There's not long left to vote in the Student Elections and you may be wondering what the point is. You might be sick and tired of hearing about them or just generally not interested.
We've compiled a few reasons that students tell us that they haven't voted and hopefully busted some myths for you. Voting could not be easier and the couple of minutes of time that it takes up decides who represents your voice for a whole year.
Voting closes at midday on Friday 4th March.
"I haven't got time and it takes too long."
The voting process is very simple:
- Log in
- Decide on your candidates
- Rank them in order of your preference
Watch our short video to guide you through the process. A couple of minutes of your time to decide who represents you for a whole year is time well spent.
Vote here
"I don't go in the SU so it doesn't affect me."
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Don't go to the SU? Well UPSU is more than just a nightclub, bar, canteen, coffee shop, shop, music venue and event space. It is those things... plus much more.
Even if you don't go into the Students' Union itself if you're part of a society or a sports club, if you volunteer, if you're a Student Rep or have ever spoken to your School, Course or Faculty Rep, if you've ever needed advice about Student Finance or sought to query feedback you've been given by academic staff, you've probably interacted with your Students' Union.
In short, if you're a student at the University of Plymouth then the leaders of your Students' Union do affect you - make sure you have your say by deciding who you feel will do this best.
Vote here
"There's no point in me voting because that candidate's obviously going to win."
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If everyone said that then no one would win. Each and every candidate needs your vote - don't leave it to someone else to choose who represents you.
Vote here
"I'm too busy getting on with my degree to be bothered about student politics."
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Fair enough, your degree should definitely come first but the Students' Union isn't just about having a good night out.
The role of the Sabbatical Officers is to improve the experience of students at the University of Plymouth. This includes your academic experience, your wellbeing while studying and creating opportunities to improve your employability after graduation.
Vote here
"I don't know who to vote for."
Well, it couldn't be easier to find out what each one stands for - read their manifestos on the UPSU website and find out how they're proposing to improve your student experience. You can also watch all the Candidate Speeches here.
Or find them out on campus this week and ask them about what they plan to do for you and why you should vote for them...
Vote here
"I can't sign in to the UPSU website."
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The username and password for the UPSU website are exactly the same as your University one.
Having issues? Check out this article. If this still isn't working for you then drop us an email at login@upsu.com and we'll get back to you as soon as possible - this doesn't need to stop you from using your vote.
Vote here
"I don't agree with what they're saying in their manifestos so I won't bother voting for any of them."
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Use this week to speak to candidates face to face or by messaging them online to find out what they're about. Your feedback could well be very useful to them.
If you really don't agree with any of the candidates for the different roles, consider voting RON (Re-open Nominations). By voting RON you are saying that you don't believe that any of the candidates standing are right for the role but that, very importantly, you are still exercising your right to use your vote. If RON is the most popular “candidate” for a position, nobody is elected into that role and the union will open nominations again.
Vote here
"It doesn't matter who gets in, it won't change anything anyway."
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Sabbatical Officers have the opportunity to make real change. They regularly attend high-level University meetings with top members of University such as the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education & Student Experience and Director of Student Services to discuss the key issues affecting students currently and what to do about them. By voting in the Elections you are deciding who you want to be your voice for the next year so it's crucial you use your opportunity to have your say and vote.
But if you don't see the change you want - part of their job is to listen to your feedback and act on it if it's in the student body's best interest. This is your chance to choose who does that on your behalf.
Vote here
"I don't want to win loads of prizes."
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Said literally no one ever.
This year we're giving out a whole range of prizes from free tea and coffee to a Nintendo Switch. Keep an eye on our social media channels for daily prizes. Plus for the first time ever we're giving students who vote in the Election exclusive access to our next batch of Summer Ball tickets.
Vote here