Accessibility Tools
Sign in
Click to Search Click to Search

LJMU Staff Guidance

Supporting Fair & Democratic JMSU Officer Elections

The JMSU Officer Elections are an important part of student democracy. They give students the opportunity to shape the direction of their Students’ Union and represent their peers.

Find out more about the JMSU Elections.

LJMU staff role is vital in ensuring the process is fair, transparent and supportive for everyone involved. This guidance outlines what that looks like in practice.

Candidates are given a comprehensive Candidate’s Briefing on following the Elections Rules & Regulations, relevant LJMU policies and processes such as the Student Code of Conduct, and the Law.

Remaining Neutral

Our elections are an important opportunity for students to have their voices heard and to feel confident in a fair, inclusive democratic process. Staff play a vital role in supporting this by creating a neutral and supportive environment where all candidates are treated equally and students are free to make their own choices.

Even well-intentioned support can unintentionally influence students or create perceptions of unfairness. If a student asks for your endorsement, it’s completely appropriate to explain that you need to remain neutral to protect the democratic process across the student body.

You can still encourage students to engage in the elections, just not to vote for anyone specific.

Maintaining Neutrality

To protect the integrity of the elections for all students involved we would encourage you to:

  • Not endorse or publicly support any candidate.
  • Not provide written or verbal testimonials for candidates.
  • Not promote individual candidates on university communication channels (e.g. email lists, lecture time, social media accounts).
  • Not give candidates preferential access to teaching spaces or platforms.

Coursework Extensions for Candidates

We have a long-standing partnership with the University to support students who choose to stand in the elections. As part of this commitment, students standing in the officer elections are entitled to extensions on coursework and assessments (excluding exams) during the campaigning and voting period.

This can be checked by emailing the JMSU Elections Team or by viewing the Candidates Reveal webpage.

The campaigning period will take place from Monday 16th March for two weeks, with voting commencing on Monday 23rd March. Results will be announced on Friday 27th March.

This means candidates can feel comfortable requesting extensions at any point during this period, and we would really appreciate your support for candidates during this time.

What this means for academic staff

  • Extensions should be granted in line with this entitlement.
  • Students should follow the usual extension request process and give as much notice as possible.
  • Requests should be handled consistently across candidates.
  • JMSU can be contacted to help provide evidence if needed.

This provision exists so that students can participate in democratic representation without being academically disadvantaged.

Campaigning in Teaching Spaces

To help protect teaching time and ensure all students can focus on their learning, campaigning is not permitted in teaching spaces, lectures, seminars, or most study areas. This helps avoid disruption and ensures a fair and consistent experience across campus.

If campaigning takes place in academic spaces:

  • Politely ask the student to stop.
  • Direct them to the Elections Team for clarification.
  • Raise any concerns with the Deputy Returning Officer.

Candidate Wellbeing

We always aim to prioritise candidates' wellbeing. However, we understand that the elections journey can be stressful for candidates and their campaign teams. We encourage candidates to focus on self-care, rely on support networks, and seek support where there are concerns around mental health and wellbeing.

Supporting a Positive Democratic Culture

Our elections are an important part of student life, and staff play a valuable role in helping students feel confident to take part. While remaining neutral, you are warmly encouraged to:

  • Remind students of key voting dates.
  • Encourage them to look at candidate manifestos so they can make informed choices.
  • Reassure students that voting is confidential and conducted by secret ballot.
  • Signpost any questions or voting issues to the Elections Team.

Supporting student participation is always welcome and appreciated. The only boundary is that support should be for the democratic process itself — not for any individual candidate.

If you are ever unsure, or have any concerns, please contact the JMSU Elections Team before acting. We appreciate your support in helping create a positive and fair election experience for our students.