Part-Time Candidate Briefing Booklet

E L E C T I O N I N F O R M A T I O N

Returning Officer/Deputy Returning Officer

The Returning Officer is Peter Robertson, Acting Chief Executive at the National Union

of Students (NUS) who is responsible for the proper conduct of the election and

interpreting the election regulations

The Deputy Returning Officer is Emma Howes, Engagement Manager (ARU SU), who is

responsible for assisting the Returning Officer in the execution of their duties and

acting up in their absence

Nominations

Candidates must be registered students

Candidates may not stand for more than on elected positon, with the exception or

standing additionally for National Conference Delegate

For elections to Faculty Rep positions, all members normally studying at the specified

campus and within that faculty are eligible to stand.

For elections to Campaign Rep positions, all members normally studying at the

specified campus and who self-define into the group are eligible to stand.

Nominations must be submitted by 12pm on 4 th March.

Manifestos

Candidates must submit a manifesto of a minimum of 10 words alongside a photo by

12pm on 6 th March.

Manifestos will be checked by a nominee of the Deputy Returning Officer to confirm

compliance with the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy see

www.angliastudent.com/election/candidateshub/equalopps/

Candidates will be given an opportunity to re-submit their manifesto before 4pm on

6 th March, if required.

Manifestos cannot be re-submitted after 4pm on 6 th March.

Campaigning

Candidates are able to run as a slate, which must be confirmed by 12pm on 6 th March.

Candidates should respect property of Anglia Ruskin University and ARU Students’

Union at all times.

Candidates should submit any questions online and will receive a response within 24

hours see www.angliastudent.com/election/candidateshub/questions

Expenses

Candidates standing for a full-time role are allocated a budget of £50 and for a parttime

role a budget of £25.

Candidates must stick to the budget and keep proof of all expenditure which must be

returned by 2pm on 20 th March.

Balloting

Balloting shall be from 9am on 14 th March to 2pm on 20 th March.

Registered students can vote for all full-time roles

Campaign and Faculty Rep campus-specific posts may only be elected by members of

the Union from that campus.

E L E C T I O N I N F O R M A T I O N

Any member of the Union who defines into the student group which a campaign rep

represents will be eligible to vote in that election.

Candidates will be ordered by random selection and will include a re-open

nominations option

The election is held in accordance with the Alternative Vote (AV) system see

www.electoral-reform.org.uk/alternative-vote

Complaints

Candidates should submit any complaints online and will receive a response within 24

hours see www.angliastudent.com/election/candidateshub/complaints/

Candidates should state which regulation has been broken, by whom and include any

evidence

Complaints must be submitted by 2pm on 20 th March.

Count

The count will be take place at 3pm on 20 th March and will be conducted by a

nominee of the Returning Officer

Candidates have the right to send a representative to attend the count

Candidates should submit any complaints regarding the count online and will receive a

response with 24 hours see www.angliastudent.com/election/candidateshub/complaints/

Complaints regarding the count must be submitted by 12pm on 27 th March

Emma Howes, Deputy Returning Officer

March 2020

ELECTIONS REGULATIONS

The regulations

Candidates and campaigners shall obey the regulations and any additional rules imposed by

the Returning Officer. Candidates found to be in breach of these regulations shall, at the

discretion of the Returning Officer, be disqualified from the election.

Our approach

• We will elect people in a free and fair manner

• We are not here to give everyone an equal chance of winning, but a fair one

• We will help candidates to engage better where we can

Conduct

• Candidates are responsible for their campaign and the conduct of their campaigners

• Candidates must take reasonable steps to ensure that their campaigners actions

comply with the regulations at all times and must be able to demonstrate this in the

event of a complaint against them

• Candidates and campaigners shall abide by the Equal, Diversity and Inclusion Policy

see www.angliastudent.com/election/candidateshub/equalopps/

• Candidates should not undertake campaigns activity which others could not also

reasonably do

• Candidates who hold an elected role may only use resources and tools which others

could also reasonably have access to

• Candidates and campaigners may only alter, move or remove their own campaign

materials

• Campaigners must allow voters to cast their ballot freely and must not communicate

with voters in any way once they have begun to complete their ballot

Budget

• Candidates must not exceed their budget limits

• Candidates must submit a list of campaigns costs with corresponding receipts to the

