1. REFERENDUMN BRIEFING

2. REFERENDA PROCESS A Referendum is a direct vote in which the entire electorate is invited to accept or reject a particular proposal. In this case the "entire electorate" is all members of the Union of Brunel Students. How to pass a Referendum? In order for the proposal to be accepted:  at least 5% of Union members will need to cast their vote.  at least half the votes cast will need to be in favour of your proposal, or,  at least two-thirds of the votes cast will need to be in favour of your proposal if you're petitioning for a change to our Constitution, or a Vote of No Confidence against a Student Officer to remove them from their position.  Abstentions count towards quoracy but do not count on either side for the purposes of determining the majority decision.

3. THE RULES ERC is responsible for ensuring the free and fair conduct of the referenda by all campaigners, and will interpret actions in breach of our values as a disciplinary offence.  We will not allow:  Unfair campaigning  Using stickers  Creating a litter nuisance with campaign materials  Intimidating, cajoling, badgering or otherwise unfairly imposing themselves on students or other campus users  Breaching fire or health and safety regulations  Placing any form of campaign materials in areas other than expressly agreed (and communicated) between the University and the Students Union in advance

4. THE RULES CONT. ERC seeks to ensure that every vote received is the positive will of the individual. Therefore it will take action against any campaigner who;  Uses another students ID in order to cast a vote  Attempts to influence a student who is in the process of voting  Accompanies a student to the “ballot area”* and seeks to advise or otherwise encourage the individual to vote in a certain way. (*in the situation of online voting this can include any indication that a campaigner is alongside and communicating to a student who is viewing an voting page on any internet enabled device)  Otherwise seeks an advantage through the manipulation or influence of students, their ID, or their access to the voting pages. http://brunelstudents.com/howitworks/referenda/informationforcampaigners /

5. OFFICERS CAMPAIGNING The referendum is considered part of the sabbatical officers’ role as political leaders as such they can campaign for either side of the referendum campaign. This means they would receive their pay as usual, without needing to take annual leave or work outside their contracted hours. Officers are still expected to perform any necessary, expected duties governed by our normal framework of local bylaws and working relationships as they would throughout the rest of the year.

6. COMPLAINTS  Complaints regarding the conduct of any candidate’s campaign must be submitted, in writing to ERC via Rebecca Davies.  Complaints about campaigning need to be received prior to the count  The Returning Officer is Alison Chappell, NUS’s Deputy CEO. Their decision is final.

7. EXPENSES  Each campaign has a budget of £200, this will be provided by the Union.  Printing can be ordered through the Union and any additional expenditure will need to be claimed back.  Receipts must be provided at all times, and you will charged the total cost of the items used (nominal costs will not exist in this campaign).

8. PUBLICITY LOCATIONS  There are a range of publicity locations where campaigners can place their YES and No campaign publicity.  We are seeking permission for more areas – once we have the go ahead you will be informed

9. ALLOWED PUBLICITY LOCATIONS  Hamilton Centre hallways  Wall behind the pool table and access ramp  Areas clearly marked and designated in academy

10. ALLOWED PUBLICITY LOCATIONS  Lecture centre external pillars  Internal pillars  External non moving glass on the lift shaft  1 st floor vending area  Windows of ground floor computer room  Stairwells

11. ALLOWED PUBLICITY LOCATIONS  John crank – external non glass panels and windows in glazed walkway facing the quad  Outside the Bannerman centre of pillars

12. OUT-OF-BOUNDS PUBLICITY LOCATIONS  Fire Doors  Lecture centre ground floor foyer glass  Any where in Bannerman centre including the library

13. OUT-OF-BOUNDS PUBLICITY LOCATIONS  Toilets  External glass areas of Hamilton centre  Nowhere in atrium  Yard Bird  Social kitchen

14. HOW VOTING WORKS The Question: Do you support the proposed new democratic structure of the Union of Brunel Students? Student can vote Yes or No on this proposal www.brunelstudents.com/vote

15. DEBATE Eastern Gateway Auditorium– Wednesday 26 th November 2014, 6pm  Question time style with a panel and chair  3 speakers form each side required  Presentation on proposal will be given  No personal attacks, based on the proposal only.

16. TIMELINE Campaigning starts – 17th November, 10am Voting – 24th November, Midday until 5th December, 4pm Debate - 26th November, 6pm – Eastern Gateway Auditorium Results – 5th December, 6pm – LOCOS