HCATSU Electoral Reform Campaign

BACKGROUND

Over the past couple of years, an increasing number of people have voiced their amazement and/or concerns, at the way the Student Union elections are conducted. Some of us are currently involved in trying to bring about change, but more support is needed from among the student body.

The best ways students can support us are by spreading the word, contributing ideas on reform, or for the less active among you, turning up at any SU meetings to get relevant resolutions passed.

THE CURRENT SYSTEM

The current election procedure is :

A date is set by the college welfare officer, who acts as returning officer. (The SU committee then goes through the formality of independently agreeing a date, which by chance concurs with what the welfare officer has decided).

As the matter of SU elections appears to be regarded as a burden forced upon the college, and would seem to be an inconvenience to some of the staff whose job it is to oversee elections, voting time is kept to a minimum - 2 hours, on ONE day. Students who are unable to be in college, or in the case of the catering department, in college but unable to leave their work area, simply cannot vote.

At the end of the two hour voting period, the votes are counted by the returning officer, WITHOUT an independent student witness, and the winner(s) announced. If the returning officer feels the need, they get away with REFUSING to state the number of votes cast for any or all candidates, which is clearly UNDEMOCRATIC, and open to ALLEGATIONS of CORRUPTION. In the May '98 elections, the returning officer didn't even know the election rules, and declared a wrong result for one of the posts!

PROPOSALS FOR CHANGE

We feel that a new electoral system is required, with immediate effect -

1. Elections should take place over a 1 WEEK period.

2. Ballot boxes should be made available in EVERY main college dept. between 0900 and 2100 each day.

3. ALL college satellite centers should have ballot boxes during course hours for the election period.

4. The college and the Student Union are jointly responsible for ensuring information about the elections, procedures and candidates is available to EVERY student enroled in the college through the use of posters, lecturers, internet, and any other media deemed suitable. This information to be made available in good time to enable MAXIMUM participation.

5. An end to people like Nick Marshall (college marketing director) being able to summarily postpone election dates (as he did with the May '97 election).

6. An end to returning officers being able to refuse to declare the number of votes cast for EACH and EVERY candidate in an election.

7. Staff to be encouraged (and where necessary TOLD) to be more enthusiastic and supportive of the election process.

8. All election candidates to submit a basic manifesto with their nomination form, and college staff asked to provide assistance in case candidates need it.

9. A student returning officer in addition to a staff returning officer, as was the case before the college changed the SU constitution in February 1995.

LINKS

Student Information Service Homepage.