MAY 19 - 21 UR Y AT O S R ITY UNIVE
Vote for your representatives for the next two years between 19 and 21 May! Because only who doesn’t vote doesn’t have a say! More information online: wahl.oeh.ac.at
Vote for your student representatives! At the ÖH general elections, you will receive three ballot cards. One of them is for the student representatives of your branch of study. This is a person-based direct election, meaning you vote directly for candidates as a representation of your branch of study. Their delegation usually consists of 3 to 5 people and is the direct contact point for your branch of study when it comes to service, support and information. Vote for your university representatives! If, for instance, you study Slavistics at the University of Vienna, you vote for your students’ representatives at the Slavistics institute, for your university representatives – the ÖH of the University of Vienna -, and for the National Board of the ÖH.
The Students Union at the university level, meaning your local ÖH, represents matters of interest at the Rectorate, the management, the university organization and the ministries of the government. At this election, you vote for parties and not for individual persons. Different political parties and lists are up for election, and depending on the outcome of the election, they send a number of delegates (9 to 27 mandates) to the respective university representation (the local ÖH).
Don’t know which students’ representatives are responsible for you?
Vote for your National Students Union!
Ask at your local ÖH or drop us a note: oeffref@oeh.ac.at!
The National Board of the ÖH represents students’ matters on a national level, at the federal ministries responsible for the ÖH and at other interest groups as well as at the Austrian university conference, at Universities Austria and at the association of Austrian Universities of Applied Sciences. Here, too, there is a party-list voting system, meaning you can vote for the candidate political parties and groups. Depending on their share of votes, they will send delegates to the National Board. There are 55 mandates to be allocated. The National Board of the ÖH currently is a coalition of FEST, FLÖ, GRAS, and VSStÖ. One of the main achievements of this government was the reintroduction of direct elections, which means that at the ÖH general elections of 2015, for the first time in ten years you can cast a direct vote for the federal Board of the ÖH.
You are not at the university between 19 and 21 May? How to vote if absent Should you not be at the university during election days (19 to 21 May), you can request an absentee ballot and cast your vote via mail. IMPORTANT: To keep the secrecy of the ballot, you can only vote for your university representatives and for the National Board of the ÖH with your absentee ballot. Your students’ representatives can only be elected in person.
How to request an absentee ballot You can request your absentee ballot online at wahl.oeh.ac.at/briefwahl. Take note, however, that for your polling card to be valid, it must be received by the responsible electoral commission by 6:00 p.m. on the 20th of May. You can, of course, have your absentee ballot sent to an international address as well.
How to run for office as a students’ representative If you want to get active yourself and run for office as a students’ representative, it is best to talk to your current students’ representatives. Furthermore, consider the following: Every candidate has to announce their candidature seven weeks before the first election day (19 May) and four weeks before the last election day (21 May), either in person or per registered mail. Moreover, you have to submit a copy of your admission record at the university, your enrolment certification or an authorisation for admission due to indenture.
Your announcement of candidature has to include the following: Last name and Given Name Year of birth Address Name of your branch of study Specific personal identifier of the respective educational institute (i.e. Matriculation number)
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II
Students vote Every student will receive at least 3 ballot cards, one for each level of representation.
Students representatives 3-5 representatives
Representatives of Teacher training universities, Universities of Applied Sciences, Universities 9-27 representatives from executive staff departments fixed: Dept. of Social policy Dept. of Economic affairs Dept. of Education policy
University of Education University for applied sciences University Private University
III ÖH at federal level
Boards & committees III
ÖH at federal level 55 representatives form executive branch staff departments (currently 11) i.e. Education policy, Social policy, Economic affairs Conference of the National Board as highest representative 6 boards for Education policy, equality, International affairs, Special projects, Social policy, Economic affairs
Exception: absentee ballot – you receive only 2 ballot cards.
Effective politics Aside from the many support services provided at your university, the ÖH is also active on a federal political level. In negotiations with different ministries, small and large problems of the universities are discussed and resolved. The aim of the ÖH is equal rights for all students – regardless of their gender or where they are from. The ÖH fights for universities where every student can feel at home. From advice for high school graduates to shaping the different curricula to graduating from university – without the ÖH, there would be no voice of the students in the committees, council meetings and senates, conferences of the universities or the advisory council of the ministry. We strive to actively improve student life every day. Helpful service The numerous support services of the ÖH help you and your friends navigate through your studies. Insurance for all students, tutorials for first-semester-students, canteen vouchers, contract checks, competent counselling for various study- or life-related problems, support in legal disputes, financial support through the ÖH Social fund, student media, a strong voice in the ministry and the public: none of this would be possible without the ÖH.
What is the ÖH doing for you? We at the ÖH support students throughout their studies. Student representatives, university representatives and the National Board – all in all more than 1,000 students are fully committed to supporting student interests. The National Board of the ÖH alone holds 86 volunteer workers.
5 reasons to vote at the ÖH general elections:
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Because only a strong ÖH can ensure competent counselling and service
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Because every vote counts and lets a stronger ÖH fight for your interests
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Because the ÖH fights side by sides with the students – unconditionally
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Because student-friendly university politics can only be ensured with the ÖH fighting for students’ rights
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Because only who doesn’t vote doesn’t have a say
Only those regular and external students are entitled to vote who have been enrolled as students by 31 March and whose ÖH-fee and, if applicable, whose tuition fees were transferred to the university. More information online: wahl.oeh.ac.at