elections - WHAT DO YOU WANT?

[Elections Officer]

Ok I will start by admitting that the running of these elections hasn't been entirely perfect. It has been a steep learning curve for me and if given the chance I shall endeavour to do better.

That said, a lot has been said on many threads about what you all want. This thread is to consolidate all these ideas.

Tell me here what you would like in an ideal world and I will try my best to get some of the things done. I admit it rpobably won't be electronic voting by April but give me the ideas and I will look into them.

Arabella
Senior Elections Officer

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Election Officers Committee
University of St Andrews Students' Association
St Mary's Place
St Andrews
KY16 9UZ

[DrAlex]

*Candidates' 100 words available online (and very well publicised)
*Edit: And/or Heckling Minutes
*The Rules made available and clear to candidates and public alike
*Tasers for the voting public (to ward off the campaigners and their attempts to flier you)


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"Listen to DrAlex."-Polli
http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37100343

[Darth Fanboy]

1. Extended and more prominent advertising, both for the existence of the elections, the opening up for candidates as well as the actual “vote me” stage. As it was, it was quite possible to be unaware of the existence of the elections, let alone the isues and policies involved, unles you happened to be passing the Union on poling day (which a good many people don't do, such as Chemists who live in DRA).

2. Put the candidates’ 100 words for the appropriate year up on the Sinner, rather than last year’s. Similarly, make them available prominently on the Union site, on a notice board in the Union and, if possible, on the University website proper.

3. Put a definition of the role of each position up in the same place. If nobody knows what a DoSDA does, nobody’s going to care who gets the job.

4. Similarly to the second post, give people more warning of the hecklings and such (admittedly I wouldn’t have gone anyway due to a splitting headache, but that’s not the point).

5. If you can’t get electronic voting going, which you really should be able to do, at least get new ballot boxes you can fit the paper in to more easily.

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Nobody wants to read about a single mom trying to raise a kid and keep a job. People want to read about explosions, monsters, and exploding monsters.

Ever had a day when you saw someone being torn apart in a zombie movie and you envy them?

[Midget]

Quoting DrAlex from 13:32, 20th Mar 2006
*Candidates' 100 words available online (and very well publicised)

100 lies, you can say anything, its only 100 words it doesn't really differentiate the candidates that much. Plus they were very much available, at the hecklings, in the general office, were they not online on the sinner?

*The Rules made available and clear to candidates and public alike

The rules booklet was given to all candidates, they are clear, it mentioned facebook very clearly, hence I avoided facebook, until all the other candidates were actively campaigning on it, so I went and saw Arabella, and found out how far I could go on facebook. Its up to the candidate to check with election officers before they do something stupid, its commonsense. The public could have easily have got hold of the rules from the general office.

*Tasers for the voting public (to ward off the campaigners and their attempts to flier you)

Tasers??? (what are tasers?) I love the hypocrisy, you want publicity readily available BUT you don't like it when candidates actively campaign for your vote on election day. Would you rather candidates didn't do anything on election day, there'd be ahuge turn-out then methinks.

This is just my take on it. There are pros and cons to a short election period, I personally think the candidates and public would run out of patience if it went on any longer.

I do love all the energy thats gone into criticising the elections, perhaps if you'd got your heads in gear last week you could have used a bit of that energy to get hold of the information, contact the candidates on the sinner, or heaven forbid campaign for a candidate you felt should win.

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IMAGE:img9.imgspot.com/u/04/241/18/160019.jpg Fall and Ruin: Candidate Ewin
http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37100090

[DrAlex]

Quoting Midget from 13:46, 20th Mar 2006
Plus they were very much available, at the hecklings, in the general office, were they not online on the sinner?

They weren't online, and this is the first I've heard that they were available anywhere besides the polling stations (although I was not provided, or even offered a booklet at PandA). Thus, better publicised...

The rules booklet was given to all candidates, they are clear...

I didn't know that, and assumed that they must not have been clear since many of the candidates seem to have been violating them.

Tasers??? (what are tasers?)

heh heh that was a joke...A taser is an electronic stun gun, some of which deliver 12000+ volts.

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"Listen to DrAlex."-Polli
http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37100343

[Midget]

I didn't know that, and assumed that they must not have been clear since many of the candidates seem to have been violating them.

You're right a candidate would never knowingly break a rule in a student election.


