Elections
- Details
- Category: Your Union
- Published on Saturday, 09 August 2008 15:23
General Elections
Elections are held in the second semester. The date and place of the elections and the closing date for nominations will be advertised in advance.
Returning Officer
The Returning Officer is nominated by a majority vote of the Executive and sets up an Electoral Committee to assist with the running of elections.
Nominations for Elections
If you are thinking of running for election, you must submit a nomination form by the advertised deadline. Nomination forms must be signed by the candidate (person running for election) and twenty proposers, who must be registered students of the College. Late nominations will not be accepted. Campaigning can only begin after the close of nominations.
Hustings
Hustings are a public head to head of all the candidates in an election, constitutionally held the day before the members go to the polls, in which each of the candidates makes a speech stating their own political goals; a question and answers session from the floor follows. This gives the voters a chance to evaluate the comparative merits of teh candidates in what is usually a moct entertaining way.
Voting
All full members of the Union (students of MIC) may vote on production of a current valid I.D card. All members of the Executive Committee are entitled to vote. Polling is by secret ballot in sealed ballot boxes.
No candidate or their agents, may canvass within the polling station or distribute publicity material or display publicity within the polling station.
All candidates are expected to treat all other candidates with dignity and respect and abide by the basic rules of fair play. If a candidate does not abide by these rules this shall be made publicly known by the Elections Committee at the hustings.
If a student is unable to vote in person s/he may, on sending proof of holding a current and valid student card to the Election Committee, not later than three college days before the election, can request that a ballot paper be sent to him/her at a stated address. The granting of this request shall be at the sole discretion of the Election Committee. If the request is granted, ballot papers so issued may be returned to the Election Committee through the post or otherwise in and envelope marked “Postal Vote” and shall be kept until the counting of votes in a separate sealed ballot box. Votes received after the close of the poll shall be deemed invalid.
More information on elections can be found in the constitution which is available to download here.
Results of previous elections can be found here.