Royal Agricultural University Students’ Union 

President Election Regulations 2026 

 

1.0 Introduction 

1.1 These regulations apply to all President candidates and their campaign teams and are in addition to the normal rules of behaviour, policies and procedures of Royal Agricultural University Students’ Union and Royal Agricultural University.  

2.0 Returning Officer and Deputy Returning Officer 

2.1 The Returning Officer is the final interpreter of the election rules. They are responsible for ruling on appeals and ensuring a free and fair election. The Deputy Returning Officer is responsible for administering all aspects of the election, supporting candidate wellbeing, ruling on candidate eligibility and investigating and ruling on complaints. 

2.2 The Returning Officer is Peter Robertson, Chief Executive, NUS Charity. The Returning Officer can be contacted through the Deputy Returning Officer at elections@rausu.co.uk 

2.3 The Deputy Returning Officer is Caroline Dangerfield, Students’ Union Director. The Deputy Returning Officer can be contacted at elections@rausu.co.uk  

3.0 Election Schedule 

3.1 Nominations will open at 12pm on Monday 13 April 2026 and close at 12pm on Monday 20 April 2026. 

3.2 Candidates will be announced once all candidate eligibility is confirmed and all have attended a compulsory candidate briefing. This will be no later than Monday 27 April 2026.  

3.3 Voting will open at 10am on Tuesday 28 April 2026 and close at 4pm on Wednesday 29 April 2026. 

3.4 The Deputy Returning Officer will organise an opportunity for students to ask questions of candidates after candidates have been announced. 

3.5 The result of the election will be announced on Thursday 30 April 2026.  

4.0 Nomination and Eligibility 

4.1 Candidates must be a student at Royal Agricultural University and a full member of the Students’ Union at the time of the elections. A sitting President may stand for a second and final term of office.   

4.2 Candidates must be prepared, during the election and if elected, to: 

• be committed to the purpose, Charitable Objects and values of Royal Agricultural University Students’ Union at all times 

• be constructive about other trustees’ opinions 

• act reasonably and responsibly when undertaking their duties 

• maintain strict confidentiality where appropriate 

• make collective decisions and justify and defend them 

• respect boundaries between officers, staff and students 

• be excellent role models who exhibit the highest standards of integrity 

• attend all meetings where required, or send apologies 

• support equality of opportunity and promote inclusion  

• abide by the Union’s Articles of Association and all policies at all times. 

4.3 Candidates must nominate themselves by submitting an official nomination via the Union website and must submit a photo and complete a candidate profile. 

4.4 Candidates must complete all Candidate Declaration Forms to the best of their knowledge. The forms enable the Union to review past conduct and ensure all candidates are eligible to become a Union employee, Company Director and Trustee. If any potential issues are disclosed in the forms, or the Union becomes aware of any potential issues, candidates will be invited to a meeting with the Deputy Returning Officer to discuss their candidacy and any support they need. 

4.5 The Deputy Returning Officer is responsible for confirming candidate eligibility to run in the election. Where there are any potential issues, the Deputy Returning Officer may call a candidate sign-off meeting to include the Chair of the Board of Trustees or their nominee and a senior member of University staff to aid their decision making. If the Deputy Returning Officer determines a candidate is ineligible to run in the election or places a condition on their candidacy, this will be communicated to the candidate as soon as practicably possible. The candidate may submit an appeal to the Returning Officer. This must be submitted within 6 hours of the Deputy Returning Officer’s decision. The decision of the Returning Officer is final.  

5.0  Campaigning 

5.1 All candidates and their campaign teams must comply with existing Students’ Union and University rules and regulations as well as the law. All candidates are responsible for ensuring that any student on their campaign team are aware of and adhere to the election regulations. Candidates must have also attended a mandatory briefing before they are allowed to campaign. 

5.2 Candidates are not permitted to start campaigning until candidates are announced by the Students’ Union. Candidates can prepare materials and campaign teams but must not publicly declare their candidacy.   

5.3 Elections are a key Students’ Union activity and should be a positive experience for all students. Candidates and their campaign teams are encouraged to use innovative campaign methods and to create a positive, inclusive and respectful experience. Candidates and their campaign teams must not engage in any behaviour that impacts, or is perceived to impact, the integrity of the election. Candidates and their campaign teams should participate positively within the ‘spirit’ of the elections and not simply by the ‘letter of the law’ but the intention and meaning behind it: 

• Candidates and campaigners must act in the interest of a fair election 

• Candidates and campaigners must not interfere in any way with other campaigns or campaign material and must not campaign negatively 

• Candidates and campaigners must not harass or bribe voters 

• Candidates and campaigners must not knowingly mislead voters 

• Candidates and campaigners must only campaign in a way which it is reasonably possible for others to engage in 

• Candidates and campaigners must give due regard to the Students’ Union’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion  

• Candidates and campaigners must keep spending (including gifts in kind) to within the specified spending limits  

5.4 Candidates are expected to treat students and staff with respect. Debate and disagreement are a fundamental part of the process but this must not cross the line into bullying, threatening or disrespectful behaviour, including towards the Deputy Returning Officer and Returning Officer.   

