KCSU Easter Week 2 Motions 2022

Motion to Update Voting Rules

This motion amends voting rules in the Standing Orders to align with the ways voting takes place in practice. 

KCSU Notes:

1. The stated rules in the Standing Orders for elections are not fully aligned with the way KCSU now runs elections.
2. Some parts of the standing orders have not been updated to reflect the transition to online voting.
3. Other rules are simply no longer enforced or applicable.

KCSU Believes:

1. The election system needs to be clear and simple and needs to be consistent in terms of rules and practices to ensure that election results are legitimate and prevent any challenges to election results.

KCSU Resolves:

1. To amend Section I, Article H, Clause 20 of the Standing orders to read: “The voting threshold for any Motion or Ratification shall ordinarily be 25 Members, but shall be 30 Members in the case of Constitutional Amendments, changes to the Standing Orders, Ratification or Amendment of the Budget, or Motions mandating an expenditure over £50.”

2. To amend Section I, Article H, Clause 21 of the Standing Orders to read: “Should a Motion or Ratification fail to meet the voting threshold, then the motion should be once again proposed at the next election. If a threshold is not met twice, the motion should be considered to have failed.”

3. To alter portions of Section IV of the Standing Orders to reflect the way KCSU runs elections currently, specifically to:
4. Amend Article A, Clause 1 to read: “Members of the Exec shall be elected in the fifth week of Michaelmas or Lent Term. KCSU shall administer these elections. Additional elections can take place after any open meetings if no candidate was elected for a particular role at their official election or if a position becomes vacant. In such a case, the elected officer’s term in office will conclude after the Michaelmas Election if they were elected before the previous Lent Election or after the Lent Election if they were elected before the previous Michaelmas Election.” 5. Add Article A, Clause 2 to read: “The positions of Chair, President, and Vice-President should not all be elected at the same time. If all three positions need new elections to take place, one of the outgoing officers should be voted by the exec to continue their role on a temporary basis until the transition for the other two roles is completed. Additionally, the position of Junior Treasurer must be elected in Michaelmas.”

6. Amend Article B, Clause 5 to read: “No candidate or pair may stand for more than one post at any election. Notice of nomination must be given to the Chair by 72 hours before their hustings take place, although at the chair’s discretion, manifestos may be accepted after this time. If no

candidate has applied for a particular position, applications should remain open until hustings take place.”
7. Amend Article B, Clause 7 to read: “Candidates and pairs may submit a manifesto (of no greater than ‘A4’ paper size) to the Chair to be circulated to all Members. Candidates are then free to post their manifestos on social media and send their manifestos to individuals or group chats, but cannot email the KCSU Members or put up any signs in the college. The Exec shall make clear to the candidates the nature and amount of publicity they may circulate. Any candidate breaching these rules may be disqualified. Any complaints candidates have about other candidates should be raised with the Chair or with the Welfare Tutor or Returning Officer.”

8. Amend Article B, Clause 8 to read: “The Chair shall circulate a list of all candidates and pairs (and the respective positions they have been nominated for) to all Members via email within 24 hours of the closing of nominations, along with each candidate’s manifesto.”

9. Add Article D, Clause 19 to read: “Officers who are already in the KCSU may run for different positions in the KCSU. In such a case, they have to resign from their current position, preferably with enough time that their position can be made up for election as well. Other rules about the transition of officer roles and officer vacancies should still apply.”

Proposer: Tom Pugh
Seconder: Maddie Kelly