University of Suffolk Students’ Union Elections 2025 (Spring)  

Rules and Regulations 

 

These are the rules that will govern the Students’ Union Elections, confirmed by the Deputy Returning Officer on behalf of University of Suffolk Students’ Union: 

Rules relating to candidate (and candidate team) conduct during the election period: 

1. All candidates must abide by the University of Suffolk Students’ Union’s policies and procedures including the Equality and Diversity Policy which is available from the Students’ Union website and by request from the Deputy Returning Officer. 

2. Candidates must take reasonable steps to ensure that their supporters’ actions comply with the election rules at all times and must be able to demonstrate this in the event of a complaint against them. 

3. Bribes or inducements may not be offered in any form to any person. If in doubt  speak to the Student Voice Team. 

4. All candidates and campaigners are responsible for ensuring that in any area they are campaigning that there is freedom of access for any student who needs it and that doors, stairwells and passage ways are not blocked or made difficult to pass through. 

5. All candidates and their elections agents should attend one of the Candidate’s Briefings. In exceptional circumstances, candidates may request a meeting with the Student Voice Team if they cannot attend either briefing. 

6. Candidates should attend any further meetings called by the Student Voice Team during the course of the campaign or make alternative arrangements to meet with them.  

7. Candidates should, at all times, act as directed by Student Voice Team staff and raise any concerns in writing with the Deputy Returning Officer via email to su.democracy@uos.ac.uk  

 

Rules relating to Campaigning during the election: 

8. No campaigning of any sort should be done outside of the voting period – Monday 10th March 10am – Thursday 13th March 10am, this includes announcement of candidacy. Preparation for campaigning can start after the Candidate Briefing which all candidates will be contacted with.  

9. Candidates for full time election roles will have a budget of up to £50, which will be reimbursed by the Students’ Union. No more than £50 must be used on their campaign.  

10.  Candidates for part time roles will have a budget of up to £25, which will reimbursed by the Students’ Union. No more than £25 must be used on their campaign. 

11.  Budget limit includes all costs associated to the campaign such as printing, design costs, digital promotion etc. Further clarification around spends may be made by the Student Voice Team and/or Deputy Returning Officer during the voting period of the election.  

1. Candidates are prohibited from spending your budget on alcohol. 

12.  Candidates may make use of social networking websites for their campaign but must share these links with the Deputy Returning Officer at the start of their campaign for monitoring purposes. 

13.  No campaigning may take place in the Library or in the Students’ Union Offices. 

14.  Once a student has begun the process of voting, no candidate or campaigner should make any attempt to speak to them or to influence or interfere with their decision in any way. 

1. For the avoidance of doubt - “helping” a voter or “showing them how to vote” will be regarded a breach of the rules. If a voter needs assistance with voting then campaigners should refer them to polling station staff or to the Deputy Returning Officer. 

15. Candidates are responsible for the actions of their supporters: a candidate’s ignorance of their supporter’s breach of the rules is not a defence. 

16. Full Time Officers are not permitted to campaign whilst carrying out their Officer duties. 

Rules relating to Candidate Publicity Materials for the election: 

17. All publicity material shall be approved by the Student Voice Team prior to use in the Campaigning/Voting period, to ensure it adheres to SU policy and ensure equity and legality of each candidate’s campaign. Publicity materials must be sent to su.democracy@uos.ac.uk by Friday 7th March 10am for review.  

18. Publicity materials will not be approved if it: 

1. Refers negatively to any individual Students’ Union member or staff member (past or present) by name 

2. Contains factual inaccuracies 

3. Contains opinion expressed as fact 

4. Advocates discrimination 

5. May be prejudicial to the fair running of the elections 
    

19.  All publicity materials must display the University of Suffolk Students’ Union logo. 

20. Candidate publicity material shall not be displayed in SU offices. 

21. The Students’ Union will provide dedicated spaces on Ipswich campus for the display of campaign material. 

22. In all other areas candidates shall check that the Deputy Returning Officer has gained permission from the relevant authority before displaying publicity. Designated areas will be shared in Candidate Briefing prior to Voting Period. 

23. The SU will print publicity materials as approved by the Deputy Returning Officer 

24. Candidates must not site posters or flyers in such a way as to cause damage to the University or SU premises (or on fire exits). 

25. Campaigners must ask permission from lecturers before any ‘lecture shout outs’. 

26. The act of defacing another candidate’s publicity materials by a candidate , their supporter or agent will not be allowed as part of this election.