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IMAGE:img9.imgspot.com/u/04/241/18/160019.jpg Fall and Ruin: Candidate Ewin
http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37100090

[box_of_delights]

A big turn off for many people is being attacked (for want of a better term) on our way into the union or library on polling day by desperate last ditch attempts to get our vote. Not only does that in itself put people off voting when you have a million and one desperados shoving pamphlets in your hand and expecting you to vote for them because you met them a couple of times... but it also itself proves that there can't be a very good system in place if the majority of "people-to-people" campaigning takes place hours before the ballot boxes close. As most people I know, I wasn't aware the elections were actually taking place on Friday, until said attack occurred as I was desperately trying to get into the building to print off my essay. I don't agree with people abstaining from voting in elections usually, but my rush to get my work done and being totally pissed off with having screaming campaign managers pushing their faces and fliers in front of me made me think "sod it".

As has been suggested above:

* Have some formal set-up that allows the candidates' positions, descriptions of, their 100 words etc. available long before the polling day, whether it be online or presented in some other formal capacity AND MADE EASILY AVAILABLE OR GIVEN TO US! Most of us can't be arsed going to the General Office or somewhere else to actually collect said literature. Unless one has a very instense and unhealthy interest in union politics, most of us won't bother making too much of an effort for something that should really be coming to US if our vote is expected. As it happens, the best service available to voters was given by The Saint in their election feature, published the day before voting opened, and an article I didn't get to read until the weekend.

* Better publicising of the hecklings and whatever formal malarky goes along with these elections... most people don't seem to know what happened when/where or more importantly WHY it all goes on.

* Get rid of the whole campaign day stuff outside the library... it's intimidating, annoying and unecessary. If the election system was running smoothly enough it wouldn't be a necessary evil. The general "dead-ness" of the lib on Friday is testament to the numbers who stay away on election day. People avoiding the throng outside the library will thus be deliberately avoiding the ballot boxes IN the library. It's almost like a test of endurance to see who can make it unscathed through the crowd and plaquards to actually cast a vote!

Sorry, it's a rant, but it's ironic that some people who would vote and perhaps want to vote, but won't because of lack of information etc.

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http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37101440

[Midget]

Get rid of the whole campaign day stuff outside the library... it's intimidating, annoying and unecessary. If the election system was running smoothly enough it wouldn't be a necessary evil. The general "dead-ness" of the lib on Friday is testament to the numbers who stay away on election day. People avoiding the throng outside the library will thus be deliberately avoiding the ballot boxes IN the library. It's almost like a test of endurance to see who can make it unscathed through the crowd and plaquards to actually cast a vote!

But you want the elections to be publicised, and the candidates to engage with the voters. Its all very well saying you were intimidated, but would you rather noone knew there was an election on, as has happened in years where candidates did less outside the library. You loved my pretty balloon arch really.

It does I admit become a bit of a nuclear arms race between candidates, but there's very little you could do to stop it happening realistically.

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IMAGE:img9.imgspot.com/u/04/241/18/160019.jpg Fall and Ruin: Candidate Ewin
http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37100090

[atreus]

Quoting Midget from 13:46, 20th Mar 2006

*The Rules made available and clear to candidates and public alike

The rules booklet was given to all candidates, they are clear... Its up to the candidate to check with election officers before they do something stupid, its commonsense. The public could have easily have got hold of the rules from the general office.

As can be seen with facebook, however, the canidates are no longer in full control of what their supporters will do. Thus, if the rules were online and easily accessible, canidates could distribute the rules to their supporters much more easily by forwarding them to the address. Hence, canidates would not be able to claim that it was difficult for them to tell their entire team about the rules. While you may not have encountered this problem, Seth, hopefully any 'rule' knowledge problems others might claim can be avoided in the future. It should be noted that we are not trying to excuse any action of any canidate who may or may not have breached some rules during the last campaign.

[Dave the Explosive Newt]

1. Online voting.

2. Publicity - just go nuts. Posters everywhere. Halls, the union (especially those big billboards outside), departments, etc etc. Class reps to notify their classes via email. A stepping up needs to occur for both the election itself and the availability of positions.*

3. 100 words to be available online, and this to be publicised in the publicity.

