
Holding an election
We cannot insist too strongly on the importance of properly preparing an electoral event. By adopting clear election regulations, the student community, through the association representing it, contributes to the holding of fair and honest elections. It contributes, by extension, to educate its members about the importance of exercising their democratic rights.
Main participants
Electors
As a member of the student community, it is the elector who is responsible for electing the representatives of the association of his or her educational institution. It will be up to these representatives to defend the rights and interests of their members before the appropriate authorities.
- See sections 1 and 2 of the See sections 1 and 2 of the Election regulation model
- Download the Information for electors
Candidate
This person campaigns among the student population to obtain the greatest number of votes and to win a seat on the executive committee of the student association.
- See sections 28 to 35 of the Election regulation model
- Download the Information for candidates
- Download the Nomination paper
Chief Electoral Officer
The chief electoral officer is a resource person who acts impartially and who has no partisan ties. It is his or her duty to ensure that the electoral process unfolds smoothly. This person is appointed by the executive committee of the student association.
- See sections 93 to 102 of the Election regulation model
Main steps
Election period
When an election is called, electors are asked to choose new leaders. Following the calling of the election, the chief electoral officer prepares an election calendar indicating the steps that will take place during the election period.
- See sections 6 to 16 of the Election regulation model
- Download the Election calendar
List of electors
As the election period culminates on polling day, election officers must be able to have the list of electors before polling stations open.
- See sections 17 to 27 of the Election regulation model
- Download the Memorandum for the revisor
- Download the Revision – Application for entry or correction
Electoral representation
For those student associations that deem it useful to adopt a representation method that reflects the distribution of students according to the various programs of studies of their members, for example, it is possible to establish a specific procedure to divide the student population into electoral divisions.
- See sections 3 to 5 of the Election regulation model
Control of election expenses
In the event that expenses are incurred during an election campaign (leaflets, posters, photocopies, etc.), the aim of which is to promote or oppose the ideas or program of a candidate, it is important to procedure to control election expenses.
- See sections 80 to 89 of the Election regulation model
- Download the Memorandum for the agent-and-representative of the candidate
- Download the Return of election expenses
Polling Day
Directives relating to the organization of the polling station(s), the supervision of election officers, the exercise of the right to vote, and all the conditions to ensure the integrity of the electoral process on polling day are indispensable to the smooth operating of polling day.
- See sections 36 to 79 of the Election regulation model
- Download the Polling station
- Download the Ballot papers
- Download the Directive to electors
- Download the Memorandum for the officer in charge of information and order (PRIMO)
- Download the Memorandum for the deputy returning officer
- Download the Memorandum for the poll clerk
- Download the Poll book
- Download the Statement of votes
- Download the Oath of office
- Download the Oath of the elector
Contestation of elections
In the event that a serious reason justifies the contestation of the election, it is important to provide means for finding a rapid solution to the dispute ensuing from the contestation.
- See sections 90 to 92 and 103 to 105 of the Election regulation model
Election regulation model
Holding a referendum
The referendum is a democratic consultation process available to the members of the executive for any interested student association. This process can be used whenever there is a major issue concerning the entire student community.
Main participants
Chief Electoral Officer
The chief electoral officer is a resource person who acts impartially and who has no partisan ties. It is his or her duty to ensure that the electoral process unfolds smoothly. This person is appointed by the executive committee of the student association.
- See sections 92 to 100 of the Referendum regulation model
Referendum committees
Following the publication of the notice announcing the holding of a referendum, the chief electoral officer must ensure that a committee representing each option submitted to the student referendum is formed. Persons wishing to campaign in favour of either option must channel their actions through these committees.
- See sections 7 to 9 of the Referendum regulation model
- Download the Information for members of the committees representing the options
- Download the Information for electors
Conseil du référendum
The Conseil du référendum is an authority, which, in cooperation with the chief electoral officer, ensures that the referendum process unfolds in a harmonious manner. Any question of a technical nature related to the organization of a referendum or any dispute following the contestation of the referendum must be addressed to the Conseil du référendum.
- See sections 12 to 15 of the Referendum regulation model
Main steps
Referendum period
The referendum period begins when a notice announcing the holding of a referendum is adopted by the student association; this notice invites electors to state that they are in favour of either option submitted to the referendum. The chief electoral officer shall supervise the formation of a committee for each option and draw up a referendum calendar that will indicate the various steps in the referendum period.
- See sections 2 to 6 of the Referendum regulation model
- Download the Referendum calendar
List of electors
As the referendum period culminates on referendum day, election officers must be able to have the list of electors before polling stations open.
- See sections 27 to 38 of the Referendum regulation model
- Download the Memorandum for the revisor
- Download the Revision – Application for entry or correction
Electoral representation
For those student associations that deem it useful to adopt a representation method that reflects the program of studies of their members, provision has been made for a procedure to divide the student population into electoral divisions.
- See sections 18 to 20 of the Referendum regulation model
Referendum fund and control of regulated expenses
The referendum procedure provides for the setting up of a referendum fund intended to cover the expenses incurred during the referendum campaign. Once the notice announcing the holding of a referendum has been given, the student association determines an amount—the same for each committee—which becomes the committees’ subsidy. Agents-representatives must record the expenses incurred to support the option of their respective committee.
- See sections 10, 11 and 81 to 88 of the Referendum regulation model
- Download the Memorandum for the agent-and-representative
- Download the Return of regulated expenses
Referendum day
Clear directives concerning the organization of the polling stations, the supervision of polling officers, the exercise of the right to vote and all the conditions to ensure the integrity of the electoral process on polling day are indispensable to the smooth operating of polling day.
- See sections 39 to 80 of the Referendum regulation model
- Download the Polling station
- Download the Ballot papers
- Download the Directive to electors
- Download the Memorandum for the officer in charge of information and order (PRIMO)
- Download the Memorandum for the deputy returning officer
- Download the Memorandum for the poll clerk
- Download the Poll book
- Download the Statement of votes
- Download the Oath of office
- Download the Oath of the elector
Contestation of the referendum
In the event that a serious reason justifies the contestation of the referendum, it is important to plan for means that will make it possible to find a rapid solution to the dispute ensuing from the contestation.
- See sections 89 to 91 of the Referendum regulation model
Referendum regulation model
Discover the guide Students at the polls to hold an election or a referendum in colleges and universities.
In addition, to assist you in preparing an electoral or referendum event, you can order online (in French only) the guide, ballot boxes and polling booths (free of charge).