Deputy Returning Officer or their nominee by the close of balloting

• Items freely and readily available to all candidates and campaigners can be used

without itemisation

• Candidates and campaigners must not fundraise or seek sponsorship for their

campaign

• Transportation between the Chelmsford and Cambridge campuses is provided by the

SU, any additional transport is not included in the campaigns budget. Students wishing

to or from travel to Peterborough should contact r.wilkenson@angliastudent.com


March 2020

Bye-Law 4

ELECTIONS

1. Returning Officer

1.1 The Returning Officer shall be a member of staff from the National Union of Students.

1.2 The Returning Officer shall:

1.2.1 be responsible for the proper conduct of the elections;

1.2.2 be responsible for interpreting the election regulations;

1.2.3 be responsible for producing and publicising an elections timetable.;

1.2.4 make arrangements to publicise the location of voting stations together with a list of candidates;

1.2.5 ensure that provision is made for all members of the Union to vote;

1.2.6 rule on any contravention of the election regulations

1.2.7 recommend the disqualification of candidates from an election for contravention of the Articles or the

Education Act 1994; and

1.2.8 undertake any duties necessary to ensure the fair and proper conduct of the election process.

2. Deputy Returning Officer

2.1 There shall be a Deputy Returning Officer who shall be the Chief Executive or nominee.

2.2 The Deputy Returning Officer shall be responsible for the following:

2.2.1 assisting the Returning Officer in the execution of his/her duties; and

2.2.2 acting in the absence of the Returning Officer.

3. Timing of elections

3.1 The election of the Full-Time Officers, Campaign Reps and Faculty Reps shall take place in the

second semester prior to the Easter holiday.

3.2 There will be an annual election of NUS National Conference Delegates held in accordance with the

rules and regulations set out by NUS.

3.3 The dates of all elections, related timetables and a copy of the Election regulations shall be posted on

the Union website & notice boards at least 18 University working days prior to the first day of

balloting.

4. Eligibility & Nominations

4.1 Any Student Member of the Union, as defined in Article 9 of the Articles of Association is eligible to

stand for election.

4.2 For elections to Campaign and Faculty Rep positions, all members normally studying at that campus

are eligible to stand.

4.3 Candidates wishing to stand are required to complete a nomination form.

4.4 Candidates may not stand for more than one elected position, with the exception of standing

additionally for National Conference Delegate.

5. Manifestos

5.1 Candidates for any/all positions must produce a manifesto.

5.2 The manifesto shall be a minimum of 10 words submitted online and a photograph must be provided.

5.3 The Students’ Union has the right to reproduce the manifesto but may not alter the content or layout

in any way. The Students' Union reserves the right not to publish a manifesto that contains

defamatory material or material that contravenes the Union's Equal Opportunities Policy. The

Returning Officer (or nominee) will decide if manifesto material is defamatory or contravenes the

Union's Equal Opportunities Policy and their decision is final.

5.4 Manifestos will be printed unabridged, with any spelling or grammatical mistakes left uncorrected by

the Students’ Union.

5.5 Once submitted all manifestos shall be checked to ensure compliance with the Students’ Union

Policies or Articles and these Bye Laws. If the nominee has any issues with the content of the

manifesto, the candidate shall be given the opportunity to resubmit the manifesto.

5.6 The Returning Officer, or their Deputy, shall be responsible for the oversight and fair running of any

formal hustings/candidate question times.

5.7 Candidates will receive copies of the elections regulations to which they must adhere before balloting

starts.

