Elections
UMSU Returning Officer — Expressions of Interest Sought
The University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU) is seeking expressions of interest for the appointment of a Returning Officer for the conduct of its Annual Election, with polling to commence on Monday 1 September and conclude on Friday 5 September, 2025.
A by-election is also required for positions on the Burnley Students’ Committee, the Activities Committee, and is to be held in April at a date to be determined. The by-election may include positions on the Indigenous Committee, and the position of Burnley Campus Coordinator. Additional casual vacancies may also occur which would be subject to a by-election either in April or at the same time as the Annual Election.
The Annual Election is regulated by the UMSU Constitution and UMSU Electoral Regulations, both of which are available at https://umsu.unimelb.edu.au/about/secretariat/regulations-policy/.
UMSU has established the capacity for the electoral roll to be managed electronically, and at multiple polling sites. Please note that both the UMSU Constitution and the UMSU Electoral Regulations are subject to change, and that it may be necessary for part or all of the UMSU Annual Election to be conducted via an online voting platform.
A separate election for the Clubs & Societies Committee will also be required in October. The Clubs & Societies Committee elections are to be conducted in accordance with the UMSU Clubs & Societies Regulations which can be found here: https://umsu.unimelb.edu.au/about/secretariat/regulations-policy/.
The Returning Officer will also be required to conduct the UMSU International 2025 Elections which will be held from May 12-15, 2025. Additional casual vacancies may also occur which would be subject to a by-election within a month of the vacancy arising.
The UMSU International Elections are to be conducted in accordance with the UMSU International Regulations which can be found here: https://intl.umsu.unimelb.edu.au/about/regulationsandpolicies/.
Expressions of interest are sought for the appointment of a Returning Officer to conduct all UMSU elections to be held in 2025.
Please submit documents, including itemisation of proposed costs, via email to Sara Pheasant, Chief Executive Officer, UMSU, (ceo@union.unimelb.edu.au), no later than 5pm Monday 17 March 2025.
Expressions of interest should address scenarios where the UMSU Annual Election is conducted:
· In accordance with the current regulations
· Entirely online
· In a hybrid form
Requests for further information should also be directed to the CEO (ceo@union.unimelb.edu.au).
Past elections
October 2024 UMSU International By-Election
The declaration of results can be found on the October Byelection webpage.
September 2024 UMSU Annual Elections
The 2024 UMSU annual elections were held 2nd–6th September.
2024 UMSU annual election — main page
May 2024 UMSU International Annual General Election
The UMSU International annual general election was held 6th–10th May.
UMSU International annual general election 2024
April 2024 UMSU By-Election
The provisional declaration of results can be found on the April Byelection webpage.
Election reports
Election reports are available for past elections.
Contact the Returning Officer
The Returning Officer is the person in charge of administering UMSU’s elections. The Returning Officer is appointed each year by UMSU’s Electoral Tribunal, who exercise ultimate oversight of the election.
For 2024, UMSU has appointed Stephen Luntz of Above Quota Elections as Returning Officer.
General contact information:
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Elections website: (you’re here now!)
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By email: returningofficer@union.unimelb.edu.au
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Postal mail: UMSU Returning Officer, c/o Above Quota Elections, PO Box 2157, Fitzroy, VIC 3065 (please email to advise of documents sent by postal mail)
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On campus: we will maintain an office on campus during the annual election period
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Individual contact details for the RO and DRO: below