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Curtin University
Secretariat

Constructing a Candidate Statement

Candidate's Statement

Candidates for all elections are invited to submit a brief statement to be included on the ballot form.

The Candidate's Statement is intended to provide the electorate with information about the candidate and their qualifications/experience for office. The information should be succinct but adequate to help the voter to exercise a choice between the candidates standing for election.  Providing a statement is not obligatory but must:

  • be in support of the Candidate's own candidacy: a Candidate's Statement is not to be used to promote any other candidate; and
  • not exceed 150 words in length. The Returning Officer reserves the right to edit a Candidate's Statement back to 150 words or less.

In writing their statement candidates should note that elected members do not ‘represent’ the constituencies from which they are drawn in the way that a member of Parliament represents his or her constituents.  Rather they are expected to bring their perspective to the Council.  All members, whether appointed or elected, are required by law to act at all times in the interests of the University rather than as delegates representing sectional interests.

Candidate's Photograph

The Statement may be accompanied by a photograph of the candidate.  The photograph will be included on the ballot form together with the Candidate's statement.  To avoid distorted photographs, head and shoulders/passport style images are preferred. Only jpeg files are accepted for photographs.

Order in which Candidates' Names will appear on Ballot Form

The order in which candidates' names appear on the ballot form are determined by lot by the Returning Officer.   In the case of an election conducted using eVote, the order of candidates will be determined at random by the voting software.