6. Balloting

6.1 Balloting shall be held over a period of five University working days, concluding on the fifth day and will

be conducted through an online ballot

6.2 All members of the Union may vote for any full time position once they have completed the security

procedures in place at the time. Campaign and Faculty Rep campus-specific posts may only be

elected by members of the Union from that campus.

6.3 Any member of the Union who defines into the student group which a campaign rep represents will be

eligible to vote in that election.

6.4 Voting for Campaign and Faculty Rep posts will be restricted to members normally studying at that

campus.

6.5 Ballots shall bear the name of each candidate and the position being contested and a re-open

nominations option.

6.6 The elections shall be held in accordance with the Single Transferable Vote system or Alternative

Transferable Vote system as applicable, as specified in the Electoral Reform Society publication

"How to conduct an election by Single Transferable Vote" and shall be the adopted voting system.

6.7 The returning officer will be responsibility for the oversight and running of any formal or informal

hustings

7. Expenses

7.1 Candidates’ campaign budgets and rates for photocopying will be publicised in advance of the

elections. Provision will be made for the appropriate use of Union facilities. Expenditure for any

elections materials will be reimbursed on production of receipts, provided that the expenses limit is

not breached.

7.2 If anyone is found to be providing false information on expenditure this is a breach of election

regulations and the candidate, at the discretion of the Returning Officer, could be disqualified from

the election.

8. Media

8.1 The Union may produce a manifesto document on behalf of all candidates, at no cost to the

candidates.

8.2 Candidates may use any election material they wish, as long as it conforms to the election regulations.

8.3 Material produced on behalf of the candidate must not be of a defamatory nature and may not

mention any other candidates in any other Students’ Union election unless they are part of an official

slate. It must conform to the Students’ Union Equal Opportunities policy.

9. Bye Elections

9.1 A Bye Election may be called by the Returning Officer following if at any time there is a vacancy for a

Full-Time Officer, Campaign or Faculty Rep position through no candidate standing for election or

the removal/withdrawal of an Elected Officer or a previously Elected Officer is no longer a Student

Member.

9.2 Bye Elections shall be overseen by the Returning Officer, or their delegate, in the same way as a

normal election.

10. The Count

10.1 The count shall be conducted by the Returning Officer, or nominee.

10.2 Each candidate shall have the right to send a representative to attend the count.

10.3 The count shall take place in a closed area.

10.4 The count shall begin as soon as is practical after the close of balloting.

10.5 The Returning Officer, or nominee, will witness the online votes being counted.

11 Declaration of Results

11.1 The declaration of the results of a Union election shall be made at the completion of the count and

posted on the Union website and notice boards.

12. Disputes

12.1 Any complaints must be received by the Returning Officer, or their nominee, before the count starts.

12.2 Any complaint received must be in writing and clearly state which regulation has been broken, by

whom and supply any evidence that they have in their possession. The complainant must provide

their full name and contact details.

12.3 Any complaint regarding the count must be received within five University working days of the count

being published.

12.4 In the event of the Deputy Returning Officer receiving a complaint, they shall investigate the

complaint and any evidence accompanying it and then shall report their findings and submit any

evidence they may possess to the Returning Officer.

12.5 The Returning Officer and Deputy Returning Officer will make a decision based on the investigation

and evidence provided to them.

12.6 At the end of the elections period the Returning Officer will compile a report of the conduct of the

elections.

12.7 If the complainant is dissatisfied with the decision they may appeal to the Returning Officer in writing

no later than 7 days after the decision was made. The Returning Officer will investigate the appeal

and make a decision which shall be final and shall notify the complainant within 14 days of the appeal

being lodged under normal circumstances.

13. Conduct

13.1 All members of the Union shall act in the interests of a fair election.

13.2 All candidates and their campaigners shall act in accordance with the Election Regulations including

any additional rules imposed by the Returning Officer.

13.3 Candidates are responsible for their campaign and the conduct of their campaigners.

13.4 Any candidates found to be in breach of any of the Regulations shall, at the discretion of the

Returning Officer, be disqualified from the election.

