See below for the full Bylaw with proposed changes in red text. Any text with a line through it would be removed should the changes be approved. 

BYLAW VII – ELECTION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

1. Electoral Committee

The Union shall maintain an electoral committee at all times which shall be responsible for the administration of all elections to fill Board of Directors positions. 

a) The electoral committee shall be comprised of:

i) three (3) members of the Union who are not seeking reelection, one of whom is a member from each campus; and

ii) one (1) member of the staff of the Union.

b) The electoral committee shall ensure that all elections occur in the manner prescribed by this Bylaw and the policy of the Union. 

c) The electoral committee shall determine the eligibility of all nominated candidates.

d) The electoral committee may disqualify a candidate or rule an election invalid for any violation of these

e) The electoral committee shall decide the form of the ballot provided that the nominees for each office be listed in alphabetical order by surname.

f) The electoral committee shall make, in the event of a strike, circumstance beyond human control, or other event that may delay the electoral procedure, a decision as to how and when the electoral procedure may best be completed.

g) The electoral committee shall submit a report on the conduct and results of all elections to the Board of Directors for ratification.

2. Schedule of Elections

a) The Union shall hold:

i) a general election for vacant positions during the first five (5) weeks of the College

semesters beginning in September, and 

ii) by-elections at such times as deemed necessary by the electoral committee in the

event that the number of Board of Directors members falls below three (3); notwithstanding that elections may be delayed in the event of a lockout, strike, natural disaster or other such occurrence. 

b) The schedule of elections shall include:

i) a minimum one (1) week period for the submission of nomination forms to the

electoral committee; 

ii) a minimum one (1) week period between the close of nominations and the

commencement of polling; 

iii) not less than sixteen (16) hours of polling over a period of not less than two (2) days. 

c) The schedule of elections for the Board of Directors shall be set by:

i) the Board of Directors; or

ii) the electoral committee in the event that the number of Board of Directors members falls below three(3). 

3. Notice of Elections

Sufficient notice shall be deemed to have been given by: 

a) the posting, on or about Vancouver Community College, not less than three (3) days prior to the opening of the nomination period, of not less than ten (10) notices at the Broadway and Downtown Campuses and not less than two (2) notices at Annacis Island Campus, not less than 8.5″x 11″ in size, stating:

i) the positions vacant or expiring;

ii) the opening and closing date and time of the period for the submission of

nominations; 

iii) the location at which nomination forms may be obtained; 

iv) the location to which completed nomination forms are to be submitted;

v) the period of time allotted to nominees for campaigning; and

vi) the days on which polling will take place.

b) the posting, on or about Vancouver Community College, not more than three (3) days after the closing of the nomination period, of not less than ten (10) notices at the Broadway and Downtown Campuses and not less than two (2) notices at Annacis Island Campus, not less than 8.5″x 11″ in size, stating:

i) the members nominated for vacant positions on the Board of Directors;

ii) the date, time and location of polling stations; and

iii) the date, time and location of the all candidates’ forum. 

1. Eligibility

a) Nominees for any position on the Board of Directors must be members of the Union.

b) In order to seek election to the Board of Directors, members must be nominated by not less than ten (10) other members of the Union.

c) Members of the Union shall not hold or seek election to more than one (1) position on the Board of Directors at any one time.

d) In order to seek election to the Board of Directors, members must sign an acknowledgment of the roles and responsibilities as an elected director of the Union as set out in the following:

i) The Students’ Union of Vancouver Community College bylaws;

ii) The Students’ Union of Vancouver Community College policy manual;

iii) The Societies Act of British Columbia 

iv) The College and Institute Act of British Columbia

e) Nominees may not be contract or unionized employee of Vancouver Community College. This shall excludes peer-helpers.

f) Accessibilities Representative

Only members who identify as being deaf or hard of hearing, or having a disability or mental health issue shall be eligible to run for the Accessibility Representative. 

g) Annacis Campus Representative

Only members taking a minimum of one (1) course per semester at the Annacis Island campus maybe be eligible for the position. 

h) Broadway Campus Representative

Only members taking a minimum of one (1) course per semester at the Broadway campus maybe be eligible for the position. 

i) Downtown Representative

Only members taking a minimum of one (1) course per semester at the Downtown campus maybe be eligible for the position. 

j) Indigenous Students’ Representative

Only members who identify as Indigenous shall be eligible to run for the Indigenous Students’ Representative. 

k) Queer Students’ Representative

Only members who identify as LGBTQIA+ shall be eligible to run for the Queer Students’ Representative. 

l) Women Students’ Representative

Only members who identify as a woman shall be eligible to run for the Women Students’ Representative.

5. Conduct of Nominees

a) Nominees for all positions may campaign between the close of nominations and close of polling. During the polling period candidates may not campaign within ten (10) meters of the polling station.

b) The Union will provide free poster design and 50 copies of the campaign poster at no charge.

c) Nominees shall abide by all other regulations established by the electoral committee. 

