The SU turns the campus yellow with election branding in March every year, it's a huge push accross campus to get students involved in Democracy. It's such a big affair that in 2024 and 2025 the Bristol SU elections were the top 1% of voter turnout in the country - that's BIG. The elections in Teaching Block 1 don't receive the same amount of hype, which is a shame as it's when the Democratic standards committee are elected. DSC* hold a big role in the SU and should be elected alongside the Full Time Officers and the Chair of Student Council to reflect the way these roles work together and their importance.

Moving DSC elections to March would increase the mandate of the roles, as well as inform voters around the role they hold at the SU as it complements the Chair of Council and Union Affairs Officer role. It also means they will be able to be trained over summer and we can start democratic meetings earlier in the academic year.

Moving the elections into TB2 should bring about positive changes for all students through Democratic meetings being moved earlier, so more students can engage before their exams and have more time to get a taste of SU democracy to get involved. Equally, with more awareness from larger voter turnout in TB2, more students will be aware of DSC and can engage with them. 

For Post Grad Taught and First Year students, the changes might feel a bit different as they won't be able to nominate themselves for the role. However, this is the same for how our society committees work. Also, there are lots of roles still available for PGTs and first years from December, including PGT Faculty Rep, course rep and JCR roles, as well as any by-elections or first-year rep roles in student group committees. 

*Democratic Standards Committee