13.5 All candidates and their supporters shall abide by the Equal Opportunities policy at all times during the

election.

13.6 All Union staff and Union members are bound by the Staff/Student Protocol in relation to elections.

P A R T - T I M E R O L E T I M E T A B L E

DAY DATE ACTIVITY TIME AND LOCATION

Weds 04 Mar Nomination period close

12pm

Candidates Briefing

Fri 06 Mar Manifesto, slate and other form(s)

deadline

Campaigning period open

Wed 11 Mar E-mail/submit online top 3 priorities

(max 100 words) for our booklet & your

“Tweet”

4:30-6:00pm, PTH in Cambridge, Tin102 in

Chelmsford, Gui204 in Peterborough

12pm

4pm

Submit via the candidates’ hub, or e-mail the

Democracy Coordinator by 5pm.

The Big Candidate Debate

(participation for those running for fulltime

officer roles only)

Watch from 6:30 – 8:15pm via livestream

Thurs 12 Mar “How to win your election” Webinar 5:00 – 6:00pm

An email with instructions to join will be sent 9 th

March.

Fri 13 Mar “Social Media Campaigning” Webinar 1:00 – 2:00pm

An email with instructions to join will be sent 9 th

March.

Sat 14 Mar Voting period opens 9:00am Online

Mon 16 Mar Candidates Breakfast & Advice Drop-In

Candidates Tea and Coffee & Advice

Drop-In

Tues 17 Mar Candidates Breakfast & Advice Drop-In


Drop-In

Weds 18 Mar Ballot Station on Peterborough Campus

9:00-10:00am, Peter Taylor in Cambridge and

Tindal 1 st Floor in Chelmsford

4:00-5:00pm, Peter Taylor in Cambridge and Tindal

1 st Floor in Chelmsford





10am to 2pm

Candidates Breakfast & Advice Drop-In


P A R T - T I M E R O L E T I M E T A B L E



Drop-In



Thurs 19 Mar Candidates Breakfast & Advice Drop-In


Drop-In

Fri 20 Mar Candidates Breakfast & Advice Drop-In


Drop-In

Voting period close

Acceptance of complaints close

Count

Travel to Chelmsford



4pm, Peter Taylor in Cambridge and Tindal 1 st

Floor in Chelmsford



2:00 – 3:00pm, Peter Taylor in Cambridge and


2pm

2pm

3pm

5pm

Results

(from) 6:30 pm, 92 in Chelmsford

Mon 23 Mar Full result posted on website www.angliastudent.com

Fri 27 Mar Close of acceptance of complaints in

relation to the count

12pm

The Democracy Coordinator, Rachel Wilkenson, can be contacted at r.wilkenson@angliastudent.com.

CANDIDATE EXPENSES

• Candidates standing for a full-time role are allocated a budget of £50 and for a part-time role

a budget of £25

• Candidates must not exceed their budget limits

• Candidates must submit a list of campaigns costs with corresponding receipts to the Deputy

Returning Officer or their nominee by the close of balloting

• Items freely and readily available to all candidates and campaigners can be used without

itemisation

• Candidates and campaigners must not fundraise or seek sponsorship for their campaign

Name

Date

Photocopying/printing

Number of copies Value Total to date

Date

Other

Details Value Total to date

Please complete this form attaching all proof of expenditure and return send to Democracy

Coordinator at r.wilkenson@angliastudent.com by 2pm on 20 March.

COSTING INFORMATION

This document is to be used for pre-owned items ONLY to enable candidates to attribute uniform costs to

campaigning materials. Items costed using this list cannot be claimed back as expenses but will be removed

from your total budget.

