UASU Elections
As a student-run organization, UASU’s student leaders are elected annually to represent the 35,000+ undergrads at the University of Alberta and guide our efforts for the coming year.
Your UASU holds three elections throughout the year: a By-Election in the Fall, and the General Election, and the Students’ Council and General Faculties Council Election takes place in the Winter term. New candidates are nominated for a variety of leadership roles and you vote on your representatives for the coming year.
Students' Council Fall By-Election
- Election to fill vacancies on Students' Council.
- The deadline for nomination to the Students' Union Fall By-Election is Monday, September 28th at 6:00 P.M.
- Voting days, this year, are Wednesday, October 7th starting at 9:00 A.M. and Thursday, October 8th ending at 6:00 P.M.
Students' Union General Election
- Election to fill the President, Vice Presidents, and Board of Governors representative positions.
- Plebiscite and/or Referenda questions, if any, occur during this election.
- The deadline for nomination to the Students' Union General Election is Thursday, February 11, 2027 at 6:00 P.M.
- Voting days, this year, are Wednesday, March 3rd starting at 9:00 A.M. and Thursday, March 4th ending at 6:00 P.M.
Students' Council (SC)/General Faculties Council (GFC) Elections
- Election of councillors from the various faculties to either Students' Council or the General Faculties Council.
- Faculty Association (FA) elections are encouraged to utilize the UASU Election platform during this election period as well.
- The deadline for nomination to the Students' Union Students' Council/General Faculties Elections is Monday, March 8, 2027 at 6:00 P.M.
- Voting days, this year, are Wednesday, March 17th starting at 9:00 A.M. and Thursday, March 18th ending at 6:00 P.M.
Bodies Elected by Students' Union Members
UASU Executive Committee
- President: Acts as the primary spokesperson for the Students’ Union.
- VP Academic: Advocates for students' interests within the University community and beyond.
- VP External: Responsible for Students' Union government and community relations.
- VP Operations and Finance: Responsible for managing the UASU's $10 million budget.
- VP Student Life: Responsible for university-related non-academic issues.
Undergraduate Board of Governors Representative
Acts as a voice for the undergraduate student body on the University of Alberta Board of Governors, the ultimate decision making authority of the university. This student works in coordination with the UASU President (another BoG member) and also sits as a voting member of the UASU Students' Council.
UASU Students' Council
The highest governing body of the Students' Union. This council has ultimate decision-making authority over all aspects of the organization.
General Faculties Council
The academic legislative body of the University of Alberta. This council deals with all academic matters and student affairs issues (as set out in the Alberta Post-Secondary Learning Act). It is the highest level at which academic decisions are made, and is chaired by the President of the University of Alberta.
Other Elections
Plebiscites and Referenda
Plebiscites and referenda can either be initiated by UASU Students' Council or by individual UASU members. A plebiscite is a vote, open to all Students' Union members held on a given question but that is not binding, while a referendum is a vote held on a given question and whose result is legally binding upon the Students’ Union.
Contact the CRO by the end of October if you're interested in proposing a question.
Run your SRA election with us
Student Representative Associations (including Residence and Faculty Associations) can add their elections on to our election periods. Contact the CRO for more info.
Vacancy Petitions
Interested in fulfilling a vacant role on Students' Council? Send in your vacancy petition below.
When the Council and GFC Election concludes and leaves seats unfilled, Vacancy Petitions are the mechanism to fill them until the Fall By-Election. When a By-Election leaves seats unfilled, Vacancy Petitions are used to fill them until the Council and GFC Election. You may apply to fill vacancies on either Students' Council or GFC, or both.
Information for Running in the Fall By-Election
For students interested in running for open seats on Students' Council during the Students' Union Fall By-Election, please use the nomination package in this section.
Students' Council Fall By-Election Nomination Package
Each year, University of Alberta undergraduate students vote in the Students' Union Fall By-Election to fill open seats on Students' Council (SC)!
As a candidate, it is your responsibility to be familiar with all the materials in this package, and make a good-faith effort to uphold all relevant guidelines and rules.
It is also your responsibility to ensure that you and your volunteer team hold yourselves to the highest standards of behaviour toward members of other campaigns. Your conduct is subject to the Code of Student Behaviour.
The nomination package includes forms to be submitted to the Chief Returning Officer before the nomination deadline, listed within. It also includes relevant Bylaws, Regulations and the Judiciary of the Students' Union.
As a candidate, you are responsible for reading and understanding all rules, procedures and everything required of you to run in an election.
Contact Information
Chief Returning Officer
SUB 6th Floor