Elections

Every year hundreds of committee positions are contested for our clubs and societies. Whether you want to run as a candidate or discover more about the elections process, find everything you need on this page.

Types of Election

There are three Clubs specific elections, and one SUBU general election for Students to participate in!

Student Leader Elections

An annual online Election that allows Clubs and Societies to elect their Committee for the next Academic Year.

October By Election

When a committee role is vacant after the Student Leader Election, Clubs and Societies have the opportunity to fill the role in October.

Bespoke By Election

Sometimes, individual clubs need to fill roles that become vacant during the year. This is where a bespoke by election comes in!

Other Elections

SUBU is a democratic organisation and we encourage all members of the Clubs and Societies programme to have your say during the Officer Elections.

Student Leader Elections

In the last term of every academic year, clubs and societies take part in the Student Leader Election (SLE) to vote in the committee for the following academic year. The SLE is entirely online, via the SUBU website, and is your chance to have your say! Only members of a club/society can run for roles on committee; so, you need to make sure to purchase your society membership via the club page! The dates for these elections will be released around the Winter Break.

October By Election

By elections are a chance for your society to fill roles they were unable to in the last election or to fill roles that have become vacant since. New clubs will also take part in the by election if they were exempt from the Student Leader Election. If your Society will be participating in the by election you will be contacted in advance of Freshers to enable you to promote your upcoming roles.

The dates for the 24/25 by election are:

  • Applications open: 10:00, 13/10/25
  • Applications close: 23:59, 19/10/25
  • Voting opens: 10:00, 20/10/25
  • Voting closes: 23:59, 26/10/25

Results will be released on the 27/10/25

 

The rules, regulations and guidance are the same across the Student Leader Election and the October By Election. View those resources below:

Elections Handbook View the Current Election here
Bespoke Election

If a member of your committee steps down for any reason, you must elect their replacement through a by election. To organise this, simply email the team at suclubs@bournemouth.ac.uk. Bespoke By Elections typically take a week (applications Monday-Tuesday, Voting Wednesday-Thursday with Results available from Friday). If you have a specific timeline in mind please discuss that with the team.

Other SUBU Elections

SUBU has a range of Student Leadership roles, some part time voluntary and some full time paid! Check out the SUBU Officer roles and elections information online.

Your Governance

As affiliated Societies, your clubs and societies are subject to SUBU Governance. 

Constitution

Every club and society must have a signed constitution to be registered with SUBU. This constitution is completed annually to ensure that your club is recognised by SUBU. Use this template to create yours and once it has been completed, send as a PDF to suclubs@bournemouth.ac.uk.

Some clubs may require a custom constitution under execptional circumstances. You will be notified if you require one, so otherwise please use the below standard template. If you do think you require a custom constitution but have not been contacted, please email suclubs@bournemouth.ac.uk.

Constitution Template
Handover

Ready to handover your society to the new committee? Use the template below, fill it out with all the must-know information to run your society, and pass it on to the new committee!

Handover Template

Election FAQ's

Why do clubs/societies have to do elections?

Elections give you the voice to elect who you want to run your club/society and SUBU is obligated (through the by-laws) to facilitate those elections for clubs and societies. As a Student Union, it is our duty to make sure democratic processes are upheld and everyone is given a fair opportunity to be involved in clubs and societies from members to committee.

I'm an associate member of a society, can I still vote?

Only current BU students can vote in SUBU Elections.

I'm an associate member of a society, can I run for a committee role?

Current BU students must hold the core committee roles (President, Communications/Secretary and Treasurer) but any member of a society can run for additional roles.

What are the mandatory roles for SUBU societies?

The mandatory committee roles are President, Communications/Secretary and Treasurer. High-risk societies have a fourth mandatory role of Health & Safety Officer.

What happens if our society doesn't elect a core committee in the elections?

Any society that doesn't elect the core committee roles will be added to our Adopt a Soc programme. The Adopt a Soc programme exists for times when interest in a Club or Society dies down and/or when you can't elect a committee to run it as part of the Elections. A Club or Society in this programme would sit dormant for up to one academic year and gives you the opportunity to come together with other BU students and 'adopt' the group you're interested in and get it back off the ground.

Explore this section