With the Students’ Union Elections just around the corner, the English Press Club (EPC) sat down with the Election Commission (EC) to learn more about the election process, the Students’ Union (SU), and how eligible voters should prepare themselves.

The EC began by stating that the First Degree students in their third or fourth year are eligible to contest for the position of President, while the eligibility for the position of General Secretary is restricted to third-year students only. The EC clarified that these years are determined by subtracting the year on the students’ identity numbers from the current year, in case of semester or year-backs. The criteria to stand for the position of Hostel Representative (H-Rep) are not as restrictive, and simply being a resident of the hostel is enough to qualify as a candidate. 

They explained that the election can be split into two phases. The grey period runs from July 22, 2025, until the candidates are announced on August 26, 2025. The campaigning period begins on the same day and ends on September 5, 2025, just after the auditorium debate. This process culminates in a poll on September 7, 2025. 

The EC described the grey period as a time of preparation for the candidates. They asserted that it provided a level playing field for all and ensured that candidates could not introduce initiatives just before the elections to sway public opinion. It is a silent period where mass communication is restricted to prevent candidates from publicising their names and gaining an unfair advantage. Additionally, the EC stated that anyone who planned to contest the elections could not gather students in rooms to campaign during the grey period. This is a severe violation, as no campaigning is permitted during this time frame.

Once the grey period ends, a call for nominations is issued, after which the candidates are announced to the GBM, followed by a window for withdrawal of candidature. The campaigning period begins on the same day as the announcement of candidates. During this, the candidates for President and General Secretary speak in the Information Seminar and later participate in the Auditorium Debate, held two days before the polling.

The EC said that polling is done using pen and paper. Once the polling is complete, the ballots are opened in front of the candidates or their campaigners. The polling takes place in all the hostels at the same time, and the counting starts at the discretion of the respective hostel wardens. They shared that apart from the EC volunteer or member present, the hostel warden or the hostel superintendent, no one is allowed to conduct the counting. 

Managing the logistics of these events is one of the primary duties of the EC. This includes getting permissions from the wardens to use the common rooms for polling and conducting common room debates, printing out ballots, preparing necessary stationery during polling, and arranging the voter lists for all hostels. 

When asked about some common mistakes they saw candidates make in previous elections, the EC immediately brought up the grey period violations, specifically the anti-campaigning, which had occurred on email. They claimed these situations are hard to regulate and new to the EC as well. 

The EC emphasised that they expect the candidates this year to treat the election guidelines seriously. They explained that this period before the final elections is for candidates to prove to the GBM why they would be good representatives. They further expected the candidates not to view the election as an opportunity for personal gain. They remarked that the SU exists for the welfare of the students and should be treated as such. 

Following this, the EC recounted rules that were commonly broken during the elections. These included, but were not limited to, candidates campaigning to more than eight students in a room, students being coerced into voting for certain candidates, and students being bribed through substances or favours. They urged the GBM to be aware of their rights and know that they can reach out to the EC if anything bothers them concerning the election or certain candidates.

The EC also addressed the stigma around complaining by stating that while it is not guaranteed, the EC’s ‘paramount priority’ is the anonymity of the complainant. While handing out the punishments, the candidates are made aware of the rules they violated while keeping the exact breach hidden. The EC reassured that the penalty is imposed on the said candidate and not on those reporting their grievances. 

This raised the question of how the EC handles candidates who claim they are falsely accused. The EC responded by stating that they conduct detailed investigations before issuing any penalties and treat all complaints they receive seriously and equally. They claimed their investigations are so thorough that they leave no scope for questioning from the candidates. They added that it is treading a fine line between keeping the complainant’s identity hidden and convincing the candidates that their punishment is fair.

This year, the EC has tied up with the campus press clubs to cover parts of the elections and to help regulate campaigning on social media, which is often hard to trace back to its source. They are also trying to keep the GBM well-informed this year by publicising the election guidelines through the press clubs and continuing with their practice of using colour-coded ballots, which they started last year. 

Finally, the EC reiterated that the GBM should take the time to inform themselves of the candidates they would vote for and the rights they possess. They can do so by attending the Information Seminar, the common room debates and the Auditorium Debate. They said, ‘An uninformed electorate was as good as no electorate at all.’ The EC urged the GBM to remember that when faced with difficulties of any manner with the administration or otherwise, the representatives they choose in the coming days will be the ones who will fight for them.