4. Facebook etc no longer to be regulated. A well-meaning friend could send the whole system awry.

*Caveat here is that I don't think publicity of the elections per se is the major factor in encouraging people to vote, more publicity of the union's representative activities in general, which is more of an SRC issue.

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It has been brought to my attention that certain people refer to me as a legend. Should you meet one of these people, maintain a safe distance and telephone the police. Under no circumstances attempt to deal with them by yourself.

[DrAlex]

Quoting Dave the Explosive Newt from 17:43, 20th Mar 2006
4. Facebook etc no longer to be regulated. A well-meaning friend could send the whole system awry.

At the same time, however, we could be opening ourselves up to unbelievable amounts of spam from people messaging the members of groups to solicit votes...

[hr]

"Listen to DrAlex."-Polli
http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37100343

[Cain]

Quoting Darth Fanboy from 13:37, 20th Mar 2006
3. Put a definition of the role of each position up in the same place. If nobody knows what a DoSDA does, nobody’s going to care who gets the job.

incidentally, nobody does know what the DoSDA does.

as for what election officers can do, Rennie and I took over a PSM lecture last year discussing how, no matter how much candidates and the Association do to publicise elections or make them accessible, you still have to deal with people who don't know, don't care and don't want to go outside.

A lot of people resent that the only time that they get a chance to participate in the running of the association is election time; the candidates seem distant because the incumbents shut themselves off from the electorate once they're in.

as for being mobbed outside the library; i've campaigned there twice. It's a rotten job as not only do you see people crumple up your campaign material without even a passing glance at what it is, but by the time polls close, you feel your self respect ebbing away as you chase a few more people who just might vote for your candidate.



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I hold an element of surprise

[Legion]

More fun please.

Allow the candidates freer reign to do what they want. As long as it isn't illegal and doesn't breach the peace or cause a public nuisance, I think it should be fair game.
Yes, the rules are there to help level the playing field so it's not about who has the most money, but please don't stifle creativity!

Online voting would be a boon - you could send out an email reminder and have hundreds of votes instantly. With links from a union page to all the info needed about positions, candidates etc, it would be a much better system, and everyone could be informed of all the facts, without any of the "bother" of campaigning. Frankly though, I don't mind the campaigning - at least it shows that the people in question are keen to do the job they're standing for.

[exnihilo]

Campaigning in halls. This has become all but non-existent in recent years. I understand why speeches are not welcomed at meals and why flyering of rooms is discouraged, but it would be perfectly possible for each hall to alloacate a time in campaign week in which candidates could come to their common room and meet the residents of that hall. Controlled campaigning.

And for those not in halls, why not have a time slot in the Union. Candidates mingling with the electorate in a more relaxed atmosphere than hecklings. Candidates could give out election material, chat to people, answer questions. Put on some drinks promos, whatever it takes to get people in. Fewer rules to "protect" the electorate and insulate them from the elections and more effort to include them.

[Lodestone]

I agree with almost everything everyone has said, but would add clearer instructions on ballot papers.

And, as a store for all election-related material, an elections website full of information about how the whole thing works. Keeping it would save on redoing everything every year, too.

[exnihilo]

Indeed, as I suggested on the electoral reform thread. A dedicated election site would be very useful and could contain the relevant info on WHAT each post is - year round - as well as WHO was standing when the elections roll around. It would also simplify asking of questions about elections, and make it easier to get information about rules, how to get nominated etc to more people and not just the usual suspects.

[Ben Reilly]

Quoting DrAlex from 17:57, 20th Mar 2006

Quoting Dave the Explosive Newt from 17:43, 20th Mar 2006
4. Facebook etc no longer to be regulated. A well-meaning friend could send the whole system awry.

At the same time, however, we could be opening ourselves up to unbelievable amounts of spam from people messaging the members of groups to solicit votes...

Let them. If the spam pisses you off, do not vote for the person sending it.

[Lodestone]

I love how this thread has unified Sinners.

[Guest]

Quoting Ben Reilly from 19:26, 20th Mar 2006
Let them. If the spam pisses you off, do not vote for the person sending it.

What have you done in your two years to help the situation?

[Ben Reilly]

Quoting from 19:37, 20th Mar 2006

Quoting Ben Reilly from 19:26, 20th Mar 2006
Let them. If the spam pisses you off, do not vote for the person sending it.

What have you done in your two years to help the situation?

Regarding Facebook?