UMSU Annual Election 2026
This year's elections will be held in-person via electronic attendance polling. Learn why.
For information about when and where to vote, see below.
Annual elections will be held in September to elect leaders and representatives who will be in charge of UMSU in 2027.
Table of contents
Results
An update on the count is available:
How counting works: There are two types of positions: single member (one person elected) and multi-member (7 or 15 people elected). For single member positions, we tally up all the “1” votes. If someone has more than half the votes, they’re declared elected. If no-one does, the candidate with the least votes is excluded and votes for them are redistributed according to voters’ preferences. The process continues until one candidate has more than half the votes.
For multi-member positions, we calculate a “quota” as (total votes ÷ (number of positions + 1) ). A candidate needs a quota of votes to be elected. We tally all the “1” votes. If no candidate has more than a quota, the candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and votes for them are redistributed according to voters’ preferences. If a candidate has more than a quota, they are declared elected. Their votes are then redistributed according to voters’ preferences, however, the value of the redistributed votes is reduced by how much of the vote is “used up” electing the candidate (for example, if quota is 10 votes and a candidate gets 15 votes, then two-thirds of the vote is “used up” and each redistributed vote carries only one-third of its value to the next candidate).
This is a summary of the full process, details of which (including how affirmative action applies for some positions) may be found in the Electoral Regulations.
Reporting on unofficial results can be found in Farrago.
How to vote
Polling has closed. No late votes can be accepted.
List of nominations
A provisional list of nominations is now available.
Note that the list is in ballot paper order.
Nominations (how to be a candidate)
Nominations closed at 12noon on Friday, 14th August 2026. No late nominations can be accepted.
More information for candidates is available and we encourage you to read it carefully. This includes critical information for all candidate supplied by UMSU, information about the mandatory induction, a summary of the eligibility requirements for specific positions, information about tickets, links to election forms, guidance for candidate photos and other information of interest to candidates.
Tickets
A group of fifteen or more members seeking election on a common platform may apply to register a ticket name and be set out on the ballot under the ticket’s name.
Information about tickets, including the form for registering a ticket, is available on the candidate information page.
Timetable
The election timetable will be updated throughout the election period.
- Monday, 27th July
- Formal notice of elections given
- Opening of nominations
- Opening of ticket registration
- Opening of postal vote registration
- 6.30pm, Tuesday 4th August
- 12noon, Friday 14th August
- Deadline: close of nominations, including conflict of position form
- Deadline: close of ticket registrations
- Note these deadlines are written into the Electoral Regulations strictly and therefore cannot be extended.
- 11.59pm, Monday 17th August
- Deadline: changes to policy statements
- Deadline: candidate photograph submission
- Deadline: ticket “order of candidates” forms
- 11.59pm, Thursday 3rd September
- Close of timely applications for electronic postal votes
- Monday 7th September – Friday 11th September
- Polling week
- 5pm, Wednesday 9th September: close of late postal vote applications for most categories
Turnout
- Monday 7 September: 703
- Tuesday 8 September: 1,141 (running total: 1,844)
- Wednesday 9 September: 784 (running total: 2,628)
- Thursday 10 September: 897 (running total: 3,525)
- Friday 11 September: 1,048 (running total: 4,573)
Rulings of the Returning Officer
Notice of Election
Notice is given as of 12noon, Monday 27 July of the 2026 University of Melbourne Student Union annual elections. (Forms submitted before this time will be taken to have been received at the moment notice is given.) This annual election also incorporates by-elections for casual vacancies for the 2026 term of office.
The election will be held from the 7th–11th September, 2026.
List of positions
The following positions are open for election.
Officer positions
- President
- General Secretary
- Education (Academic Affairs) Officer
- Education (Public Affairs) Officer
- Welfare Officer
- Women’s Officer
- Creative Arts Officer
- Activities Officer
- Queer Officer
- Environment Officer
- Media Officers
- Clubs & Societies Officer
- Indigenous Officer
- Disabilities Officer
- People of Colour Officer
Students’ Council — voting representatives
- General representative (15 to elect)
- Representative for Graduate Students
- Representative for Indigenous Students
- Representative for International Students
- Representative for Queer Students
- Representative for Students of Colour
- Representative for Students with Disabilities
- Representative for Southbank Students
Committee members
Each committee elects 7 members.
- Activities Committee
- Creative Arts Committee
- Disabilities Committee
- Education Committee
- Environment Committee
- Indigenous Committee
- People of Colour Committee
- Queer Committee
- Welfare Committee
- Women’s Committee
Southbank campus positions
- Southbank Students Campus Co-ordinator
- Southbank Activities Officer
- Southbank Education Officer
- Southbank Students Committee (7 to elect)
Burnley campus positions
- Burnley Campus Co-ordinator
- Burnley Students Committee (7 to elect)
National Union of Students
- National Union of Students delegate (7 to elect)
2026 Byelection
Note: These positions are 2026 positions that are vacant. Successful candidates will fill the positions for the remainder of the 2026 term of office (until 30 November 2026).
- Burnley Committee (at least 4 to elect)
A list of positions, role descriptions, and current officeholders is also available.
Election regulations
The election takes place under the auspices of the UMSU Constitution, Regulations, policy and procedures, in particular, the Electoral Regulations.
Returning Officer
The Returning Officer is responsible for managing the election. In 2026, UMSU has appointed Stephen Luntz of Above Quota Elections as Returning Officer. Patrick Clearwater has been appointed as Deputy Returning Officer.
Complaints: complaints about the conduct of the elections, or the candidates in it, can be made to the Returning Officer (below).
Office hours
Now the election has finished, we no longer have regular office hours (or an office). We’re available by appointment.
Note: We don’t have an office or regular hours on the Southbank, Burnley, Werribee or other campuses, but can attend by appointment if needed. Please contact us below.
Contact details
The best contact for the Returning Officer is returningofficer@union.unimelb.edu.au. If you wish to contact a specific official, see below.