Elections encounter problems

Controversy has once again overshadowed Guild elections, after voting problems and rulebreaking by candidates disrupted the recent elections in which over 1000 students voted in.

Joint-honours students could only vote for one subject chair, and at least one candidate delayed election results by wrongly canvassing to society mailing lists, Exeposé has learnt.

Language joint-honours students were some of those affected by the voting problems.

Marianne Butler, a first year French and Russian student, was only able to vote for the French subject chair post, despite there being another post for the Russian subject chair.

Marianne complained both to the Guild and University Registry. She said, “I emailed the Guild who told me it was the fault of the University Registry, who told me it was the fault of the Guild.

“Many other Russian students experienced the same problem.”

Russian students were then apparently encouraged to send their votes to Anthony Hampstead, Senior Elections Officer (SOE), instead of voting anonymously online.

Marianne added, “Whether these votes counted, I don’t know.”

Jess Dow, Guild President, told Exeposé that the problems were being dealt with. “The Senior Elections Officer is aware of the problem relating to jointhonours degrees and is looking to alternative arrangements.”

She added, “As far as we know there was one complaint relating to mailing societies and this is being resolved. If anyone knows of anything else please contact the SEO at seo@guild.ex.ac.uk.”

However, Anthony Hampstead claimed he had not heard about the rule-breaking “accusations,” but promised to “investigate” any reported problems.

Marianne was unhappy about the Guild’s initial response to the voting problems. She said, “I find it a shame that the Guild could not acknowledge responsibility when this was clearly their fault.

“The Guild’s principal aim should be to represent us, and modern technology should be used only if it can make this easier, not simply because the Guild feel it is a requirement of the 21st century.”

The Student Elections were held from May 12-16, with 1049 students voting. Four Student Trustee posts were new this year, part of the much-debated and recently passed new Guild constitution.