GUSA By-Election Rules

GUSA Council Elections 2026

By-Election Rules

Election Timeline

• Nominations Open: Monday 28 September 2026 (Nomination forms can be accessed on the Elections tab of the GUSA MSL page, and are to be submitted as word documents to Toheeb Olugbode via email – Toheeb.Olugbode@glasgow.ac.uk
• GUSA 'Meet the Council' Information Session: Thursday October 1st (64 Oakfield Avenue Basement)
• Nominations Close: Thursday 8th of October – 12noon
• Hustings: Monday 12th October 2026 – 7pm (TBC))
• Elections: Thursday 15th of October 9am-5pm (Voting via the UofG Life App)
• Election Results: Thursday 5 March – 6pm (GUU – Room TBC)

1. Campaigning & Publicity

1. In principle, candidates must only do what all other candidates have had an equal opportunity to do. For example, candidates cannot make use of personal connections to gain commercial advantages or use resources which are made available to them by way of their position.
2. All candidates Must be fair and refrained from making negative comments or campaigning negatively about other candidates as individuals, both in person and online. Candidates will be held responsible for the actions of their campaign teams full stop it is the responsibility of candidates to ensure their campaign teams are aware of unfollow the election rules.
3. Candidates and supporters of candidates who have an official role or position outside of GUSA may continue to act in this capacity, but they must not abuse their position for any purpose directly related to the election including the use of email addresses and mailing lists.
4. Any current GUSA Council member may not nominate any candidate. Any outgoing GUSA Council member not running for re-election to the Council may not endorse or campaign on behalf of any candidate. If an outgoing GUSA Council member is running for re-election, they are permitted to endorse and/or campaign on behalf of any candidate and join “slates”.
5. Candidates are permitted to organise in teams, sometimes known as “slates”, and may produce shared publicity and encourage voters to support all the members of their team. Slates must not pool their resources to give them an unfair advantage or do things that independent candidates could not do. For example, slates may not pool their resources to obtain a bulk discount on purchases.
6. All candidates must respect that every student has the right to vote confidentially and freely. Any complaints raised by students about being unfairly pressured to vote for any particular candidate will be taken extremely seriously.
7. Candidates must not attempt to help students during the process of voting, if a student requires assistance with voting they should contact the IT Helpdesk.
8. Under no circumstances should any campaign material be placed within UofG Sport facilities or any University building or Halls of Residence. Campaign materials should not be worn within facilities or any buildings while the vote is open, with the exception of the provision under clauses 1i and 1k.
9. Candidates may attend club sessions and speak to members, however only with the express permission of the club committee.
10. Candidates are free to campaign on the University campus, including on Oakfield Avenue, however, should be respectful of their surroundings and leave no trace (e.g. rubbish/paint).
11. Candidates may campaign at Sports Wednesday in the GUU, however no physical campaign material should be placed within the GUU. This rule is subject to change at the discretion of the GUU Executive, who have final say on whether or not candidates can campaign within the GUU.

1. Campaign Expenditure

1. There will be a spending limit for how much a candidate can spend on their campaign. The spending limits are proposed as follows:

1. President: £60
2. Convenors and non-sabbatical executive positions: £35

1. The spending limit will be announced alongside all election publicity including nomination forms, and all candidates will be reminded via email and at candidate briefings. No candidate may spend more than the spending limit. If this is not adhered to, candidates risk disqualification at the discretion of the Returning Officer.
2. The use of non-campaign specific items – these are items which all candidates can reasonably be expected to own prior to their decision to stand for election – is permitted. These items do not need to be declared. Examples include phones and laptops. Items that are already owned by a candidate or other person, but which all candidates cannot reasonably be expected to own may be used during a campaign, but they must be declared in accordance with clause 2d as if they had been bought during the election. The Returning Officer has final say on what may or may not be reasonably expected to be owned by all candidates. Candidates should seek guidance from the Returning Officer if they are in any doubt about which items should be declared.
3. Any items which all candidates could not be reasonably expected to own, as well as any campaign expenditure (including free items used in the campaign) must be declared to the Returning Officer within 1 hour of the close of voting. All items on the declaration must include evidence of purchase or a receipt for a similar item if already owned. Failure to complete your statement of expenditure may result in disqualification.
4. No candidate may receive financial or other material assistance from any external body e.g., NGBs or sponsors.

1. Clubs and Societies

1. GUSA Clubs and University of Glasgow societies may endorse candidates and promote their candidacies using all the free methods available to them, e.g. non-sponsored Facebook pages, websites.
2. Clubs may not use any of their funds to support a candidate.
3. Decisions by clubs to endorse candidates must not be made by the candidate themselves and must be made in accordance with the normal decision-making processes of the club or society.
4. Regular procedure must be followed by the club or society when deciding to endorse candidates, and if there is uncertainty about this, a decision of the full committee or a vote by members is recommended.

1. Complaints

1. Any complaints about candidate conduct should be raised in a timely manner and no later than one hour after the close of voting. All complaints must be submitted in writing to the returning officer. All complaints must be substantiated with evidence and explicitly state which rule has been broken.
2. The Returning Officer reserves the right to consider complaints as vexatious and may take disciplinary action accordingly.
3. The Returning Officer will adjudicate on all complaints, and their decision will be final. The Returning Officer has the right to impose punitive measures on a candidate if deemed appropriate, up to and including disqualification from the election.

1. Voting

1. Voting for GUSA elections will be via the UofG Life App, downloadable from all App stores. Students rank candidates in order of preference and can rank as few or as many of the available candidates as they wish.
2. Online ballots shall bear the name of each candidate and the position being contested. They may include other information at the discretion of the Returning Officer.
3. There will also be an option to ‘Re-Open Nominations (RON)’ for all positions.

1. The Count

1. Votes will be counted following the close of Voting when the Returning Officer is satisfied that all complaints relating to the conduct and administration of the election have been resolved.
2. Complaints received later than 1 hour after the close of voting may only relate to the conduct of the count.
3. The count will be conducted in accordance with the constitution.

1. Results

1. Election Results shall be declared by the Returning Officer when the count has been successfully completed.
2. In the absence of any complaints or appeals which would delay the counting of votes, the result will be announced at the time designated by the returning officer.
3. The Returning Officer reserves the right to delay the announcement of the result.
4. In the event of a tie or ‘Re-Open Nominations (RON)’ receiving the most votes, a by-election will be held for the position in question, to be convened under these same rules.

1. Confirmation of positions

Executive positions

President*

Vice President**

Secretary**

Convenor positions

Alumni Convenor

Events and Fundraising Convenor

Finance Convenor

Health and Performance Convenor

Inclusion and Culture Convenor

Outreach Convenor

Publicity Convenor

Travel and Sustainability Convenor

* Candidates for President must have had at least 1 years’ experience on GUSA Council. To run for this sabbatical position, candidates must either be graduating students or prepared to take 1 year out of their studies for the role.

**Candidates for Vice-President and Secretary positions must have had at least 1 years’ experience on GUSA Council or have 1 years’ experience on a GUSA Club CTS.

1. Review or amendment of these rules

1. These rules must be passed annually by the GUSA Senior Council, by no later than the meeting prior to the opening of nominations.