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Are you an effective leader? Do you want to make a true difference in your campus community? Does the idea of representing your peers excite you? If you answered “yes” to these questions then you should consider running for a position with Algoma University Students’ Union (AUSU). Through AUSU’s annual General Election all students at Algoma University have the opportunity to run for seats on AUSU.
The AUSU Board is Algoma University’s student government and is authorized to make bylaws and policy regarding membership, elections, governance structure, meetings, membership fees, the management and operations of services and assets, appointment to committees and any other matters that students care about.
By-Election TBA October 2022
Main Election TBA February 2023
AUSU is currently made up of a total of nineteen (19) AUSU Board Members:
Elected officials serve for a period of one academic year (May 1 – April 30). Appointments take place after the General Election and are in effect until April 30.
When Are The Elections, And Who Can Run?
Voting for the AUSU Elections takes place online over a period of four days. General Election voting days are in January, and voting for the By-Elections, (if required), takes place in early October. Any active member (Algoma University Student) in good standing with AUSU can run and vote in the Elections.
How Do I Know What Positions Are Available?
To begin the elections process, a “Notice of Nomination” signed by the Chief Returning Officer is posted online and at the AUSU office to announce the available positions for the General Election. If required, a Notice of Nomination for the By-Election is posted in early September. A full list of AUSU Elected Official positions is located in the Position Description section.
Once the Notice is up, Nomination packages become available. These packages have all the information and forms you need as a candidate. They can be downloaded from the AUSU website. Contact ausu@ausu82.ca for more information.
What Do I Do If I Want To Know More About The Responsibilities Of The Role?
The best way to learn more about a position is to talk to someone currently in the role. You may want to set up a meeting or ask if you can “job shadow” for a few hours. You can contact any of our Elected Officials by email, found here.
You can also attend any AUSU meeting (next meeting date advertised here) in the to see how the union works as a team to make decisions.
What Is The “Nomination Period”?
The time from when the Notice of Nomination is put up to the last Nomination Day is known as the Nomination Period. This period lasts at least five (5) business days. This is the time potential candidates use to learn about available positions, fill out the Nomination packages, establish their platform and ask for student support.
To register as a candidate you must meet the CRO in person on one of the Nomination Days to deliver your Nomination Package. Pay close attention to all the requirements – the CRO will only register you if all of the forms are filled out correctly and you have brought all your supporting materials.
These nomination period days are a busy time and there is often a line. Make sure you come early and set aside enough time! The CRO will go through all of your forms with you and may have questions. Anyone who has not submitted their package by the deadline on the last day is not considered an official candidate and is not permitted to campaign.
What Do I Need To Become A Candidate?
You must complete the forms in the Nomination Package and fulfill other requirements, such as submission of a photo, collecting a certain number of student signatures and writing a brief description of your platform. Requirements can slightly vary from year to year, so be sure to read the Nomination Package carefully. Nomination package are now available online. Please see below to download the forms.
After the final Nomination Day you will receive an email confirming that you are officially a candidate for the AUSU Election. The CRO will give you information on next steps such as attending the All Candidates Meeting.
When Can I Tell Other Students That I’m Running?
You can verbally tell other students you have the intent to run as early as you wish. However, students are not permitted to campaign until the Campaign Period officially begins (after the last All Candidates Meeting). Pre-campaigning is against Election Policy and includes posting of materials, asking for votes or sharing information about your campaign platform.
How Much Money Can I Use To Campaign?
To keep elections fair and ensure all candidates are on a level playing field, there are limits on how much you can spend. These limits are outlined in the Nomination Package and depend on what position you are running for. Candidates who exceed the maximum amount for the position they are running for are automatically disqualified.
Can I Get Help With My Campaign?
Yes! Many students ask friends to support them by “volunteering” for their campaign. These volunteers can help you put up posters and hand out materials during the Campaign Period. You may also wish to have a Campaign Manager to help you for all your campaigning needs!
The AUSU General Election occurs every academic year in January. If required, a By-Election is held in September-October to fill any vacant positions. Before the end of the Fall Semester (or in September for the By-Election), AUSU will post a notification asking for nominees interested in running for an elected position with the Students’ Union. This nomination procedure includes a detailed nomination package that can be accessed online. Contact ausu@ausu82.ca for more information. Before deciding to run, you should consult our AUSU Election Documents section as well as the Position Descriptions below.
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