Campaign Rules for Elections

Campaigning at a Glance

1. You may:
   1. campaign during the campaign period which extends from the close of nominations to the close of voting.
   2. use personal social media accounts and campaign platforms.
   3. display campaign material in approved locations.
   4. wear campaign clothing on campus.
2. You must:
   1. comply with these Rules and any lawful direction of the Returning Officer.
   2. identify the candidate who authorised campaign material.
   3. identify the ticket, where applicable.
   4. remove campaign material when required.
3. You must not:
   1. claim or imply University endorsement.
   2. use University-managed communication channels without permission.
   3. campaign in prohibited areas.
   4. interfere with another candidate's campaign material.
   5. display campaign material in unauthorised locations.
   6. publish campaign material that is unlawful, misleading, defamatory or otherwise inappropriate.

Definitions

4. In these Rules, the following words have the following meanings:
   1. “Campaigning” means any activity intended to promote, support, oppose or influence the election of a candidate or ticket.
   2. “Campaign material” means any printed, electronic, digital, audiovisual or physical material used for campaigning. This includes posters, social media content, websites, videos, images, clothing, merchandise, objects, artefacts, giveaways and similar items.
   3. “Candidate” means a person who has submitted a valid nomination.
   4. “Returning Officer” means the University Secretary or their nominee.
   5. “Party” means a group of candidates standing in a student election under a common name.
   6. “University-managed communication channels” means communication channels controlled or managed by the University. These include University email distribution lists, learning management systems, official University websites and official University social media accounts.

Purpose and application

5. These Rules apply to campaigning for elections conducted under the Election Regulations and, where relevant, the Guild Regulations and Guild Election Regulations.
6. These Rules support fair, respectful and transparent elections and must be read with the legislation governing the relevant election.
7. If these Rules are inconsistent with the relevant legislation, the legislation prevails.

Eligibility to campaign

8. To be eligible to campaign you must be:
   1. a candidate or a student enrolled in a Murdoch University unit for student elections.
   2. a candidate or a current member of staff for staff elections.
   3. a candidate or a graduate of Murdoch University for graduate of the university elections.

Candidate responsibilities

9. Candidates are responsible for campaign activity and campaign material undertaken, issued or authorised by them or on their behalf.
10. Candidates must take reasonable steps to ensure that persons campaigning on their behalf comply with these Rules.
11. Candidates and campaigners must comply with these Rules and any lawful direction of the Returning Officer.

University neutrality

12. Murdoch University does not support or endorse any candidate, Party or campaign.
13. Candidates and campaigners must not state or imply that they have the support or endorsement of the University.
14. Students who are also University employees must not wear or display anything that identifies them as a University staff member while campaigning.
15. Candidates and campaigners must comply with applicable University legislation, policies and procedures. This includes requirements relating to the use of University systems and resources, online communications, privacy, information security and any other matter relevant to campaign activities.

Campaign material

16. Campaign material must:
    1. identify the candidate who authorised it; and
    2. identify the relevant Party, where applicable.
17. Campaign material must not be unlawful, misleading, defamatory or otherwise inappropriate.
18. The Returning Officer may direct a candidate or campaigner to amend or remove campaign material that does not comply with these Rules.
19. Candidates must not falsely claim membership of a Party.
20. Campaign material may only be displayed from the close of nominations until 4.30pm on the day voting closes.

Online campaigning and University systems

21. Candidates and campaigners may use personal communication channels and social media platforms for campaigning.
22. University-managed communication channels must not be used for campaigning without the permission of the Returning Officer.
23. Candidates are responsible for campaign material issued or authorised by them, regardless of how it is created or distributed.

Campaigning on campus

24. Campaigning and the display of campaign material are permitted only in locations approved by these Rules or by the Returning Officer.
25. Campaign material must not be displayed in a manner that damages University property.
26. Adhesive stickers and chalk must not be used for campaigning.
27. Temporary campaign displays and portable campaign material must be removed at the end of each day.
28. Campaign material displayed on approved pillars must:
    1. be no more than two metres above ground level; and
    2. be attached only with masking tape or blu-tack.
29. At the Murdoch Campus:
    1. the approved campaign area extends along the Bush Court undercroft from Café Kadjininy to The Store and continues to the Student Hub
    2. posters may only be displayed on designated pillars within the approved campaign area.
    3. campaign material must not be attached to the side of pillars facing Bush Court.
    4. mail drops within the Student Village are prohibited.
30. At the Mandurah Campus posters may be displayed in the alfresco area adjacent to Building 101.
31. At the Singapore Campus, campaign material may be displayed only on approved notice boards with the permission of Kaplan management.

Interference with campaigning

32. Candidates and campaigners must not interfere with another candidate's campaign material or campaign activities.

Removal of campaign material

33. Candidates must remove campaign material displayed by them or on their behalf at the conclusion of the campaign period.
34. A candidate may be responsible for reasonable costs incurred by the University in removing campaign material, cleaning affected areas or removing campaign-related litter.

Complaints and breaches

35. Complaints about campaign conduct will be managed in accordance with the legislation governing the relevant election.
36. A breach of these Rules may be dealt with under the relevant election legislation and any other applicable University legislation, policy or procedure.

Administration

37. The Returning Officer may issue directions concerning the interpretation and application of these Rules.
38. The Returning Officer may investigate alleged breaches of the Campaign Rules.
39. Any amendment to these Rules during an election period will be communicated to candidates and, where relevant, eligible voters.

Related University Legislation

• By-Laws
• Statute No. 15 - Elections
• Statute No. 17 - Guild of Students, where applicable
• Election Regulations
• Guild Regulations and Guild Election Regulations, where applicable;
• Student Integrity Regulations, where applicable;
• Staff Code of Conduct, where applicable; and
• any other University legislation, policy or procedure that applies to the candidate, campaigner or campaign activity.