Requesting a Campus Election
Utilizing Campus Elections
Any registered student group, college board, or recognized student government association can facilitate their elections or poll through Campus Elections. By utilizing Campus Elections for your elections, you promise to those represented and impacted by your group that their voice matters, and that their leadership represents them. By requesting a poll, you ask for members of the student body to share their opinions.
If you have questions about your election or poll, please contact the Campus Elections Team at CampusElections@umn.edu
Please be aware that language in the election rules changed. The term “Referendum” is being replaced by “Poll”. The process and expectations surrounding referenda/polls remains the same.
Poll Requests
Polls are statements requested by a registered student group that, if passed through the Election Rules, represent an opinion of the student body. Voters vote either in favor or against poll, and the language of poll must be formatted to reflect this choice.
Passed polls are not binding decisions on behalf of the University of Minnesota.
Any currently registered student group at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities may request that the poll be placed on the All-Campus Elections ballot. The Campus Elections Team uses a request form that gathers the language of the poll and which group is the poll sponsor.
Contact CampusElections@umn.edu for more details.
See Chapter 3 of the 2023 Rules for more information.
Steps for Poll Request
Complete and submit the Poll Request Form, linked here: Poll Request Form
The Campus Elections Team will reach out to the form submitter to further discuss the poll. They will establish a primary contact for your student group. The Campus Elections Team may also have you revise the language of the poll for clarity. Remember that a poll must be a single, yes-no question that addresses one topic.
Once your group has met with the the Campus Elections Team, the Commission will give you a digital signature endorsement form. You must collect 1000 signatures from currently-enrolled U of M students (name, Internet ID, signature, date).
Once the Campus Elections Team confirms that the minimum signature requirement has been met, the poll sponsor may send at least two officers, or their designees, to an open forum for the public to discuss the poll. The Campus Elections Team will determine logistics with the poll sponsor, and will promote the event no later than one week before Voting opens.
Only after all poll requirements have been met (as specified in Chapter 3 of the All-Campus Election Rules) will a poll be certified by the Campus Elections Team to appear on the All-Campus Elections ballot.
Voting Requests
Each organization will need to establish an Elections Liaison who can provide the Campus Elections team information on how to facilitate the group's election based on their constitution. This includes information about what positions are available, who your voters are, who is eligible to run in your elections, how votes should be tallied and how ties should be broken, and any additional processes you have for your elections.
Contact the Campus Elections Team at CampusElections@umn.edu for more details.
See Chapter 2 of the 2023 Rules for more information.
Steps for Voting Request
1. Contact CampusElections@umn.edu for details.
2. The Campus Elections Team will reach out to you to schedule a meeting to discuss your voting request.
Please bring to this meeting:
A copy of your group’s constitution and by-laws
One member of your organization who can serve as an Elections Liaison (i.e., not running for election, no perceived or actual conflict of interest) on the Campus Elections Team.
An officer of the group
3. After the meeting, the Campus Elections Team will set up all the necessary forms and documents for your election.