Shape Your University Experience: Get Involved in WUSA Elections

At WUSA, the heart of our mission lies in student representation and advocacy. Every year, a new team of dedicated student leaders, elected by you – the undergraduates of the University of Waterloo – takes the helm to voice your concerns and steer our collective journey.

The WUSA Elections, held annually during the Winter term, are not just a process – they’re a celebration of student democracy and empowerment. Here, aspiring leaders from our student body step forward, eager to make a difference. From key executive officer roles to pivotal governance positions on our Board of Directors, each role is crucial in shaping the policies, activities, and overall direction of WUSA.

Why Participate?

  • Voice Your Opinions: Your vote determines who represents your interests and concerns.
  • Drive Change: Elected leaders play a vital role in influencing university policies and student life.
  • Build Community: Engaging in elections fosters a connected and proactive student body.

Considering a Leadership Role?

Are you passionate about student life, governance, and making a positive impact? Explore the various roles within WUSA’s governance structure. Visit our Board of Directors page to delve into the specifics of each position and understand how you can contribute to shaping a vibrant student community.

Got Questions?

We’re here to help. If you’re considering running for a position or just curious about the election process, don’t hesitate to reach out. Your Chief Returning Officer (CRO) is available to answer any questions and guide you through the process. We haven’t covered everything on this page, so feel free to connect with us for more insights.

Be the Change You Wish to See

Your involvement in the WUSA Elections is a step towards a more dynamic and responsive student community. Whether as a candidate or a voter, your participation is vital. Join us in this journey of student leadership and governance – where your voice truly matters.

Two people are posing in an indoor corridor with large windows. One person is crouched with hands together, while the other stands behind with hands on hips. The corridor with its tiled floor offers a view of trees through the windows, reminiscent of the strategic planning often seen during political campaigns.

Ask a question or connect with a board member!

Quick Links

CRO
Chief Returning Officer (CRO)

Violation Complaint Form

Violation Appeal Form

Elections and Referenda Procedures (PDF)

Important Dates

All times displayed local Waterloo, EST (GMT -5)

2024-2025 Board of Directors – Elections Results

2025-2026 Election Dates:

  • Nomination Period: December 16th-January 23rd
  • All Candidates Meeting: January 23rd, 6:30pm-7:30pm
  • Campaign Period: January 26th-February 9th
  • Voting Period: February 3rd-February 9th
  • Unofficial Electoral Results: February 10th

Election Event

Visit vote.wusa.ca

Voting is easier than ever

We’ve compiled everything you need to know about upcoming elections, all in one place! Check out vote.wusa.ca for any active elections, candidate profiles, and virtual ballots.

Simply login using your WATIAM to get involved and make your voice heard!

Nomination Resources

Know a social advocate who would make an awesome leader? Or do YOU want to drive change that affects the lives of students at uWaterloo and across Canada?

We’ve compiled everything you need to know about nominations, all in one place! Have a look or share it with someone you think would be a great fit for the role! View the WUSA Nominations page for full details on how to make your mark.

Campaign Support

WUSA is here to offer you information, resources, and support to ensure you have the tools you need.

First things first, make sure you review the Elections & Referenda Procedures to learn about your budget*, rules for campaigning, allegations and appeals, and more.

*WUSA will cover the cost of running a campaign for WUSA Executive and Students’ Council candidates. Senate candidates can find budget information in Senate Bylaw 3 (see section 2.02c) opens an external site.

Below you can find all the Campaign marketing resources you can use to get the word out to grow your base of voters:
https://sway.office.com/UCmJ0brGcl1J7n3s?ref=Link

Candidate Elections Logo:

Logo featuring a stylized checkmark with text reading "vote.wusa.ca" to the right.

Download Full Colour | Download White Version

Make sure this logo is used on your campaign posters, we also encourage you to use it on any other printed campaign materials.

Don’t forget to submit your candidate profile on vote.wusa.ca to ensure you’re featured on our site and included in any print materials.

While there is no deadline to submit this information, remember that these pages are being promoted from the start of campaign period right until the end. It can take up to three business days for your information to be uploaded to the site. In order to guarantee your information is included in any WUSA print materials be sure to submit before the date stated at the All Candidates Meeting.

Allegations & Appeals

An Allegation is an accusation made that a candidate or referendum campaign committee has done something wrong during the Election period, and is the main mechanism in place to ensure the adherence of procedure and subsequently, the fairness of the election. Allegations remain assertions until they can be proved. Allegation forms exist to streamline the volume of allegations that come in and to help prevent duplicate reports of the same incident. The subject of the allegation can be a candidate, a team, or a referendum campaign committee.

Candidates are disqualified if they reach 11 points – check out point values in Elections & Referenda Procedures in the WUSA library.

Appeals are requests from the alleged to change to the Elections and Referenda Officer’s (ERO) official decision on an allegation. The Chief Returning Officer (CRO) hears all appeals and should include any new information that has come forward. Further appeals beyond this point against the CRO’s decision would go to the Elections and Referenda Committee (ERC).