6. Voting

a) Members of the Union may vote only once for each position in an election.

b) If only one (1) nomination is received for a particular office, members shall be asked on the ballot to approve or disapprove of the nominee. The nominee must receive the approval of the majority of the ballots cast to be declared duly elected.

c) if on-campus voting is selected; Sealed ballot boxes are to be returned to the Union’s general office immediately upon completion of voting at the end of each day. The ballots will be counted by the electoral committee. Where positions are contested, the nominees receiving a plurality of votes cast shall be declared duly elected.

d) Each nominee may appoint a scrutineer to oversee the counting of ballots.

7. Method of Voting

a) The electoral committee shall decide if the election will be held using online voting or on-campus voting

b) If online voting is selected; voting during the electing will be conducted by a third party online voting system not connected to an institution system as agreed upon by the electoral committee

c) if on-campus voting is selected; Sealed ballot boxes are to be returned to the Union’s general office immediately upon completion of voting at the end of each day. The ballots will be counted by the electoral committee. Where positions are contested, the nominees receiving a plurality of votes cast shall be declared duly elected.

d) Each nominee may appoint a scrutineer to oversee the counting of ballots.

8. Recounts and Appeals

a) A nominee may request a recount of votes cast, provided such request is made in writing to the electoral committee within seventy-two (48) hours following the committee’s announcement of election results.

b) A nominee may appeal any decision of the electoral committee to a Board of Directors meeting of the Union.

See below for full bylaw with proposed changes in red text. Any text with a line through it would be removed should the changes be approved. 

BYLAW IV – GENERAL MEETINGS AND REFERENDA 

1. Authority of General Meetings and Referenda

Referenda then General Meetings respectively, shall be considered the highest authorities within the Students’ Union. 

2. Types of General Meetings

There shall be two types of general meetings: 

a) Annual General Meetings; and

b) Special General Meetings

3. Annual General Meetings

The Annual General Meeting of the Union shall be held annually between third week of the September and end of October, as set by a majority vote of Board of Directors. 

4. Special General Meetings

Special General Meetings may be called at any time by: 

a) a majority vote of a Board meeting; or

b) as otherwise required by the Society Act of British Columbia.

5. General Meeting Agenda

a) Except as hereinafter provided, the agenda for each General Meeting shall be prepared by the Board of Directors of the Union for presentation to the general meeting.

b) The Board of Directors shall include on the agenda any Special Resolutions that are:

i) referred by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of Board Members at Board meeting; or

ii) presented to it accompanied by a petition duly signed by no less than ten percent (10%) of the members of the Union. 

6. General Meeting Notice and Quorum

a) The Union shall give not less than fourteen (14) calendar days notice of a general meeting or referendum. Sufficient notice shall be deemed to have been given by the posting of not less than ten (10) notices at Broadway and Downtown Campuses, and two (2) at the Annacis Island Campus. Notices on each of the Vancouver Community College Campuses not less than 8.5″x 11″ in size, which shall include the following:

i) the time, date, and location of the meeting or referendum;

ii) the proposed agenda for the meeting or resolution(s) for the referendum; and

iii) any special resolutions to be considered by the meeting or referendum. 

The Union will post the full notice package, including all the above information on its website no less than fourteen (14) calendar days before the general meeting or referendum. 

b) Quorum required for a general meeting of the Union shall be five percent (5%) of the general members, or 50 members, whichever is less.

c) In the event the Annual General Meeting of the Union does not achieve a quorum, but does satisfy the minimum quorum requirement set out in the Societies Act of British Columbia, the meeting shall proceed, though business will be limited to the following:

i) Acceptance of the annual financial statements;

ii) Appointment of auditor; and

ii) Acceptance of the annual report of the Board of Directors. 

76. Voting at General Meetings

a) Each member of the Union is entitled to vote at General Meetings.

b) Voting by proxy is not permitted.

7. Rules of Order

Subject to any special resolutions of the Union the most recent edition of Roberts’ Rules of Order shall govern 

the conduct of all meetings of the Union. 

8. Referenda

a) In addition to Annual and Special General Meetings, the members may vote on resolutions concerning the business of the Union by means of a referendum.

b) Referenda may be called at any time between the months of September 15 and December 15 and January 15 to April 15 inclusive by:

i) A majority vote of the Board of Directors

ii) A petition of ten percent (10%) of the membership; or

iii) As otherwise required by the Society Act of British Columbia 

c) Quorum required for a general meeting of the Union shall be five percent (5%) of the general members or 50 members, whichever is less.

d) Polling for a referendum shall take place for not less than two (2) days and no more than fourteen (14)

9. Voting in a Referendum 

a) Each member of the Union is entitled to vote during a Referendum.

b) Voting by proxy is not permitted.