Conestoga College Student Elections: Awareness, Process, and Views

This report examines the student election process at Conestoga College, focusing on student awareness, the conduct of elections, and student perspectives. The research methodology included reviewing college documents, analyzing survey responses from 12 students, and interviewing a member of t...Read More

Elections in Conestoga College
Student’s name
Institution Affiliation(s)

Background
The election in Conestoga College is a very fundamental thing and is taken with a lot of
keenness. Every student is required to take part in the election process either as a candidate or as
a voter. There are various positions which are contested for, but the most fundamental one is one
of the school presidents. The elections are usually supervised by the college staff who ensures
that they are conducted smoothly, with no cases of irregularity (Kelley, 2011).
Objective
This report researches on the awareness of the students in the college about the elections,
how they perceive it as well as their views on the process. It investigates how the process is
usually conducted, whether it is typically free and fair.
Rationale
Investigating the election process of Conestoga College is very useful as it could assist in
making of decisions regarding how elections are conducted as well as help in correcting any
mistake that might be found to ensure that the election process in the college is free and fair.
Methodology
I reviewed the documents in the college portal regarding the elections and how they have
been conducted over the past years over the years since the college was started. I also received
survey responses from 12 students in the college regarding their view on how elections are
conducted in the institution as well as their suggestions on what should be changed in the
process. I also interviewed one of the members of Conestoga Student Inc (CSI), which is the
student association representing students in the college (Casella, 2011).

Research Findings
Awareness among the students on election
After intensive research, I found out that a large number of student were much aware of
the student election process. This is because the campaigns done for the elections were very
vigorous and intensive. The college staff as well made sure that every student was aware of the
election and even took part in it. The small number of the students also made it easier for every
student to know about the process. The election of members to the student association,
Conestoga Student Inc (CSI) is also taken very seriously by the students as it is the association
that represents the student in the college hence the awareness and also the urge among the
students to take part in it (Van Emden & Becker, 2016).
The election process and how it is conducted
The election in Conestoga College involves mainly the selection of the student leaders by
the board of directors. The committee chooses the student president as well as the vice president.
It is usually a grave matter as it involves appointing a student leader who is capable of taking
care and also representing the students well. The board of director’s hires part-time staff who are
supposed to act as Primary Electoral Officers, who’s their primary job is to conduct the elections.
The candidate vying must meet the requirement stipulated by the shoo (elections - Conestoga
Student Inc.2017).
According to my findings, only a few percentages of students yearn to vie for various
positions in the student association. This is because of the many rules and regulations that have
been set up by the board of directors regarding the elections. However, there are very many
privileges that one gets once they join the association. This is in accordance to the by-laws which
were amended in 2011. After my intensive research, it has become clear to me that the laws

about elections at Conestoga College are usually stringent which result in best results which are
conducted in a free and fair manner.
Students’ suggestions on how the elections should be conducted
It appeared that there were many suggestions by the students on how they wanted the
elections to be carried out. Some of them showed a lack of satisfaction on how the polls were
conducted but the board of directors. Most of the students, however, we're happy with it as it
gave everybody a chance to participate in it. The college showed some concern in preparing the
students for becoming good citizens as it encourages them to take part in the election process
(Bowden, 2013). Of all the 12 students I surveyed to represent all the students, 85% of them said
that the election process on the institution is usually conducted in a way that they are satisfied
with. 15% of them disagreed on the fact that the elections are carried out in a free and fair
manner. Of all the students who complimented the electoral system of the institution, 55%
claimed that they desired that they could elect their president and vice president instead of the
board of directors appointing them.
10 of the 12 students I surveyed showed contentment in the election process while only
two disagreed with this. Of the students who were satisfied, 70% said that there was no need for
any change while 30% were for change. The two students who were not satisfied with elections
noted that there was a need for change. I also found out from the member of the student
association that the elections conducted by the institution were free and fair and that the board of
members were rigorous when it came to this process.

45% 55% 10%
85%
Student preference:satisfied students v unsatisfied students
on elections
their views on the election
number of students
Conclusion
It can be concluded that the election process is very fundamental, no matter where it is
being carried out as it involves electing people’s representatives who have a significant role in
representing the interest of their people. The election is the right of everybody as long as they
have attained the requirement for them to vote. This is by the United Nations General Assembly
principals to polls (rule 139). It a good sign for institutions such as Conestoga College to teach
the student the importance of taking part in the electoral process, either as the voters or as the
candidates. This is because it directs the students to be good citizens even after finishing school,
as they will also take part in their countries’ electoral process.

References
Bowden, J. W. (2013). Reining in the Crown's Power on Dissolution: The Fixed-Term
Parliaments Act of the United Kingdom Versus the Fixed-Election Laws in
Canada. SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.2347542
Casella, A. (2011). A Field Test of StorableVotes in Large Elections: Student Elections on the
Columbia Campus. Storable VotesProtecting the Minority Voice, 171-198.
doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195309096.003.0006
Kelley, J. (2011). Data on International Election Monitoring: Three Global Datasets on Election
Quality, Election Events and International Election Observation. ICPSR Data Holdings.
doi:10.3886/icpsr31461.v1
Van Emden, J., & Becker, L. (2016). Speaking at Elections and Meetings. Presentation Skills
for Students, 127-142. doi:10.1007/978-1-137-60267-1_7

APPENDIX
Elections in Conestoga College are essential as they involve election of student representatives
whose primary aim is to represent the rest of the students as well as articulate the students’
grievances. According to the survey’s findings, it can be concluded that a large number of
students in the college were satisfied with the how the elections were carried out. Only a small
percentage who were not in support of this. However, of those who supported the elections in the
college, a large percentage of them claimed that it was good the institution to embrace election
changes while a small percentage said that there was no need for any change. The small number
of unsatisfied students claimed that there was a need for electoral changes. The findings also
showed that the students were much aware of the election process in the institution.