Student See Student Do: Why to consider voting

By Rachel Garvey

It’s that time of year again; a time where campaign posters decorate noticeboards and lamp-posts on campus outlining who’s running for what Student Union role and why you, the students of the University of Galway, should vote for them. A lot of students don’t partake in voting polls because they either aren’t too into the political side of things or they feel changes won’t be implemented, but there is an importance behind it; that

How to Vote

By Rachel Foster

With the upcoming Students’ Union elections right around the corner, you may find yourself wondering where and how you are able to cast your vote. Luckily, the voting process could not be easier, with options to suit everybody, whether on or off campus.

The voting for the full-time SU officers will take place on Thursday 2nd March being that every student has a right to a voice and whether or not they want to use it in the voting process is entirely their decision, but we all have a right to vote for those who we want representing us when it comes to certain changes that need to be made. Every student has needs, every student has views and worries about certain subjects and they approach their chosen Student Union representative with these worries and the hope that they can bring about change even if it’s a small one.

2023, and you will have the option of voting online between 10am and 8pm on this day via Yourspace. You can access this by logging in to your Yourspace portal, and links and reminders will be made available throughout this day across SU social media platforms and your student email. Alternatively, there will also be in-person voting stations across campus at the following locations and times on Thursday 2nd March: Síbín (10am-8pm)

• Áras na Mac Léinn (11am-7pm)

• Alice Perry Engineering Building (12-4pm)

Student ID is required for in-person voting.

How would we bring about change for the things we want to correct if we don’t have people to go to that can help us bring about that change? Who would we talk to in regards to these worries in the first place if we didn’t have a Student Union? The Student Union President, the Student Welfare Officer, the Student Education Officer and every critical role in that office is vital to students and that is why we need to vote. Voting exists for a reason, doesn’t it? Yes. To make a change for the greater good.

Voting will be done via secret ballots and will use the system of Proportional Representation, which means you will provide a list of the candidates you are voting for, in order of preference, and the candidate with the most votes will win.

There will also be the option to vote RON (reopen nominations) if you are not happy with any of the candidates. If RON receives the most votes, nominations will be reopened to new candidates and another election will take place.

The counting of votes will begin on Friday 3rd March at 9am in Síbín.

Also running for office, but unavailable at the time of main photo, are: