AUTSA improves on last year’s disastrous SRC election

By David Williams (he/him)

The number of students running for Student Representative Council roles has risen from last year’s record low. This year, there are 29 candidates running for 17 roles, which leaves only two roles vacant - contrast that with last year’s election, where AUTSA had seven vacant positions. It meant there were no representatives for the following faculties: Business, Economics and Law, Health and Environmental Sciences, Te Ara Poutama, as well as the North and South Campuses. It also left the Māori Affairs Officer and Postgraduate Affairs Officer roles vacant. This was by far the lowest turnout in recent years - 2020 saw 103 candidates running for all but one position and in 2019, there were 51 candidates and only three vacant roles. This year, a combined 12 candidates are running for these roles. The biggest improvements are City Campus Representative, which has ten candidates in the running - six more than last year, and Student Wellbeing Officer, which has eight candidates - three more than last year. Last year, Macauley Cunningham was elected unopposed to the role of Vice President - Academic, but this year there are eleven candidates contesting that position. Only five positions in this year's campaign received one nomination, meaning the candidates are automatically elected to the role.

This year, a combined 12 candidates are running for these roles. The biggest improvements are City Campus Representative, which has ten candidates in the running - six more than last year, and Student Wellbeing Officer, which has eight candidates - three more than last year. Last year, Macauley Cunningham was elected unopposed to the role of Vice President - Academic, but this year there are eleven candidates contesting that position. Only five positions in this year's campaign received one nomination, meaning the candidates are automatically elected to the role.

Two of those roles - Mature Students Officer and Disability Affairs Officer - could be left vacant if the sole candidate is elected into another position.The only roles where no candidates are nominated are Te Ara Poutama Faculty Representative and Postgraduate Affairs Officer.

Online voting will begin Monday 19th September 2022 and will close at 5pm on Friday 30th September 2022.

All eligible students will receive an email with a link to an online voting account. If you do not receive an email link: first check your spam folder, then contact the AUTSA elections team.