Elections

Our student elections are held in late February each year; all matriculated students are eligible to stand for election, including postgraduates. There are 61 positions available, including 6 full-time paid sabbatical officers, the SRC and SSC, and school presidents. See the candidates list for more info on each position. If you have any questions, contact saelect@ or the current position holder.

Think someone would be great at a role? Nudge them!

To nominate yourself, visit the elections portal during the February nomination period.

All matriculated students are eligible to vote, including postgraduates; the voting portal will be shown here once voting opens in early March.

Important dates (2021)

All election events will take place online in 2021.

Date	Event	Location
22nd Feb, 9am	Nominations open	Elections portal
25th Feb, 12pm	Sabb candidates meet Proctor	Microsoft Teams
26th Feb, 5pm	Nominations close
26th Feb, 5:30pm	Sabb candidates meeting	Microsoft Teams
27th Feb, 12pm	All candidates meeting	Microsoft Teams
27th Feb, 1pm	Campaigning starts
28th Feb to 2nd Mar, 12-10pm	Councils hustings	TBC
1st Mar, 7:30pm	Sabb candidates question time	TBC
2nd Mar, 5:30pm	Athletic Union President hustings	TBC
2nd Mar, 7:30pm	Sabb candidates debate	TBC
4th Mar, 12:01am	Voting opens	Voting portal
5th Mar, 6pm	Voting closes
5th Mar, 8pm	School President results	TBC
5th Mar, 8:30pm	All other results	TBC

Which voting system is used?

Our elections use the single transferable vote (STV) system. A good explanation of this system is available here.

How are votes counted in School President elections?

Every student has a credit-weighted vote in the School President elections. A first year student who takes a module in History, IR, and Psychology will have three votes, each counting for '20' in the appropriate election. A third year student who takes entirely Biology modules will have one vote counting for '60' in the Biology President election. This also applies to taught postgraduates. Research postgraduates may also vote in School Presidents' elections, with a vote counting for '120'.

Follow the elections on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date information. Watch this video from the last sabb debate to see what candidates get up to during campaign week:

About us

We are here solely for students of the University of St Andrews. We exist to make the student experience as strong as it can be, to provide services for students, and to represent student views to the University and beyond. We are a charity registered in Scotland and we are mostly volunteers, from members of the SRC and SSC to Ents Crew, all the society committee members to the Trustees of our Board.

More about us