Candidates Code of Conduct

Candidates and their supporters must abide by this document, in addition to:

?     The SU Constitution( available from www.uelunion.org)

?     The Election Bye-Law (available in this pack)

?     The University's Dignity Policy (available from http://http://www.uel.ac.uk/hrservices/services/handbook.htm#P)

Candidates or Candidate's Supporters shall;

i) not use any University Mailing List for the purpose of campaigning.

ii) not use the Students' Union Facebook Page to campaign or send messages related to the Election.

iii) not campaign before the date and time specified for Election campaigning.

iv) not use any Students' Union resources for the purpose of campaigning, other than those deemed appropriate by the Returning Officer.

v) not spend beyond their allocated budget.

vi) not have their campaign or candidacy sponsored or endorsed by any external body.

vii) remove their posters and publicity after the close of elections.

viii) Elected Students' Union Officers must ensure they do not bring the Students' Union into disrepute during the election period, as set out in the Officer Code of Conduct or any other UELSU policy to which they are bound.

ix) Any candidate wishing to withdraw their nomination must do so in writing to the Returning Officer.

x) All Campaign material and campaigning must not contradict UELSU's Equal Opportunities Policy. In addition, candidates will be subject to the usual University policies on bullying, harassment and discrimination. Failure to comply with these policies will result in action by the Returning Officer, and may also incur investigation from the University.

xi) No campaigns materials should contain any UELSU, University of East London or NUS produced logos.

xii) The use of “social networking” sites will be allowed as soon as the official campaign time starts.

xiii) No candidate or member of their campaign team, or any other person attempting to influence a voter may approach within three metres of the polling station except when they themselves are voting. This distance may be varied on the discretion of the Deputy Returning Officer or the Returning Officer depending upon the architecture of the polling station, but must be made clear to all candidates.

xiv) Candidates need to be aware that they are responsible for the actions of anyone on their campaign team and any complaints will be dealt with by the Returning Officer.

xv) The candidates may attend, or send a representative, to observe the count. Any such observers will remain part of the count team until the results are announced and will not make any effort to either physically interfere with the count or communicate the results in advance to any person.

xvi) Any complaint about the election process, organisation or another candidate or team must be submitted in writing to the Deptuy Returning Officer, to be passed to the Returning Officer.

xvii) All complaints relating to the conduct of the elections, campaigns or polling must be submitted as soon as possible, in writing, prior to the end of polling.

xviii) All complaints relating to the conduct of the count must be submitted, in writing to the Returning Officer prior to the declaration of results.

xix) Candidates and their respresentatives should refrain from submitting spurious or ill-judged complaints or attempt to use the complains procedure to bring UELSU into disrepute or severely damage the elections for the purposes of political gain. Such complaints will be dismissed outright and action will be taken against the candidates involved.

xx) Abuse of Students' Union Staff or University Staff is unacceptable. They must be treated with respect at all times by candidates and their supporters.