ELECTIONS CANDIDATE HANDBOOK
Inthishandbookyou’llfindeverythingyouneedtoguideyou throughtheelectionsprocessasacandidate.
We’re#YourUnion.
We’reattheheartofstudentlifehereatHerts.We’rehereto supportstudentsontheirjourney,makingsureit’sthebestitcan be.
Weworkcloselywiththeunitoenrichthestudentexperience. Becausewe’reindependentfromtheuni,wecanrepresent studentsandlobbyforchangeaccordingtostudentfeedback.We alsoprovidestudentswithloadsofopportunitiesthat complementtheirstudiessotheycanmakefriendsforlife,create life-longmemoriesanddeveloptheirtransferableskills.Our Advice&Supportteamarealsoonhandtohelpstudentswith anythingthatmaybetroublingthem.
We’reproudtobeledbyourElectedOfficersandstudentleaders whoensurestudents’bestinterestsareattheforefrontofwhatwe do.Electionsgivestudentsanexcitingchancetodeterminewho theirnewelectedstudentleaderswillbe,meaningtheycanhelp toshapethefutureofHerts.
KEYDATES NOMINATIONS
SESSIONS
VOTING RESULTS
ELECTED OFFICERROLES ANOVERVIEW
PRESIDENT
Full-Time
You’llbethekeylinkbetween students,theSU&theuni Yourkeyfocuswillbetaking thestudentvoicetothetop, drivingbigscalechange
DISABLEDSTUDENTS’OFFICER
Part-Time
You’llbethelead representativefordisabled studentsatHerts
You’llbekeyinincreasing accessibilityandremoving barrierstoengagement
LGBTQ+STUDENTS’OFFICER
Part-Time
You’llbethelead representativeforLGBTQ+ studentsatHerts
You’llhelptoensure everyoneatHertsfeels welcomeandvalued
SCHOOLOFSTUDYOFFICERS
Part-Time
You’llbethelead representativeforstudentsin yourSchoolofStudy
You’llmakesurethe academicexperienceinyour schoolisthebestitcanbe
RACEEQUITYSTUDENTS’OFFICER
Part-Time
You’llbethelead representativeforBlackand MixedEthnicitystudents
You’llbekeyinmakingsure Hertsismoreinclusiveand supportive
WOMENSTUDENTS’OFFICER
Part-Time
You’llbethelead representativeforfemale students
You’llmakesuretheyhave thesupporttheyneedto ensuretheiracademic success
SOCIETY COMMITTEEMEMBER ROLES
ANOVERVIEW
CHAIR
Afewhourseachweek
You’llberesponsibleforthe daytodayrunningofyour society
You’llleadyourcommittee andensurethesuccessof yoursoc
SECRETARY
Afewhourseachweek
You’llbetheadministrative leadofyourcommittee
You’llberesponsiblefor regularcommunicationsto yourmembers
TREASURER
Afewhourseachweek
You’llbethefinancialleadfor yoursociety
You’llmakesureyoursociety accountmaintainsahealthy balance
You’llgettoapplyforSociety Funding
INCLUSIONOFFICER
Afewhourseachweek
You’llmakesureyoursociety isinclusiveandwelcoming You’llensureanyeventsyou runarecompletely accessible
CANDIDATE EXPECTATIONS
Wehaveanumberofrulescandidatesmustfollowtoensureour electionsarefair.Here’sabird’seyeviewofthebehaviouryou’ll needtodemonstrateasacandidate,butpleasefamiliarise yourselfwiththefullRules&Regulationsbeforerunning.
BERESPECTFUL
Treatallcandidates,students andstaffwithdignityand fairnessthroughoutthe process.
DON’TMISUSEAUTHORITY
Youmustn’tusepositionsof authority(likemembershipsof clubsorsocieties,student leaderrolesetc)topromote yourcampaign.
UPHOLDINTEGRITY
Campaignhonestlyand ethically,focusingonyour visionandvalues.Avoid negativeordiscreditingtactics towardsothercandidates.
RESPECTBOUNDARIES
Whencampaigning,bemindful thatnoteveryonewantsto participateintheelectionshonourtheirwishesifaskedto beleftalone.Allowstudents spacetostudy,socialiseor relaxwithoutdisturbanceby beingmindfulofwhereyou’re campaigning.
