Welcome to the Student Officer Elections Candidate Hub

Your manifesto is a statement that tells people why you’re right for the role and what you hope to do if elected. Every candidate must submit written manifesto when standing, answering 3 key Elections questions. These questions have strict word limits - any words over that limit will be cut off. Note: character count includes spaces.

Manifesto Questions:
•    Why are you running to be an Officer? (600 characters)
•    What qualities would you bring to the role? (600 characters)
•    What would be your top 4 priorities, if you were elected? (2500 characters)
Here are some top manifesto writing tips:
•    Don't over-promise: be specific and realistic with your promises
•    Think about your values and what drives you as a person
•    Browse Change It + other SU websites to get a feel for topical issues
•    Have an identity: what makes you unique?
•    Don’t over-complicate it: use straightforward, engaging language
•    Know you audience: what kind of voters are you trying to appeal to?
•    Be yourself: people want to hear from YOU, not what ChatGPT thinks is best
 

You will be given a free candidate pack of campaigning resources with everything you need to run an election campaign. We’ll equip you with the skills you need to create the designs for: t-shirts, posters, flyers and more. We’ll give you all the specifics you need to know once you’re a candidate.

We believe that elections are for everyone, meaning you don’t need to spend your own money on campaigning, as we give you all the tools you need to take part. However, if candidates wish to do so, they are able to use a limited amount of their own money to fund campaigning, up to a limit of £30. Please note, that if a candidate chooses to spend £30 of their own money, this will not be reimbursed.

You do not need a campaign team to win the election; many past candidates have run successful campaigns on their own! If you want support in your campaigning efforts though, you can build your own campaign team. This team could be a group of your friends who have committed to helping you campaign. They might talk to students on your behalf, help put up posters or create social media content. The Guild does not provide you with an individual campaign team, however we can support you in thinking about who this could be, from people you already know.

Campaigning can be a time-consuming process, but our staff are here to help you throughout the election period; you can always come and chat to us if you are struggling or need support. Your studies and work commitments should always be your priority, so it’s best to try and get any coursework deadlines out of the way before Vote Week (though we know this isn’t always possible). You can speak to your tutor or supervisor for support if you’re worried. We also offer 121s for candidates to help you through any questions or concerns.

Anyone can win the election, no matter their experience! For many candidates this is the first time they have run a campaign. Our staff team are on hand to support you every step of the way; providing training, support and advice to see you through.

There is no interview and no experience required for the role. We believe that every student has the potential and the qualities to be a great Student Officer. Being a student yourself, understanding other students’ experiences and having a desire to support them is all you need to do the role.

One of the great parts of becoming a Student Officer is the amount of support available to you. The Guild has over 70 full-time staff on hand to make sure you have the resources and backing needed to bring your manifesto to life. We run a full Induction programme, to equip you with all the skills you need for the year.

We know that coming to university can be particularly challenging if you’re a parent or carer. Our staff team are on hand during elections to support you, for example if you need us to change the time of a particular activity. If you want to have a chat about how this role could work for you, please get in touch: democracy@liverpool.ac.uk. There is also support available from the University for carers here.