Union election guide for union parties

This guide is intended for union parties running for the union elections at Uppsala Student Union. The guide includes important dates, information and tips. Everything for a fun, engaging and successful union election! 

Uppsala Student Union is a democratic membership organisation where the Council is the highest decision-making body. The composition of the council, and thus the decisions it takes, is determined by the union elections. 

To be able to stand in the student union elections, the student union party must register as a student union party. This is done via the Uppsala Student Union website. This applies both to re-registration of existing parties and to new parties. New parties must also attach a list of at least twenty-five (25) of the Uppsala Student Union's members who support the registration by written consent, as well as their personal numbers and contact details. No later than February 14, the election committee will announce on Uppsala Student Union which student union parties are approved to stand in the election. Approved parties will be notified by email.

For each election, parties must register their list of candidates by March 1. The list must indicate which candidates the party wants to nominate and how the party ranks the candidates. The list must state each candidate's name, social security number, telephone number, e-mail address and study title. Party agents must, in accordance with the instructions of the Election Committee, submit a written consent from each candidate on the list by March 1.

Anyone who is a member of Uppsala Student Union can vote in the union elections. In order to vote, the member must have a valid e-mail address. Voting is done digitally and voters vote from their own computer or mobile phone and do not need to come to a polling station. For those who need to, there is the possibility to use a computer at the union house to vote. Everyone who is eligible to vote will receive an email with a link to the ballot on the same day that voting opens. In the union election 2024, voting is open between April 7 and 21.

Voters have the option of choosing which list of candidates to vote for and then making a personal choice within the chosen list of candidates. It is also possible to choose to cast a blank vote or to select a list of candidates but refrain from making a personal choice. Voters are given the opportunity to confirm their choice before voting ends. Once the voter has confirmed his or her choice, the vote is recorded in a database managed by the Election Committee. The Election Committee can check who has voted without compromising the secrecy of the vote.

The period between 20 March and the opening of the union elections is called the election period. During this period, all external communication about the union elections is intensified. Then Uppsala Student Union needs to encourage students to vote while the union parties need to win the voters' vote. 

In the run-up to the union elections, Uppsala Student Union organises a union election debate. It is an opportunity for all the candidate parties to meet in a debate. The debate will be moderated by a moderator and will last about an hour. The public is invited to be an audience. The debate is a good forum to showcase the party's views to show how it differs from other union parties. Details of the debate may change from year to year. 

On the last day of the election period, Uppsala Student Union invites all candidates and affiliates to an election vigil. The location and organisation may differ from year to year.