BEINCLUSIVE
Respectthediverse backgrounds,beliefsand identitiesofallindividuals. Fosterawelcomingand inclusiveatmosphere throughoutyourcampaign.
CAMPAIGNLEGALLY
Useonlyapproveddigital materialsandavoid distributingprintedmaterials. Makesureanythingyoubuyis withinyourcampaignbudget andthatyoukeepholdofyour receiptssoyoucanbe reimbursedlateron.
RAISECONCERNSAPPROPRIATELY
Don’tconfrontothercandidates ifyouthinkthey’re misbehaving.Reportthem confidentiallythroughofficial channels.
PROTECTTHEDEMOCRATICPROCESS
Ensureeveryvotercancast theirballotfreelyandwithout interference.Neveruseyour devicesorhandlesomeone else’stofacilitatevoting.
Pleasenotethatthereisonlyacampaignbudgetforstudentsrunningforan ElectedOfficerrole.StudentsrunningtobeaSocietyCommitteeMembermustnot spendanymoneyontheircampaignasthiscannotbereimbursed.
COMPLAINTS
Sometimeselectionsdon’truncompletelysmoothly.Ifyoubelieve ruleshavebeenbrokenbyanothercandidateandwishtomakea complaint,pleaseletusknowathertssu.com/complaints.
Pleasenotethatelectionscomplaintsaresubjecttoour ComplaintsProcedure.Thedeadlineforsubmittingcomplaintsis onehouraftervotingcloses.
HOWTOCAMPAIGN
Thekeytoasuccessfulelectionforacandidateisastrong campaign.Hereareourtoptips!
YOURCAMPAIGN
Buildabrandthatissimple buteye-catching.
Thinkoutsidethebox!Every candidatehasthesame budgetandrulestoplayto, butwhatcouldyoudoto standoutfromthecrowd? Beboldsoyoucan’tbe missed.
Talktostudentsaboutwhy you’rerunningandwhythey shouldvoteforyou.Voters wanttoknowwhoyouare andwhatyoustandfor. Speakpassionatelyand truthfully.
Planyourtimewellin advance.Campaigning shouldn’ttakeoveryourlife orstopyoufromattending lectures.
Makesurethestudentsyou speakwithknowhowtovote. Don’tforgetthatyouwant studentstoputyouastheir firstpreference,ortheir secondpreferenceifthey’ve alreadychosennumberone.
YOURUNIQUESELLINGPOINT
Whatareyoupassionate about?Whatareyour ambitionsfortherole?
Onceyou’vecomeupwith someideas,thinkabouthow youcoulddrivethese changes.Beambitiousbut realistic.
Whoareyou?Whyshould studentstrustyoutobea leader?Makesureyour personalityiscoming throughaspartofyour campaign.
BUDGET
Ifyou’rerunningtobeanElected Officer,you’llbereimbursedfor legitimatecampaignexpenses. Candidatescanspendupto£10 oncampaignmaterials.Be carefulnottoexceedyour budget!Wecanonlyreimburse youthatamountandoverspend isagainsttherules. Makesureyoudon’tspendapennyif you’rerunningtobeaSociety CommitteeMember!
ELECTIONSBYDEFINITION
BALLOT
Asystemofvoting anonymously.
CAMPAIGNING
Thetacticsemployedbya candidatetoraisetheirprofile andencouragevoterstovote favourablyforthem.
CANDIDATE
Apersonrunninginthe election.
CANDIDATEBRIEFING
Acompulsorysessionforall candidates.Candidateswill learnabouttheelections process,begivenguidance aboutcampaigningandhave thechancetoaskany questions.You’llalsobeable tominglewiththeother candidateswhoyou’llbe sharingthisexperiencewith!
CANDIDATEDEBRIEF
Anopendiscussionwhere candidatescangivetheir feedbackabouttheirelections experience.
NOMINATION
Formallyenteringanelection asacandidate.
POLLINGSTATION
Locatedoncampus,these givestudentstheopportunity tovotein-person.
RESULTS
Theoutcomeofanelection.
SINGLETRANSFERRABLEVOTING
Avotingprocesswhichlets yourankcandidatesinyour orderofpreference,enabling voterstosaywhothey’dliketo winiftheirfirst(orsecond, third...)choiceiseliminated fromthecount.
VOTING
Theprocesswherebystudents canselecttheirfavourite candidates.