Item

Printing

A4 B/W

A4 Colour

A3 B/W

A3 Colour

Crafting

Paint

Sharpies

Brushes

Banner

Sheet

Tshirt

Baking

Flour

Sugar

Milk

Alternative milk

Eggs

Butter

Cocoa powder

Baking soda

Baking powder

Cost Attributed per item

£0.03/page

£0.15/page

£0.06/page

£0.30/page

£8.50 per 24 pack

£9.50 per 12 pack

£1 per brush

£15.00 per banner

£12.00 per sheet

£3.50 per tshirt

32/kg

64p/kg

44p/lt

6p/100ml

12p per egg

£5.5/kg

47p/100g

35p/100g

40p/100g

If an item is not listed that you need costed, please submit this via the 'Your Questions And Our Responses'

page here: https://www.angliastudent.com/represent/election/candidateshub/questions/

This will then be shared and viewable to all candidates.

Staff Election Guidelines

The SU’s approach to the election:

STAFF GUIDELINES

• We will elect people in a free and fair manner

• We are not here to give everyone an equal chance of winning, but a fair one

• We will help candidates to engage better where we can

All Staff*

Should

• Encourage students to stand from 3rd Feb to 4th Mar at angliastudent.com/election

• Encourage students to vote from 14th – 20th Mar

• Send an anonymous recommendation for a candidate using ‘recommend a friend’ at

angliastudent.com/election

• Talk about the election

• Ask the SU any questions you have about the election at r.wilkenson@angliastudent.com

Could

• Give students opportunities to promote candidates as long as you are willing to allow ALL candidates

who request this to do the same

• Inform the SU if you are concerned about candidates behaviour or campaign materials at

e.howes@angliastudent.com

• Watch the Candidate Debate: 11 th March – online via website

• Attend the SU’s Results Night: 20 th March - 92, Chelmsford

• Vote if you are a member of the Students’ Union (if you are a registered student, including PGR)

Must

Not

• Move or remove campaigning materials

• Promote individual candidates or tell students who to vote for on any platform, including social media

accounts**

• Support individual candidates or offer opportunities which may give an unfair advantage

• Discourage student engagement with the election

• Share candidate information prior to the close of nominations 6th Mar at 4:00pm

*These guidelines include student staff members only when on duty.

**For student staff members, this pertains to professional social media accounts only.


March 2020

CAMPAIGNING EXTRAS

We want to help you spread your election campaign as far as possible, so we have created the

following opportunities available to all candidates;

The Candidate Booklet

We will be providing booklets at every ballot station which lists all positions and candidates students

can vote for. This booklet will include all candidates’ names, photos and top 3 priorities if elected.

If you would like your priorities to be included in this (we strongly recommend it!) you will need to

submit your 3 priorities here: https://www.angliastudent.com/election/candidateshub/100words/

Maximum of 100 words, due Wednesday 11 th March at 5pm.

If you do not meet the deadline your priorities will not be published. This is your choice – all

candidates have access to this opportunity. Otherwise, we will just publish your name and photo in

the booklet.

Social Media Posts

We will put out one social media post for every candidate on our Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

stories.

If you would like to be included in this you will need to submit your post here:

https://www.angliastudent.com/election/candidateshub/100words/

Maximum of 140 characters, due Wednesday 11 th March at 5pm.

PART- TIME ROLE CHECKLIST

*Mandatory items

6 th March by 12:00pm

Submit your manifesto including a photo*

Submit the name of your slate (if required)*

11 th March

By 5:00pm, e-mail/submit online your top 3 priorities (max 100 words) for our booklet and

your social media post https://www.angliastudent.com/election/candidateshub/100words/

Watch ‘The Big Candidate Debate’ (6:30 – 8:15pm, will be livestreamed at

www.angliastudent.com )

12 th March

Attend the “How to win your election” webinar (5:00 – 6:00pm). An email with instructions

to join will be sent 9 th March.

13 th March

Attend the “Social Media Campaigning” webinar (1:00 – 2:00pm). An email with instructions

to join will be sent 9 th March.


E-mail Democracy to book transport for the results in Chelmsford on 20 th March, leaving

Cambridge at 5:00pm.


Submit all expenses with proof of expenditure*

Remove all campaigning materials from campus*

Part-Time Candidate Briefing Booklet

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