A student group getting a group photo taken on a trip to a mountain range

Elections

Each year, every student group must hold an election to elect the new committee and student leaders for the next academic year.

What are club and society elections?

Student groups are led by a committee who work to organise events and bring students together. To make sure that everyone has an opportunity to become a committee member, Club and Society members vote to elect their new committee leaders each year. Typically, Club and Society Elections are held in Winter Term, unless you're a new or postgraduate group.

All core committee positions (President, Secretary and Treasurer) must be elected through this process in order for your group to continue its operations into the following academic year.

When will they take place?

Following the recent Club and Society Elections, you will have seen that some roles for some groups were left vacant after voting. As promised, we can now confirm the next steps for getting these filled for 2024-25 (we’re basically going to run a second round of Elections in the same way) – please see below:

9am, Wednesday 17 April = Memberships (for Affected Groups) Go Off Sale*

(Due to an ongoing issue with our payment provider, memberships will be staying open for the time being, until it's all working again.)

9am, Friday 19 April = Nominations Open

9am, Monday 29 April = Nominations Close

10am, Thursday 02 May = Voting Opens

4pm, Friday 03 May = Voting Closes

Tuesday 07 – Wednesday 08 May = Results Announced

*Any student wishing to run in these Elections must have bought a membership to the corresponding group(s) by this time/date.

If you have any questions about this, please email su.societies@lse.ac.uk (if you’re a Society), or su.sport@lse.ac.uk (if you’re a Club).

How do they work?

  • All elections will run online, through the SU website. No elections are permitted to take place in person, but you're welcome to host an election hustings where nominees discuss their manifestos / address potential voters. Please submit an event form for these if you do want to host one.
  • All elections will be set up for you, and all of your group's members will be emailed with information about nominations, voting, and the results that follow.
  • All you need to do from your end is promote the elections to your members, and encourage people to nominate themselves for roles.
  • Please note: Candidates are not permitted to spend any money on campaigning or creating promotional materials for their run in the elections.

CORE ROLES

There are 3 core roles that every affiliated group must have:

Presidents are routinely responsible for the overseeing of the whole Club/Society, and their activities including events, finances, and engaging new members throughout the year.

Treasurers are routinely responsible for the overseeing of the Club/Society finances for the year, including budgeting for small and large scale events, as well as ensuring that membership funds are spent appropriately to benefit all members.

Secretaries are required to support the President and Treasurer where necessary, including in the planning of events, the chairing of committee meetings, and the distributing of notes from these meetings where needed. They may also be responsible for planning social events for the group's members.

WHY BE ON A COMMITTEE?

Being on a committee is a great way to develop your skills, meet new people and hopefully have lots of fun! It's your chance to shape your group and make your members' voices heard. The SU are here to support you every step of the way.

Here's what some of our recent committee members said about their time on a committee:

"Being a part of the Drama Society’s committee has been the foremost highlight of my time at LSE. Not only was it an excellent way to de-stress and do something different at the end of every day, but as a member of the committee, it also allowed me to share my love of theatre and foster the same love in others, building a community. Most importantly, however, being a part of the committee allowed me to form long-lasting friendships and relationships that will extend beyond my time at LSE, for which I will always be enormously grateful."

- Lara, Drama Society, President 2022/23.

'My position was an unique opportunity to organise the largest events for one of LSE’s largest societies. I gained so many skills from taking responsibility for these projects, recruiting and working with a subcommittee, and balancing them with my academic and other extracurricular commitments. A particular highlight was working with some of the world’s most pre-eminent economists during our Economics Symposium. To anyone thinking about running for a committee position, I’d definitely recommend going for it!'

- Edward, Economics Society, President 2022/23.

 

"Being involved in society committees was most certainly the highlight of my university experience. The skills I gained, the confidence I have developed, and the opportunities I have been given have transformed me into a successful leader who now makes positive changes to this world. In what is a truly unique experience, being a committee member gives you the chance to meet remarkable individuals and professionals whilst providing fantastic opportunities for your members. Furthermore, not only do you get to deliver such fantastic events and legacies to the LSE community, you also get build a team and network of friends who all share the same interests as you."

- Navin, United Nations Society Society, President 2022/23.

 

"Being a president of society is a great way to improve your leadership and team management skills, while at the same time giving back to a much wider community."

- Danylo, Ukrainian Society, President 2021/ 22 and 2022/23.

 

"Being part of university societies has been an integral part of my time at LSE. Just joining societies as a member has allowed me to learn so much and meet amazing new people, but particularly being President of various societies has taught me invaluable lessons about leadership and working in a team. Joining the committee of a society and helping to build a community is an incredibly rewarding experience and one that I would genuinely recommend to everyone at LSE."

- Jessica, Grimshaw Club, President 2022/23

 

"Being president of Outdoors and Hiking Society these past two years has been a huge privilege. Whilst at times a labour of love, it is something I am extremely passionate about and I hope to have made my mark. I've enjoyed meeting new people, seeing the society grow, and the sense of pride in delivering successful events- culminating in leading a team of 12 for the UK Three Peak sub-24hr Challenge. As I complete my Mountain Leader qualification it has also been an excellent opportunity to develop and put into practice a number of key skills, including leadership, planning, communication and management skills."

- Guido, Outdoor and Hiking Society, President 2021/22 and 2022/23.

 

“Holding a leadership role at one of LSE’s largest societies pushed me out of my comfort zone massively, but was definitely the most rewarding experience of my second year. The people I worked with are now some of my best friends, and I managed to meet some of the most inspiring professionals working in international affairs. It was great to contribute to the LSE community while honing my son skills and making the best memories :) “

- Siumi, United Nations Society, Secretary-General for LSEMUN Conference 2023/23

 

"Getting involved in LSE societies was the perfect opportunity for me to expand my network & develop my interpersonal skills, here I was interviewing industry-renowned speakers and organizing London-wide events."

- Dean, Business & Investment Group, Head of Corporate Relations 2022/23.

 

"Being the Social Secretary for the Law Society was hard work but enriching ultimately (and looks decent on the CV too to be fair). I made some friends along the way but also lost a few when they saw the price of Law Ball tickets. I semi-recommend this position."

- Justin, Law Society, Social Secretary 2022/23

 

"I applied for vice president of LSESU Outdoors Society as a first year student just a few weeks into LSE with absolutely no knowledge of how a university society operates or what my role would be really be like - I was probably just feeling brave that day! However, I can confidently say that it was one of the best decisions I made during first year. The committee, society members and LSESU made it such a fun experience with a whole year of memories - and skills for the CV :) - that I won't be forgetting anytime soon!"

- Bhakti, Outdoor and Hiking Society, Vice President 2022/23.

USEFUL RESOURCES

Rules and Guidance For Candidates)Manifesto Guidance

Explore this section: