Here is a 9 step guide to standing for election…

1. Decide which position you are going to run for and talk to the person currently holding the job. A list of upcoming elections and their criteria is usually published in This Week, the JCR newsletter, and will also be publicised in emails.
2. See if you fit the criteria. Some JCR positions have certain conditions of candidature restricting who can be elected (i.e. Liver-in/Liver-out, Male/Female etc.). If in doubt email the JCR Vice-Chair to find out.
3. Find two upstanding members of the JCR to propose and second you.
4. If you are standing for an important role, you may have to produce a manifesto. This should be displayed in the Bailey Room and is meant to tell the JCR why you’d be good in that position, what your experience is, and what you’d like to achieve whilst in the role. A manifesto must:
   1. Contain your name and the names of you proposer and seconder.
   2. Include the title of the position and the date of election.
   3. Be less than 250 words.
   4. Not refer to any other candidates.
   5. Be complete 24hrs before the JJCR meeting of election.
   6. Been checked and signed by one of the Chair, the Vice-Chair, the President, the Treasurer, or the Communications Officer.
5. Turn up at the JCR meeting at which the position is elected (wearing a gown!). If you can’t make the meeting you must send your apologies to the Chair in advance and ensure your proposer is there on your behalf.
6. At the election itself you may have to give a ‘hust’, a short speech telling the JCR why you’d be good at the role and what you can offer to the post. If you are absent then your proposer must hust in your place. If you are standing for a manifesto position or in a contested election you will definitely have to hust, but in other elections you may not have to hust - although any JCR member can request that you do, so be prepared!
7. After husting, the JCR can question you. A useful tip to prepare is to speak to the person currently holding your role, and by looking through the minutes of past JCR meetings (which are available on the JCR website) to see what questions have been asked of past holders of the job.
8. Voting. If the election is contested or is a manifesto position, you will leave the room and the JCR will vote by show of hands. If many people contest the election the JCR will vote by STV (single transferable vote) paper ballot at the end of the meeting. All elections contain a vote for R.O.N. – Re Open Nominations, a signal that the JCR does not approve any candidates and wants the nominations reopened. If the election is unopposed and non-manifesto, the JCR can vote by general aye to allow you to take up the post with no opposition.
9. Counting. The votes will be counted and the winner informed by the Vice-Chair, who is the Senior Returning Officer. All winners take up the post immediately unless you are elected at the last meeting of term, when you will take up responsibility at the beginning of the holidays.

Presidential and Executive Committee positions have special conditions and procedures attached to them. For more information on standing for those, please speak to the JCR Vice-Chair or Chair.