FARRAGO

Results for the 2018 University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU) election have now been finalised after a tense period of vote recounts and appeals. The results, most of which are similar to 2017 with Stand Up! sweeping the office bearer (OB) positions, are the closest in recent years with many being determined by fewer than 50 votes.

The University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU) is currently reviewing plans to overhaul its governance and constitution. The plans are projected to be finalised by the end of the year, with the overhaul set for semester one, 2019.

On Friday, the University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU) electoral tribunal rejected More!’s appeal for a re-election for the general secretariat and women’s office. The appeal made allegations against the returning officers over defective conduct of the election.

This year’s UMSU elections were hotly contested but nothing was closer than the races for the general secretariat and the welfare office. With fewer than a dozen votes separating each ballot (amongst thousands of total votes), this election was certifiably, undeniably, toight. The returning officers of Above Quota Elections have declared the welfare office has been won by More! and the general secretariat by Stand Up!. But Elinor Mills, the candidate More! endorsed for general secretary, has lodged an appeal with the electoral tribunal against the returning officers. Now, the electoral tribunal may issue a declaration that a new election be conducted.

Welcome to the Farrago liveblog of the University of Melbourne Student Union election results.

With student election week almost upon us, three UMSU presidential candidates went head-to-head in a debate hosted by Farrago on 29 August.

Welcome to Farrago’s coverage of the 2018–19 University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU) elections.

Your vote is rather influential in how the Union represents you in the following year.

The presidential candidates from major factions, More! and Stand Up!, are Callum Simpson and Molly Willmott, respectively.

Student media has a proud history of refusing to accept the status quo, and we remain vital in our efforts to refute the political narrative.