The City Students’ Union Elections 2024 will begin shortly.

It is likely that you will see campaigning around campus and online, you may also be approached by candidates who will ask you if you can help their campaign by, for example, allowing them to speak to your students in lectures, or to email your students about their candidacy.

We have produced this guide so that if you are approached by candidates or students for help, or see campaigning around the campus, you will know what is appropriate and have some context to be able to respond appropriately to any requests made to you.

It is in the interest of both the University and the Students’ Union that those elected represent students genuinely represent students, and that the elections are free and fair. The best way to ensure this is to allow candidates to speak to students and engage as many students as possible in the elections.

Key Dates

Applications to stand in the elections open – Monday 29 February 2024 at 9:00am

Applications close – Thursday 15th February at 4:00pm

Voting Opens – 26 February at 9:00am

Voting Closes – 29 February at 4pm

The results of the election will be announced online on Thursday 29 February from 5:30pm

The Union holds annual elections where students at City, who are all automatically members of the Students’ Union, vote for their political representatives.

The following positions are available in this year’s elections:

Students’ Union Officer - The four elected Students’ Union Officers work together to lead the Union for a year, deciding its direction, acting as trustees, and representing

the voice of over 20,000 students in high-level decision making to the University and Union. They’re the face of the Union, engaging with students through face-to-face chats and events, hosting awards ceremonies, and through lots of exciting content across our social media

and website. From approving new university buildings to running a Fresher’s Fair in Welcome, no two days are the same.

Assembly Member (Part-time) - Assembly Members make up our biggest decision-making body and work together to set the Union’s priorities, deciding its direction and representing the voice of over 20,000 students in high-level decision making. They’re the cogs of the Union and are most effective when

engaging with students through face-to-face chats and events to properly debate issues that matter the most to students at City.

Election Rules and Guidance for staff.

In this section you’ll find a few do’s and don’ts to ensure the elections are free and fair.

University staff do’s and don’ts

Do	Don’t
Encourage students to vote in the election	Endorse any candidate(s) by naming and telling students who they should vote for
Give students the opportunity to speak to your class about their campaign	Give one-person access to speak and reject another at the same time
Let students know that the election is happening in your emails to them	Send an email telling students to vote for a specific candidate
Let us know about any bad candidate behaviour by emailing us at suelections@city.ac.uk	Try and make rulings on candidate behaviour you observe

Candidate Behaviour

All candidates must follow Union’s Elections Regulations, as well as all University policies and UK Law as must any student.

This means that, for example, they must not endanger the safety or wellbeing of students or staff while campaigning and are expected to deal with students and staff in a professional and courteous manner as at any other time.

If you observe any behaviour by candidates that you believe breaches Union or University rules, you may challenge the relevant candidate. We would ask also that you report any such observed incidents to the Deputy Returning Officer, who is responsible for ensuring that the regulations for the election are enforced, by emailing us on suelections@city.ac.uk.

Access to Student emails

Students may also approach course organisers or Programme / School administrators requesting access to emails or asking for emails to be sent out on their behalf.

Our election regulations specify that “Candidates and supporters may only use lists and groups where lawful to do so. In most cases this will require the informed consent of the members on the list to use their details, including email and phone number for this purpose. The University’s Global

Address Book must not be used to create mailing lists.” (SU Regulation 12.3). We ask that you do not send out emails on behalf of candidates

We would also be grateful if you were able to remind your students to vote in the elections between the 26-29 February. Voting is entirely online via the Students' Union website.

In the accompanying tabs you’ll also find lecture shout-out guidance and a template email to share with students.

If you have any questions or issues, please feel free to contact Phil Gilks, Deputy Returning Officer at suelections@city.ac.uk

Many thanks as always for your patience and support.