With nominations opening for candidates on the 3rd of February, the 2025 election cycle is officially underway.
As the first step of the election process, nominations for candidates include information about the candidates themselves, along with a photo and, most importantly, their campaign manifesto. This is our first introduction to the candidates, their views, beliefs, and where they stand on pertinent issues relating to student life and culture. With seven roles up for grabs, candidates can choose the group that most reflects them. Some positions can be more competitive than others, with the 2024 elections seeing 10 candidates run for Community and Wellbeing officer.
During the nomination process, YorkSU runs a series of workshops, social mixer events and student media interviews, with candidates being formally briefed on campaigning. Candidates are also assigned a member of staff to serve as a direct contact to answer any questions.
The punishments for breaching campaigning rules can range from short term bans in campaigning to complete withdrawal from the elections. In such a short campaigning window, any breaches of rules can be disastrous for candidates.
The process of nominations runs until the 14th of March 2025 (Week 5), at which point candidates can no longer alter their information, manifesto or photos. Nominations can often go right down to the wire, with the 2024 election seeing 66% of nominations submitted in the final two days.
Preceding this is the announcement of candidates on the 21st of March (Week 6), at which point the information about candidates is made publicly available. At this point, manifestos can be accessed and campaigns hit their full force.
The voting cycle opens at midday on the 24th of March 2025 (Week 7), closing three days later at midday on the 27th. The voting is all undertaken online, with around a quarter of students generally turning out.
Following this, successful candidates will be announced on the 28th of March 2025 (Week 7), beginning their role in July. Successful candidates have 12 months in post to focus on areas of student life, are entitled to a salary of around £24,685 (24/25 figures) and are expected to work 35 hours a week, whilst being entitled to the same benefits and holidays as other York SU staff.
Elections directly affect nearly all of the student operations at the university. They dictate who represents and advocates for student rights, and alter the policy of the university. The coming weeks and months of campaigning and voting are crucial to the over 200 societies, eleven colleges and 18,000 students involved with their student union.