Election Rules

Election Rules in Context

During your election campaign you will be involved in a series of activities. It is important to remember that you are bound by some rules, outlined below, that, in addition to elections rules, still have a bearing on your conduct.

Students’ Union: SU’s rules are contained in the Bye Laws and Code of Conduct which can be found by clicking here. If you are in breach of these, even if the Deputy Returning Officer does not take action under the auspices of the election rules, you may still be subject to the SU’s disciplinary procedures.

University: The University has rules that relate to use of its facilities and property and to your general conduct as a Birmingham Newman University student. The Student Disciplinary Procedures can be found on the University’s website by clicking here.

If you are in breach of these and the Deputy Returning Officer does not take action in relation to the elections, you may still be referred to the University’s disciplinary procedure by the SU, if we consider your actions warrant it.

The Law: Please remember that you are always subject to the law of the land. The SU reserves the right to refer a matter to the appropriate authorities, if it deems it necessary, which may put your candidacy and student status in jeopardy.

Principles

We have always been very proud of our candidates in our elections and of how few issues we have had to address. Newman students are the best (in our view) and have always conducted very positive and supportive campaigns. Please do what you can to continue this tradition.

As a candidate you must:

Treat all students and staff with respect.
Always act in the interests of a fair and transparent election.
Take responsibility for your actions and those of your campaign team.
Undertake campaigning in a good natured and positive manner (campaigning is NOT about saying negative things about other candidates and any campaigning of this nature will be in contravention of these principles).
Respect the SU’s core values.
Recognise that being a Full Time Officer is a responsible post which will require you to lead by example, to represent students and to have credibility in your dealings with students, staff and external stakeholders.
Ensure that your academic studies are not put at risk through the elections process or through taking up an officer position and be confident at the point of nomination that you are in good standing academically and are able to commit to the role for the duration of the term of office.
Understand that the SU will contact your faculty to check your academic status and that you are progressing well. This is to ensure that running in the elections will not jeopardise your future prospects. If there are concerns, we reserve the right to discuss this with you, together with your academic lead and, if necessary, to recommend that you do not run for candidacy. We do this to ensure your interests and your studies are a priority.

Election Rules

Campaigning

All candidates must attend a mandatory Candidates Briefing before their candidacy is confirmed. Details of this briefing can be found in ‘Elections Dates’ on the website and in the Elections Guide. If you cannot attend, contact Charlotte O'Neill at onei412@newman.ac.uk at the earliest opportunity and we will arrange an alternative.
Campaigning cannot begin until 1pm on Monday 14^th October 2024. This includes publicly announcing that you are running. If you are unsure of what this means, please check with us.
Candidates are responsible for the actions of their campaign team and supporters. This includes campaign activities and spending on campaign materials.
Candidates and campaigners are not permitted to interfere with another candidate’s campaign materials.
Candidates and campaigners should respect students’ personal space. For example, candidates should not disturb students who are studying in the main atrium or the St Hilda Atrium. Campaigning is forbidden in the library.
Negative campaigning in which you attack, intimidate, or bully another candidate physically, verbally or in writing is prohibited.
The use of coercion or bribery to obtain votes is not permitted. For example, you cannot ask people to vote for you in return for something.
Candidates and campaigners must seek permission from lecturers before campaigning in lectures.
Candidates and campaigners must seek permission from the committee before you campaign at Union, Society or Sports Club meetings or events.
Candidates and campaigners cannot campaign during Students’ Union meetings.
Candidates and campaigners who are employed by the Union as student staff must not campaign while they are working for the Students’ Union. Candidates must not wear any uniform provided by the Union when campaigning.

Halls of Residence

Candidates and campaigners are not permitted to campaign actively inside Halls, although campaigning outside is permitted.

Social Media/Websites

Candidates may post in Facebook groups including networks, societies, and sports clubs. Be aware that if they allow you to post messages, they will be required to allow all candidates to do the same.
Candidates and campaigners cannot post on official SU or University pages (apart from dedicated candidate social media takeover opportunities).
Candidates may have their own social media accounts or websites for their campaign. These can be set up before campaigning begins but you should not promote them in any way until 1pm on Monday 14th October.
Candidates must not spam or troll students as part of any online campaigning.
Candidates should not post to mailing lists or closed groups to which all other candidates are not able to request access.
Candidates must not post from club, society, network, School Rep or Couse Rep accounts but may post to these groups from personal accounts if all candidates are allowed to post.

Networks, Societies, and Sports Clubs

In the interest of fairness, networks, societies and sports clubs must agree with their committee to do either one of the following:

(i) allow NO candidates to post in their social media pages, attend their virtual meetings/events or sessions.
(ii) allow ALL candidates to post in their social media pages, attend their virtual meetings/events or sessions.
Failure to adhere to either (i) or (ii) above may lead to disciplinary procedures being invoked against individual members of networks, societies or sports clubs. Student Groups cannot endorse any one candidate.

Campaigning Materials

A copy of all campaign materials must be submitted via email to onei412@newman.ac.uk before it used either online or physically.
No campaigning material can be used until it has been approved by the Union. We will explain to you how this process will work.
Each candidate/slate / campaign team is responsible for producing and distributing their own campaigning materials.
No Posters will be placed on woodwork or White walls around Campus.
Candidates must not incorporate the SU’s or University’s branding or logos on any promotional material. This includes the use of the phrases “Your Union, Your Voice.”
Candidates cannot use the Union’s resources or those of networks, clubs and societies.

Budget

The Union will reimburse all approved expenditure up to a value of £10.
Candidates should complete their Budget Form as they spend money and if they wish can bring it to be checked at breakfast meetings. A final budget sheet should be submitted by 12pm on the 23rd October. to onei412@newman.ac.uk.
Failure to hand in the budget sheet by the deadline will result in no money being reimbursed.
You must keep a record of the costs of your campaigning materials and be able to present receipts and evidence of expenditure if requested to do so by the Deputy Returning Officer. This can be screenshots of expenditure online.
Candidates can use any item that anyone could reasonably get for free.
Candidates should only do what other candidates also have the opportunity to do. This means that any ‘sponsorship’ or ‘favours’ must be available to all candidates e.g. getting a family friend who owns their own business to print your t-shirts for free. Candidates are responsible for making whoever is offering to help them aware of this.
Candidates are permitted to recruit campaign team members with skills and use these to support their campaigns (e.g., graphic design). All campaign team members must be current Newman University students.

Voting

Candidates and campaigners must allow voters to cast their vote freely and must not communicate with voters in any way once they have begun to complete their voting.
Approaching another student (face to face or virtually) and requesting or seeking, by whatever means, personal information required to cast a vote is strictly prohibited.
No candidate or campaigner will cast or attempt to cast a vote or encourage another person to cast a vote on behalf of another student. The use of any electronic devices to encourage or help others to cast votes e.g. laptops, iPads, smartphones is prohibited. You cannot help a student to vote and must direct them to the SU website.