Elections 2012

Latest news

Monday 14th May

On Wednesday 9 May, the SU published an announcement from the Elections Committee, stating that it requires the 2012 Sabbatical and Part-Time Officer elections to be re-run. Having taken the advice of the Returning Officer, the following operational guidelines supplement the current Bye Laws and Elections Rulebook specifically in order to allow the re-run election to be held as soon as possible. (These guidelines have been produced after consultation with the Returning Officer, the Elections Committee and the university).

- The election will be re-run from the point at which polling stations open. Polling stations at Greenwich Maritime, Avery Hill Southwood, Avery Hill Mansion and Medway will be open at hours to be determined by the Returning Officer from Monday 21st to Thursday 24th May.

- No further nominations will be sought, no hustings held and manifestos will carry over from March. These elements of the election are considered completed.

- Voting will be electronic (as before) with the same candidates for the four Sabbatical and eight Part-Time Officer posts. Any candidate wishing to withdraw must do so in writing to Gary Naylor (g.naylor@gre.ac.uk) by 10am Thursday 17th May.  Their name will then be removed from the electronic ballot paper.

- No campaigning posters nor leaflets will be allowed. The SU will produce posters and distribute flyers publicising the election and will direct voters to the manifestos online and those printed in the Latitude Lookout Election Special. Campaigning will not be permitted within 50 metres of polling stations nor near rooms being used for examinations. Any SU posters or flyers marked in any way will be considered a breach of regulations. Lists of candidates will be displayed at polling stations.

- A statement concerning campaigning will be issued to all candidates marking the seriousness with which the SU and university views the behaviour of some candidates and others in February and March and making it clear that a repeat of such behaviour (or its equivalent) will not be tolerated in the re-run elections.

- Campaigning may begin on Thursday 17th May. Campaigning in person (without posters and leaflets and outside the restricted area during polling times – see above) will be allowed, as will campaigning online and via texts. No Students’ Union facilities nor resources may be used by any candidate for any campaigning purpose. Campaigning will be monitored to ensure adherence to regulations.

- The count will be held at 12pm Monday 28th May and results announced and posted on the SU website as soon as possible afterwards.

Wednesday 9th May
Statement from Elections Committee 2011/12

The University Secretary and Registrar has accepted the recommendation of the University’s Investigation Panel’s report on the Students’ Union Elections (held March 2012). In turn, the Returning Officer, Chris Shelley (NUS Head of Democracy and Governance) has accepted the recommendation and, in consequence, the Elections Committee has exercised its power under Bye-Law 10, s38.4 and has ordered the election to be re-run. 

The recommendation to re-run the election was made and accepted as detailed above because there is evidence that, as a result of the behaviour of some candidates and others, the election of March 2012 was not considered to be “free and fair”.  In coming to this judgement, the Returning Officer discharged his responsibilities under Bye-Law 10, s4 – s7, the Elections Committee discharged its responsibility under Bye Law 10, s34 and s38 and the University discharged its responsibility under the Education Act 1994.

The SU is now working with the Returning Officer to seek the best way to implement the decision to re-run the election and will update candidates and members at the earliest opportunity.  

Tuesday 8th May

The University Secretary and Registrar has read the University’s Investigations Panel’s report and passed it to the Elections Committee, which is now considering its response.

The SU will continue to seek further information as it emerges. The SU will update candidates and members via this website as soon as any news is available and thanks everyone concerned for their patience.
 

Tuesday 24th April

The University’s Investigations Panel has submitted its report to the University Secretary and Registrar who is now considering it.

The SU will continue to seek further information as it emerges. The SU will update candidates and members via this website as soon as any news is available and thanks everyone concerned for their patience.

Wednesday 18th April

The University’s Investigations Panel expects to conclude its work this week and will submit its report to the University Secretary and Registrar by Friday. As previously stated, the election count was put on hold by the NUS Returning Officer; until the count takes place, the votes will continue to be held on a secure external server.

The SU will continue to seek further information as it emerges. The SU will update candidates and members via this website as soon as any news is available and thanks everyone concerned for their patience.

Thursday 5th April

The University’s Investigations Panel is currently holding interviews, and will continue to do so until (at least) week commencing Monday 16th April. The Panel shares the desire of SU to see its work brought to a swift conclusion and is working to that end.

The SU will continue to seek further information as it emerges. The SU will update candidates and members via this website as soon as any news is available.

Tuesday 27th March

The University’s Secretary and Registrar has issued the following statement:

“The decision of the Returning Officer to pass the complaints to the University was accepted by the Elections Committee.

The University has established an Investigations Panel to consider the complaint.  The Panel will interview those affected as appropriate.

The Panel will conduct their investigations as soon as practicable.”

The Students’ Union will post more information on the website as soon as it is available.
 

Thursday 22nd March

Since the last update (March 16 below), Election Committee representatives have been in discussions with senior University staff concerning the arrangements for conducting the investigation requested by the Returning Officer. The Students’ Union recognise that it is in all its members’ interest to conclude outstanding elections business as swiftly as possible and it is working to that end. 

More information will be posted on this website as soon as we have it.

Friday 16th March
Statement from Elections Committee 2011/12

The Elections Committee met yesterday and were briefed by the Deputy Returning Officer, of the Returning Officer’s decision (14th March) to “...suspend the 2012 Elections pending further investigation into complaints received from students”.  The Committee were also presented with the complaints that had led to this decision and noted that no appeals had been received.

The Committee considered its obligation under Bye-Law 10 s34.3 which states: “The Elections Committee shall... ensure that elections are fairly and properly conducted according to the Bye Laws of the Union.”  

Having discussed the issues raised, due to the Returning Officer's decision to “... pass [the complaints] to the University to undertake an investigation”, the Elections Committee, considering the seriousness of the issues, adjourned to enable further enquiries to be made and will make another statement in due course. 

Wednesday 14th March

The Returning Officer for Students' Union, University of Greenwich regrets to inform students that the 2012 Elections have been suspended pending further investigation into complaints received from students. The decision was taken last week to delay the counting of the ballots to allow investigations to take place into the complaints, but those investigations have not proved sufficient enough to be able to declare the results at this stage. The complaints have been passed to the University to undertake a full investigation and the election process must be suspended pending the outcome of this. SUUG apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, but the Returning Officer's paramount concern is the fairness of the election process on voters and this cannot be guaranteed until investigations are complete.

The decision may be appealed to the Elections Committee by writing to Deputy Returning Officer, Gary Naylor by 9am Thursday 15th March via e-mail (g.naylor@gre.ac.uk).

Friday 9th March

The Returning Officer regrets to inform SUUG members that the count for Sabbatical Officers, Part-Time Officers and NUS Delegates elections held 5 March 2012 – 8 March 2012 is delayed for a minimum of one week to allow a number of complaints to be investigated thoroughly. This decision has been taken in the interests of all candidates and the wider membership. Further updates will be posted on the website at www.suug.co.uk/elections2012.

For more information about our Elections, please visit the pages linked above.