Elections Oct 2024: Appeals

This form must be used to submit a formal appeal. Complaints are sent directly to the Deputy Returning Officer (DRO) for deliberation.

The DRO will hear any appeal made.

If the DRO reaches the decision that the complaint should be upheld, they can either agree with the original decision or decide to increase or decrease the original penalty imposed.

If a candidate submits an appeal to a punishment levied by the DRO the punishment in question is suspended until the DRO rules on the appeal. i.e. a campaigning ban does not start until the DRO has ruled.

In the event that the Deputy Returning Officer rejects the Appeal and chooses to uphold the original punishment (or increase the severity of said punishment), and there is insufficient time to carry out the punishment, the candidate may be excluded from the election.

In most cases, the Deputy Returning Officer’s ruling will be made within 1 working day of the appeal being received and notified within 24 hours of the ruling being made. In extraordinary cases, additional time may be required and the candidate(s) in question will be notified of this.

Decisions of the DRO may be appealed to the Returning Officer at NUS, in which case the same process as above will be followed. Due to the fact that NUS provide this service for multiple Unions, this may take additional time to process. The Returning Officer's decision is final.

We thank you for your patience in the process!

Data Protection

Data Protection I understand and agree that by completing this form I am giving the Union explicit permission to use my details for the purpose of administering the elections complaints process and for no other purpose. I understand that the Union will hold this information until the full completion of the relevant elections period. This is to ensure that any appeals and pursuant investigations can be administered satisfactorily. I understand that I can access information on what data the Union holds, how it is managed, my rights and how to make a complaint through referring to the Union privacy policy online at https://bedssu.co.uk/data-protection
Name Name First Last
Candidate for:
Email
What decision are you appealing?
Explain why you are appealing the decision:
(e.g. do you believe a breach did not occur? Do you believe that the sanction is too severe?)
Please upload evidence that might support your appeal.
If your evidence is a witness statement you MUST include a name and contact details for them or this might be dismissed as evidence. Statements can be uploaded as a document.

Attach Files
Please provide details of your evidence:
(i.e. what should the Deputy Returning Officer be taking notice of?)
Please clarify the outcome you are seeking from your appeal.
(e.g. do you believe the sanction should be overturned/halved? should the election materials be reinstated?)
By signing below, I am declaring that:
- the information provided here is an accurate recollection of events
- I understand that action may be taken against me if my appeal is found to be malicious or vexatious e.g. seeking to cause harm or undue worry to another candidate *

Draw or Type

I understand this is a legal representation of my signature. Clear

Full Name

I understand this is a legal representation of my signature.
Date Date / MM / DD YYYY