How to Vote

There are several features of the voting system:

• The method of voting is optional preferential. You must place the number 1 in the box opposite the name of the candidate who is your first preference, and number 2 beside your second preference, etc. For a vote to be valid, it must indicate at least a first preference; it is not compulsory to rank all candidates. Preferences must be indicated by numbers (not just a tick or cross) …. though the Returning Officer may accept a mark where there is only one position to be filled and only one box on the form has been marked.

• The ballot for the positions of Guild President, Education Vice-President, Guild General Secretary and Council Representatives includes a "No candidate" box for each of these positions.

• For the Guild of Students elections, only Guild members can vote.

Candidates and election material (other than election notices authorised by the Returning Officer) are not allowed within five metres of the polling booth.

Electronic Voting

You will need to log in to the electronic voting system using your MAIS number and password.

The system will be open until midnight on Thursday, 8 October 2009.

The ballots for which you are eligible to vote will be shown in a drop down menu on the voting page. This is based on the information contained in the voter roll for this election, compiled in the same manner as for paper based ballots and used only for the purpose of this election.

Voting by post

Students who for reasons of special need, are unable to access the electronic voting system may request that voting papers be sent to them. The deadline for this is Monday, 21 September 2009.

If you have requested a postal vote, voting instructions, ballot papers and the Election Broadsheet (containing candidate statements and photographs) will be sent to you on or before Friday, 25 September 2009. The University pays for reply-paid postage, so there is no cost to you.

To vote you must:

• Complete each voting paper.

• Place the completed voting papers in the brown envelope marked "Voting Paper", then seal it.

• Place the voting paper envelope in the white envelope addressed to the Returning Officer. Complete and sign the declaration on the reverse of the envelope. The vote is not valid if the declaration is not completed.

• Place this envelope in the reply paid envelope and post it as soon as possible. It must be received by the close of voting at 4pm on Friday, 9 October 2009 - the Returning Officer is not allowed to accept any voting papers received after then.