5.5 Candidates are permitted to spend up to £40 of their own money on campaigning. Candidates must submit details of their spending, including relevant receipts (and estimates for gifts in kind) by the close of voting. All printing, regardless of where it was sourced should be costed using University print prices. The Students’ Union will provide up to £20 worth of printing for all candidates. This will not count towards the £40 limit.  

5.6 Posters and campaign materials can be placed around the SU office and campus notice boards and other appropriate spaces, but not on fire doors, electronic screens, or surfaces with visibility strips or in any other space that would pose a risk to health and safety. Candidates must take down any campaign materials after the election. White-tac must be used for posters; stickers, paint, or glue are not allowed. Chalking is permitted on outdoor floors. 

5.7 Candidates and campaigners must not block entrances, exits, or pathways while campaigning. Candidates cannot campaign in the library. Candidates should campaign with integrity and respect in all other spaces including respecting any student’s wish to not engage with the election process. 

5.8 No candidate or campaigner is permitted use of any Students’ Union materials, equipment or resources or any Students’ Union paid staff hours, other than those offered to all candidates. For the avoidance of doubt, a President re-running in elections must take appropriate leave in order to campaign during working hours.   

5.9 Under no circumstances should Students’ Union staff or University staff campaign for or endorse a candidate. The President is permitted to campaign for or endorse a candidate but this activity must not take place during Students’ Union paid working hours or use Students’ Union resources.  

5.10 Club and society committees must allow all candidates equal access to campaign to their members and cannot endorse a candidate as a club or society. Individual club and society committee members are permitted to campaign for or endorse a candidate but this is in their capacity as a student, not as a committee member.  

5.11 Only current students are permitted to campaign for or endorse candidates. No external groups or anyone who isn’t a current student is permitted to campaign for or endorse a candidate.  

5.12 Candidates and campaigners must not use official University or Students’ Union mailing lists as part of their campaign. 

5.13 Failure to adhere to any of the Election Regulations may result in sanctions outlined in section 8.8 up to and including disqualification. 

6.0 Voting 

6.1 Voting will take place by secret ballot. Voting is open to all members of the Students’ Union eligible to vote. 

6.2 Each student shall have one vote and is not allowed to vote on behalf of another student. 

6.3 Voting shall use the single transferrable vote system and shall include re-open nominations as a candidate. 

6.4 Voting shall take place online where possible. 

7.0 Result and Counting of Votes 

7.1 The Deputy Returning Officer will run the election count.  

7.2 After the election, the Deputy Returning Officer should present a report to the Board of Trustees and the University, confirming the results of the elections and that they have been conducted in a fair and proper manner. 

7.3 In the event of a tie, the candidate with the most first preference votes will be elected. Where a winner can still not be identified, a by-election will be held.  

8.0 Complaints Procedure 

8.1 All complaints must be submitted to the Deputy Returning Officer via email at elections@rausu.co.uk  

8.2 Complaints can be made if an individual candidate or one of their campaigners breaks Election Regulations or the elections are managed irregularly. 

8.3 All complaints should be made as soon as possible and no later than 24 hours after the incident has occurred or the concern has been realised. 

8.4 The absolute deadline for receiving complaints will be 12 hours after voting has closed. 

8.5 The Deputy Returning Officer will investigate and consider a complaint that they have received and will endeavour to make a decision on the matter within 24 hours of a complaint being received. 

8.6 For a complaint to be considered, clear evidence must be attached which warrants the Deputy Returning Officer making a judgement. 

8.7 Where the validity of a complaint cannot be clearly established, the Deputy Returning Officer should give all parties concerned the opportunity to present their case. This may be by email or in person but should not be allowed to unreasonably disrupt the timescale for decision making. 

8.8 The Deputy Returning Officer has the authority to take any of the following actions: 

• No further action 

• Issue a warning to one or several candidates 

• Suspend a candidate or campaigner’s rights to campaign via social media 

• Suspend a candidate or campaigner’s rights to campaign in person 

• Remove campaigners from a candidate’s campaigns team  

• To disqualify a candidate 

8.9 The Deputy Returning Officer and/or the Returning Officer have the power to suspend elections or the announcement of results pending further enquiry into a complaint or irregularity. 

8.10 A candidate or campaigner who has received a penalty or a complainant may appeal to the Returning Officer. Before voting opens, appeals must be made within 24 hours of receipt of the Deputy Returning Officer’s decision. During voting, appeals must be made within 3 hours of the Deputy Returning Officer’s decision.  

8.11 The Returning Officer’s decision shall be final. 

 

Approved by Royal Agricultural University Students’ Union’s Board of Trustees on 9 April 2026.