are prohibited from campaigning within RSU online and social media spaces. This does not apply to Society-specific Instagram pages, where each candidate will be allowed to share their online campaign once (1 story and 1 collaborative post) throughout the Campaigning Period.
9. Candidates and their campaign team must not harass, coerce, bribe or use intimidation to persuade someone to vote or whom to vote for.
10. Candidates are encouraged to engage in discussion and debate about ideas, views, and opinions, and it is expected these are done in a constructive, respectful manner. Candidates and their campaign teams must not attack other candidates in a derogatory or inflammatory manner in person, in writing, by illustration, or online.
11. Candidates must campaign individually. Candidates should only support other candidates if they are the current executives of the Society they are campaigning for, and only through publicising candidacies once (1 story and 1 collaborative post) through the Society's social media channels.
12. Campaign materials are permitted to reference the RSU, University of Roehampton, and the Colleged, bust must not display their logos.
13. Candidates who already hold an elected or appointed position within the Society may not use the Society or the Students’ Union’s time, funds, or resources.

Candidate Resources

1. Candidates and their campaign teams are prohibited from dressing up in any of the official college mascot costumes.
2. RSU, University of Roehampton staff, the Colleges and Society Committee Members are prohibited from endorsing any candidates.
3. Societies are permitted to share candidate resources & Election resources once (1 story and 1 collaborative post) throughout the Campaigning Period, provided that the same opportunity is offered to all candidates running in the Elections. Failure to provide this opportunity will be seen as candidate endorsement and a breach of the Election rules.

Environmental Guidance

1. RSU holds values relating to environmental awareness, and all students are encouraged to consider the environmental impact of campaigning. For any questions about ensuring your campaign is environmentally conscious, please contact the Elections Committee by emailing elections@roehampton.ac.uk.

Voting

1. Voting shall open at 11AM (GMT), Tuesday 1st April 2025 and will close at 11AM on Thursday 3rd April 2025.
2. All students have the right to vote free from influence exerted by candidates providing they are a member of the Society.
3.  Memberships will be taken off sale for Societies running in the Elections between the 10th March – 7th of april 2025 to ensure voting is free and fair.
4. Voting is by secret ballot and will be held online through the Roehampton Students’ Union election website. Candidates and campaign teams must not request others to vote using their own devices or those belonging to their campaign teams. Additionally, campaign teams and candidates are prohibited from handling or touching other individuals’ devices while campaigning.
5. The votes will be automatically counted using the ’Alternative Transferable Vote’ system as defined by the Electoral Reform Society.

Complaints

1. Any concerns about Societies Elections should be directed to the Elections Team in writing at elections@roehampton.ac.uk.
2. Any formal complaints must be submitted using the online RSU Elections Complaint Form.
3. Only completed RSU Elections Complaint Forms will be considered by the Returning Officer, who will act as the lead of the investigatory panel.
4. Complaints should be submitted within 24 hours of the incident in question or at the earliest possible moment.
5. Complaints cannot be anonymous and the ruling of the Returning officer regarding the complaint may be communicated to all candidates within the election.
6. Following an investigation, the Returning Officer may make a ruling included, but not limited to, the following sanctions. Depending on the severity of the breach, any or all of these steps may be by-passed when making a ruling:
   1. Warning
   2. Suspension of campaigning
   3. Indefinite suspension of campaign pending disqualification
7. The Returning Officer may decide to disqualify a candidate, order a re-run
8. All complaints must be submitted by 11AM on Thursday 3rd April 2025.
9. Complaints regarding the conduct of elections officials must be submitted to elections@roehampton.ac.uk.
10. Any standing candidate who is the subject of a written complaint shall be notified of the complaint lodged against them at the earliest convenience. After being notified, the candidate who is subject to the complaint has two working days to submit an appeal in writing to the Deputy Returning Officer, at elections@roehampton.ac.uk.
11. The Returning Officer is responsible for the final interpretation of the Elections Rules, and the final decision on the matters sits with them. If you have any questions about language or clarification of these Societies Elections Rules and Guidelines, please contact elections@roehampton.ac.uk.

Now that you've submitted your nomination and your manifesto, it's time to start putting your campaign together. Campaigning is how you interact with voters (e.g. all the current Society members) and how you convince them to vote for you!

We've seen some brilliant examples of campaigning in the past and everyone has a different style. Below we've put together some tips on how you can run a successful digital campaign.

Understanding Your Campaign - Your campaign should follow the five W's;

• Who are you?
• What are you running for?
• Why should someone vote for you?
• When can they do this?
• Where can they do this?

Make use of YOUR social media - A great way of campaigning is to use your social media to let people know you're running and what you stand for. Don't create a new account as Society members who don't follow it won't see your amazing ideas. Use your own social media channels and tell people about your campaign. You can create great graphics using  www.canva.com. Don't forget to create content that appeals to your audience!

Make a Campaign Video - Another great way of using social media is to make a campaign video. It doesn't have to be the next Avengers film! It just needs to be you speaking to the camera about the five W's we mentioned above! Videos are a great opportunity to show your personality and the unique spark that only you can bring to your Society.

Have a Catchy Slogan - An effective slogan is short and to the point! Don't overcomplicate it. 

'Can I Be Your Second Choice?' - We use SVT (Single Transferrable Voting). The truth is not everyone is going to vote for you. Some people may already be supporting their friends and you won't be able to change that. However, the benefit of SVT means that you can still potentially be their second choice. When speaking to someone, kindly ask that "if I'm not your first choice, please consider me for your second or third choice". The final count can change drastically as votes are redistributed to second and third choices.

Remember to have fun! - These elections are an opportunity for you to put yourself out there, try something new and push to enact real change at Roehampton, but don't forget to keep a smile on your face and have fun with your campaign! 

Volunteering with the RSU

No matter if youre brand new to this, or experienced, we will make sure you have an amazing experience volunteering with RSU. All Society volunteers benefit from:

1. A dedicated team of staff at the RSU

2. Training and induction to your new role

3. Ongoing support and training from the RSU throughout your time volunteering

4. A clearly defined role profile outlining the tasks and responsibilities of your role

5. Opportunities for recognition of your achievements such as the annual RSU Awards

When Do I Start Volunteering?

If you successfully are elected to become a Society leader on the 4th of April, you will be informed by RSU and congratulated on your win. You won't become the Society leader straight away.

To officially start in your role, you will need to attend the RSU Training for all incoming Committee Members with the RSU Societies Team - who will be your staff support throughout your time volunteering.

Your role will officially begin on the 1st of July 2025 -provided you have attended the RSU Training- so you can settle in, meet your new team, and plan ahead for your first activities in September 2025.

As an international student, if you do not have the right to live and work in the UK without restriction you may be concerned about taking on a volunteering role at RSU as the Home Office places restrictions on 'voluntary work'. All RSU Society Leadership roles do not constitute 'voluntary work' and therefore do not contribute to your restrictions. This is because there is no contract with RSU, you are not required to undertake specific tasks at specific times, there is no renumeration of any kind, and you are not replacing a paid employee or formerly paid role.