The CRO or ERC (depending on the appeal) may do any of the following:

1. Uphold the original decision

2. Alter the penalty of the original decision, within the limits of this procedure

3. Refer the ERO or CRO, as the case may be, to review a decision in light of new information or with consideration to a specific section of this procedure

4. Overturn the decision and present an alternate ruling, thereby eliminating the decision’s penalties so received

All rulings rendered by the ERC with respect to a further appeal of a decision made by a CRO shall be final.

If you’re unsure whether or not a violation has occurred, you’re encouraged to report it to the ERO and who will then figure out if it is a violation of procedure or not.

Allegation: Submitted 01/10/2025
Complainant: E. Therng Lee
Defendant: Friday Saleh

Alleged Election Procedure Violated:

  • Campaigning outside the campaign period (Nomination period).

Summary:

The complainant accused the nominee of campaigning outside the designated campaign period. The complainant claimed that the defendant posted campaign-related content in the WUSA Reform Discord server and GLOW Discord server before the official campaign period had commenced. The defendant responded by stating that the messages were intended solely to seek nominations, not to campaign for votes.

ERO Decision:

Upon reviewing the evidence and considering the defendant’s response, the ERO determined that the messages contained elements that could be interpreted as campaigning rather than purely seeking nominations. While the violation was not deemed malicious, the electoral procedure was still breached.

As a result, 2 demerit points were assigned to the defendant. Parties were informed of their right to appeal within 24 hours through the appropriate violation appeal form.

Date Submitted: January 23, 2025
Complainant: Remington Zhi
Defendant: Friday Saleh

Allegation:

  • Campaigning outside of the official campaign period.
  • Potential campaign fund expenditure before the permitted period.


Summary:
The complainant alleged that candidate Friday Saleh had posted their full campaign platform on
a publicly accessible webpage before the official campaign period, raising concerns about pre-
election campaigning and potential campaign fund usage for the domain purchase. The
complainant provided a screenshot of the website as supporting evidence.
In response, the defendant clarified that the website was an internal draft that was mistakenly
made public due to an oversight by a non-arm’s length party assisting with website development.
Additionally, the defendant asserted that no campaign funds were used for the domain, as it was
personally owned prior to the election.

ERO Decision:

  • There was no indication that the website was intentionally promoted before the campaign
    period.
  • The domain was pre-owned, and its use did not constitute an unauthorized campaign
    expense.
  • While the visibility of the website was unintentional, it did not amount to active
    campaigning.

As a result, no violation of the Elections and Referenda Procedures (ERP) was found, and no
penalties or demerit points were issued. The complainant and the defendant were informed of
their right to appeal the decision within 24 hours through the official WUSA Violation Appeal
Form.

Date Submitted: January 29, 2025
Complainant: Remington Zhi
Defendants: Alex Chaban and Onella Kulatunga

Allegation:

  • Postering on prohibited surfaces (painted and wooden surfaces), which was explicitly
    disallowed in the All-Candidates Meeting (ACM).


Summary:

The complainant alleged that the defendants placed campaign posters on restricted surfaces,
violating election postering regulations. Photographic evidence was submitted, and the
complainant argued that the frequency of these violations indicated a misunderstanding or
disregard for the rules.


In their defense:

  • Onella Kulatunga expressed willingness to remove any non-compliant posters and
    emphasized that any violation was unintentional.
  • Alex Chaban cited guidance from University of Waterloo’s Plant Operations, which
    indicated that postering was broadly permitted. He also referenced University of
    Waterloo Policy 2, which allows election postering with Plant Ops approval, and
    maintained that the materials used complied with WUSA guidelines.

ERO Decision:

Compliance with ERP Regulations:

  • ERP 10.4 states that postering is subject to Plant Ops’ discretion. As of this ruling, Plant Ops had not issued any directive regarding the materials in question.
  • ERP 10.5 prohibits using harmful materials such as duct tape and glue. The provided photographic evidence did not indicate the use of non-compliant
    materials.

Intent and Rule Adherence:

  • Onella acknowledged the potential violation but maintained it was an honestmistake rather than deliberate misconduct.
  • Alex proactively sought clarification from Plant Ops and acted based on their
    guidance.
  • The photographic evidence did not conclusively demonstrate intent to violate
    election rules.

Lack of Plant Ops Notification:

  • Typically, if Plant Ops identified non-compliant postering, they would notify the ERO or the candidates. No such notification was received.
Without explicit confirmation from Plant Ops that the surfaces in question were prohibited, there was insufficient evidence to confirm a violation. Thus, no violation of the Elections and Referenda Procedures (ERP) was confirmed, and no demerit points were assigned. Candidates were reminded to double-check postering locations and remain responsive to any directives from Plant Ops or the ERO.

The parties were informed of their right to appeal within 24 hours through the WUSA Violation Appeal Form.