Elections: Frequently Asked Questions

Running in the Student Elections is a brilliant opportunity to make a real difference for over 20,000 Edinburgh Napier students — and to grow personally and professionally while doing so.

You don’t need to see yourself as a “typical leader” to run. If you care about improving student life, listening to others, and speaking up for what matters, you already have what it takes. 

You’ll gain paid, full-time work experience, develop confidence and leadership skills, and see first-hand how positive change happens. 

Elected officers are fully supported by ENSA staff throughout their term. Many former officers say this role helped them believe in themselves, build strong networks, and stand out when applying for future roles — regardless of the path they chose next. 

A manifesto is a short statement (up to 300 words) explaining:

• What matters to you
• What you would work on if elected
• Why students should vote for you

It doesn’t need to sound formal or political. The best manifestos are clear, honest, and personal. Focus on issues you genuinely care about and how you’d approach them.

We have put together some advice on writing a manifesto, which you can view here.

You can also attend a Candidate Workshop for practical tips and encouragement:

• Wednesday 4 February, 2–3pm (Merchiston C18)
• Thursday 5 February, 10–11am (Craiglockhart 2/117)

These sessions are relaxed, supportive, and open to everyone — even if you’re just curious.

All candidates in the Student Elections receive a comprehensive briefing on the rules before beginning campaigning, and support is always available from ENSA staff throughout the Elections.

Daniel Wright, ENSA Head of Representation & Leadership Development, is available to support all candidates with any questions or queries and can be contacted on d.wright@napier.ac.uk.

As with all Napier students, all candidates can also access wellbeing and academic support from our ENSA Advice service.

The winning candidates will be selected by their fellow students in a cross-campus online poll. Every student who is active on a programme of study at Edinburgh Napier will be entitled to vote.

Elections will be held from Monday 9th March (8am) to Thursday 12 March (3pm). Online voting will be open 24 hours. 

Campaigning officially starts when voting opens. You can prepare content and plan ahead, but on-campus campaigning takes place during voting week.

ENSA will do a variety of things to promote the elections, including:

• Hosting information stalls in the campus foyers over the week preceding the elections
• Printing posters with all of the candidates names, photos, and post they are running for
• Creating a webpage for each of their candidates, which will contain their photo and manifesto
• Emailing all students to make them aware of the elections
• Posting the candidates' videos on our Instagram and Facebook channels
• Hosting elections stations in the foyers during Election Week

This is your chance to convince students that you're the best person for the job. As long as you follow the Election Rules, you and your campaign team (if you use one) are free to campaign in ways that feel right for you — in person, online, or a mix of both. 

You don’t need to be loud or pushy to run a great campaign. Being approachable, authentic, and respectful goes a long way. 

You can attend one of our Candidate Workshops for practical tips and encouragement:

• Wednesday 4 February, 2–3pm (Merchiston C18)
• Thursday 5 February, 10–11am (Craiglockhart 2/117)

No, you won't. In fact, to keep things fair and a level playing field, spending your own money is against the Election rules!

All candidates will be given a small budget by ENSA to spend on campaign expenses. You will need to keep track of all these expenses, keep receipts, and declare them before the deadline.