Voting kicks off for 2025 Spring Officer Elections – Everything you need to know

Voting has kicked off in the Warwick Students’ Union (SU) Spring Officer Elections, with a wide range of candidates taking their campaigns onto campus to win election to the SU.

In the lead-up to this, candidates were revealed on 24 February, followed by a week of campaigning, pinning posters, attending Question Time events, and interviews. Once the rush of campaigning concludes, students will be able to cast their vote and choose their SU representatives for the 2025/26 academic year. 

This year over 50 candidates are standing for the various positions

A total of 14 positions are up for election, split between full-time and part-time officer roles. This year over 50 candidates are standing for the various positions. 

The full-time positions for the year 2025/26 include: President, Education, Democracy and Development, Postgraduate, Welfare and Campaigns, Societies and Sport. These roles require a year-long commitment from August to July. The officers will lead the Students’ Union and provide their services for the benefit of the student community. This is a paid opportunity, with the salary for these positions starting at over £27,000.  

The part-time officer positions are unpaid, but they provide an important platform for advocacy and representation of the student body. The part-time positions for the year 2025/26 include: Disabled Students’ Officer, Environment and Ethics Officer, Ethnic Minorities Officer, LGBTQUIA+ Officer, Trans Students’ Officer, Widening Participation Officer, Women’s Officer, and two International Student Officers (EU and non-EU). 

The SU’s infamous slogan “Make Your Mark!” encourages candidates to participate and push for meaningful change – yet this change has sometimes been deemed not enough.  

Students are looking for more transparency from the SU, so candidates should look at making democratic processes more easily understandable

SU election candidate

One upcoming SU election candidate shared: “Students are looking for more transparency from the SU, so candidates should look at making democratic processes more easily understandable, and there should be more support for people submitting motions.” 

One of the biggest concerns for the student body is mitigating the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on student lives and the university experience. 

Enaya Nihal, the outgoing SU President, acknowledged these widespread financial struggles: “Students are still suffering massively, where over half the students work part-time to be able to afford to live.”  

The Boar asked Enaya about what she hoped to see from incoming candidates.

She believed that: “It is important for candidates to work not just within the union, but also with other unions to build national relationships. This year’s work with the Renters’ Rights Bill is an example of real, material change. Student rights are more protected as a result.” 

Last year, less than 15% of the student population cast a vote for a candidate for SU president

For many students, there can feel like a sense of disconnect between them and the processes by which their representation in the SU is elected. Last year, less than 15% of the student population cast a vote for a candidate for SU president. 

Others argue that the SU needs to do more to address genuine student issues. 

“The ongoing issue of public transport in the area needs to be better dealt with,” raised Jasper, a third-year student. He added: “The delayed buses in conjunction with the never-ending roadworks need to be looked at. The SU officers need to make commuting to campus easier than it has been in past years.” 

Amid the rush and deadlines of the second term at Warwick, it’s easy to let the entire process pass unnoticed. To combat this, the SU candidates will be going around campus and using social media to engage with as much of the student body as possible. 

Voting opened at 9:00 on Monday 3 March 2025. When casting a vote in person, students will be able to receive a token for the SU-run coffee outlet Curiositea in return.