Warwick SU announces that recent election for Welfare and Campaigns Officer “has been declared null and void”

The University of Warwick’s Students’ Union (SU) has announced in a statement that the latest Student Officer Elections for the position of Welfare and Campaigns Officer “has been declared null and void by an external Returning Officer”. 

The statement, released on Tuesday 9 March stated: “One of the candidates [running for the position of Welfare and Campaigns Officer] informed the SU that they would like to withdraw from the election on Monday 22nd February. The SU acknowledged that request the following day, but the candidate was not withdrawn on the system.  

“When votes were counted after 7pm on Friday 26th, it emerged that the withdrawn candidate had received the most votes. In accordance with the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, their votes were re-distributed according to any voting preferences expressed. 

“Following the announcement of the election results, the SU received two challenges to the outcome. Both concerned the fact that students were able to vote for this candidate throughout the week, despite the fact they had announced their withdrawal on the Monday.” 

This means the vacancy will be filled by re-election at the earliest opportunity, in accordance with Bye-Law 2. The Welfare and Campaigns Officer candidates can challenge the Returning Officer’s decision if they would like to do so

– Warwick SU

The Returning Officer and Adjudication Panel, in the interest of transparency, decided that the integrity of the outcome of the vote had been compromised and declared the outcome null and void in accordance with Bye-Law 619. 

The SU added: “This means the vacancy will be filled by re-election at the earliest opportunity, in accordance with Bye-Law 2. The Welfare and Campaigns Officer candidates can challenge the Returning Officer’s decision if they would like to do so.”

In response to the SU’s statement, Charlton Sayer, the previously declared winner for Welfare and Campaigns Officer stated: “This is a serious breach of student trust in democracy. We will absolutely be contesting this decision, and are further considering legal action.” 

He claimed: “The advice we have received is that the Student Union have breached their obligation to ‘fair and properly conducted elections’ under the Education Act 1994 by retrospectively changing the goal posts.

“We will be appealing this decision, and call on the SU to reconsider their ruling, as it damages trust in Student Union democracy. We are further considering legal action,” he concluded.