There is no getting away from it - elections are competitive. But that should not put you off. Whether you are due to graduate this summer or in the future, your next step will be a competitive one. Remember you got on to your course when others didn’t, for example - you’ve already undertaken one of the most competitive parts of your life.
Running in an election is no less competitive than applying for a job - and there are very similar aspects:
You have to put yourself out there, talk about why you want the role, what you know about the organisation, and what you will bring to the role.
The are two primary differences between an election and a job application:
- You’ll know who else is going for the role
- You can build a team around you to campaign for you and tell everyone how great you are!
In this section we’ve put together all you need to know about running in the election whether you’re running for to be an Officer, Convenor or as a Committee Member.
Campaign Tips
What is a manifesto?
A manifesto is a brief statement presenting a candidate's platform and vision, aiming to persuade voters by outlining their experience, goals, and proposed initiatives for the improvement of the student experience at UEA. Your manifesto is not just a document; it's a manifesto for change, a roadmap that outlines your vision and commitment. Here are some tips to help you draft an impactful manifesto:
Understand the Role
Begin by thoroughly understanding the responsibilities of the role you're running for. This knowledge will serve as the foundation for your manifesto, ensuring that your proposals align with the demands of the position.
Identify Key Issues
Highlight the key issues that matter to your audience. This shows your awareness of their concerns and establishes a connection. Consider incorporating elements from the official job descriptions for added relevance. If you think there is an issue - why not talk to UEA first and get their perspective to help inform how you want to tackle it?
Set Clear Goals
Clearly outline your goals and the steps you'll take to achieve them. Make your promises tangible, measurable, and realistic. A well-defined set of objectives demonstrates your commitment to bringing about real change.
Personalise Your Message
Infuse your personality into the manifesto. Share personal anecdotes, experiences, and values that shape your perspective. This not only humanizes your candidacy but also helps voters connect with you on a deeper level.
Leverage Social Media
Utilise the power of social media platforms to connect with your audience. Craft engaging content, share your manifesto, and actively participate in conversations. Create a digital presence that reflects your personality and campaign message.
Design Eye-catching Posters
Capture attention with visually appealing campaign materials. Create eye-catching posters, banners, and digital graphics that convey your message effectively. A picture is worth a thousand words, and in a campaign, it can leave a lasting impression. Be creative where you put your campaign material - the Hive is not the only place on campus or in Norwich - have a friend with a house on the Avenues?
Organise Creative Events
Move beyond traditional methods by organising unique campaign events. Whether it's a themed rally, a flash mob, or an interactive online challenge, creative events generate buzz and set you apart from the competition.
Campaign Teams
Here's how to maximise the potential of your campaign team:
Build a Diverse Team
Assemble a team with diverse skills and perspectives. Having individuals with various strengths will contribute to a well-rounded campaign strategy.
Clearly Define Roles
Ensure that each team member has a defined role and understands their responsibilities. A clear organisational structure minimises confusion and enhances efficiency.
Regular Communication
Establish open and regular communication channels within your team. A cohesive team relies on effective communication to stay informed and aligned with campaign goals.
Empower and Motivate
Encourage team members to contribute ideas and take ownership of their tasks. Empowerment fosters a sense of dedication, resulting in a motivated team working towards a shared vision.
Remember, your campaign is not just about you—it's about the collective effort of your team working towards a common goal.
Don’t forget, your campaign team are your responsibility. If they do something problematic, you’ll be held accountable.
Designing a poster
You want your poster to be eye catching and to stand out. Remember to include some of your manifesto points on it, as well as a picture of yourself, and a link to the voting site. You can create QR codes online that will take students straight to the voting site if you plan on printing your posters out.
Create branding, including a logo, signature colours and design. Keep it consistent throughout all your content. Using Canva.com is a super easy way to do this - just search 'campaign' or 'election' in the templates folder to get some inspiration.
Have a look at previous years campaign posters on the SU website or google 'student union election poster' for inspiration.
Free poster making software: Canva, PosterMyWall, Adobe Spark, Visme, Stencil, Crello, DesignCap, MyCreativeShop, Piktochart, Microsoft Office
Be aware free software might include watermark.
Watch these videos for tips on designing a good poster:
Making a video
Videos are one of the best ways to get engagement online. Why don't you have a go at making one yourself? There is plenty of software about that makes video editing easy: -
Free video editing software: Lightworks, VideoPad, HitFilm Express, DaVinci Resolve, VSDC Free Video Editor, OpenShot, Shotcut, Blender, Movie Maker 10, iMovie, Magisto, WeVideo
Free video editing apps: Magisto, Hyperlapse, Wondershare FilmoraGo, InShot, WeVideo, Splice, Adobe Premiere Clip, PicPlayPost, Instagram and TikTok
Upload and post videos natively as opposed to sharing a link.
Make use of YouTube tutorials, there’s everything from basic editing to special effects.
Here’s a couple of examples of video editing tutorials:
Social media
You don’t need to use all social media platforms, but it helps to reach as many people as possible. Whatsapp, Facebook and Instagram are best for messaging, but you can use other social media platforms like TikTok to create additional content. The aim of using social media is not just to create a brand, but ultimately to get students to vote for you!
- Make use of social media scheduling tools to plan posts ahead of time.
- Free social media scheduling tools: Buffer, Hootsuite, TweetDeck, SocialOomph, Friends+Me, Followerwonk, Zoho Social
- Facebook - Create a page, share in major open groups (check guidelines of each group), share on personal profile.
- Instagram - Create a profile, utilise stories as well as feed, interact with other accounts to increase visibility. Use stickers to do Q&A's and other interactive features.
- Twitter - Create a profile, create a hashtag for your campaign which should match your campaign slogan, interact with other accounts.
- TikTok - Easy to go viral, hop on a trend but make it relevant to your campaign. Quick and easy to make your own videos.
- WhatsApp – Use Whatsapp groups to post about your campaign but remember to follow the group guidelines or ask permissions of the admins first!
Here’s a checklist of ideas, based on what people have done in the past, on how to win without being on campus or having the time to do lots of campaigning, together with how long it should take to do each one:
- Have you spoken to friends and asked them to be on your campaign team, or to endorse you on social media? (30 minutes)
- Have you gotten friends to share your posts & event on Facebook? (5 minutes)
- Have you set up a Facebook event for your campaign and invited lots of students? (10 minutes)
- Have you scheduled posts on the Facebook event, so you do not have to constantly keep updating on the go? (45 minutes)
- Have you filmed a campaign video? (around 1 hour)
- Have you posted a link to your manifesto/video in a UEA Facebook group? (2 minutes)
- Have you written a crowd rousing manifesto that gets your message across, clearly and concisely? (30 minutes)
- Create FAQs so you can quickly refer to this when any questions, online or in person are asked. This will also help your campaign team to respond to questions on your behalf (2 minutes)
- Have you created a professional and eye-catching banner and hung it around campus? (2 hours)
Remember though, the more innovative and unique you are, the better. If you have a creative idea that's not listed here, do use it - as long as you stick to the election rules
Links and resources
Budget tips Manifesto tips Generational change Email us