Student elections

Lists are like parties. They gather people under a common name and common goals to stand for election. A list contains the names of all candidates and also indicates the order in which they are running.

Individuals can also stand for election individually; a list with only one person is submitted for this purpose. However, as only members of the same list are entitled to represent the company in most committees, it is worth having at least a second person on the list who can take over the mandate in the event of illness, for example.

Elections are based on either proportional representation or majority voting. In proportional representation, several lists compete against each other to win seats. The order on the list determines the order in which seats won are filled.

If only one list is running, a majority election takes place. All members of a list are voted on individually and the order is adjusted according to the distribution of votes before the available seats are filled.

All students can submit lists, but the following points must be observed:

1. You can only stand on one list for one committee at a time (but you can stand for several committees).
2. Lists may not bear the names of committees or bodies of the university or the student body. (e.g.: student council)

After the end of the nomination period, all lists are checked for these points by the student election committee and may not be admitted to the election. You can find more details in the election regulations.

The nomination of lists is done via the nomination platform of the University of Kassel. Here you have to log in with your university account and can then submit lists for the various committees for which you are entitled to vote.

When you create a list, you first enter a list name and a list manager and can then enter the names of your list members (surname, first name). A list can only be created by one person at a time, all members of the list must log in independently after creation to declare their consent.

• If you are enrolled in a second degree program, you may not be eligible to vote in the degree program in which you wish to vote. The electoral register will be published in April and a corresponding correction can be requested from the election committee.
• Election advertising is only permitted from one week before the election, which this year is 11.06.2024
• If you are already part of a committee, you may not use the resources of the committee to call for the election of certain lists. For example, as a student council member, you are not allowed to use the student council's social media channel to call for the election of your list, even if it is the only list running. However, you can call for participation in the election in general.

1 The Student Parliament (StuPA) represents the entire student body, appoints the General Students' Committee (AStA), monitors its work and sets guidelines. The AStA in turn manages the student body's funds and conducts its business.

2. the student councils (FSR) represent the students of a department, organize events for their students, provide support in the event of difficulties and campaign for better conditions in their department.

3. the faculty councils (FBR) are made up of teaching staff, employees and students and organize the faculties. Among other things, they elect the Dean's Office and develop examination regulations.

4. the Senate is the highest decision-making body of the university and decides on the development and structure of the university. It also elects the Presidential Board.

The election takes place as a list election. Lists are similar to parties and bring together a number of people under one name and one political stance. According to their election results, the lists receive seats in the committees, which are then filled according to the order specified in the list.

- The Stupa has 25 seats,
- The Senate has 3 seats for students
- The student councils have between 12 and 20 seats (depending on the size of the faculty)

If there is only one list for a committee, there is an election of persons, whereby the seats to be filled are filled according to the order of the votes received.

If a person receives a seat on a committee based on the position on the list and the election result of the list, but is unable to take up this seat (e.g. because AStA staff cannot hold a seat on the Stupa at the same time), the next place on the list moves up.

No new staff can be added to the lists during a current legislature, i.e. seats may remain vacant during the course of a legislature if an elected list has no staff who can move up.

As part of a democratic society, universities are also democratically organized. Virtually no one in a decision-making position has not been elected to it.

Whether it's professors you like (or not), exam regulations that stress you out (or not), the design of the campus you like (or not) - it's all because people who were elected made decisions. And most of these people were either directly elected in an election like the upcoming one, or indirectly by those who were elected in it.

You could list countless things that affect you in your daily studies and whose future is also decided by the current election. Whether it's the campus garden or the dye shop, the semester ticket or the semester contribution or one of the numerous committees that regulate the many circumstances of studying - all of this can change, for better or for worse.

That's why we need your informed voice and your participation to put capable people in positions where they can vigorously represent your interests.

In many places, you can also get involved in political processes beyond the election itself.

A good first port of call are the student councils, where you can volunteer your time to improve studying in your department. The student councils always need new staff, support and input from the student body.

If you have a more far-reaching concept for the university or the AStA, you can run for the student parliament with a list or see if you can join an existing one. After a successful election, you can position the student body politically there and steer the work of the AStA.

You can also take part in the AStA itself. Either through an elected office (department) in which you can lead an area and pursue your own projects or in one of the many administrative or temporary positions. For the former, it is advantageous to be involved in a list or an FSR. For the latter, you can follow the AStA's active job advertisements.

You can also stand for the Senate in order to participate at the highest level of the university, although the actual scope for action there is rather limited.

Apart from the elections, you can always join one of the many student initiatives that realize their own projects with the support of the AStA.

• Martin Steinbach (Chair)
• Winnie Rottenbacher
• Adem Kisacik
• Erik Stanke

For general questions about the election:

• student councils[at]asta.uni-kassel[dot]de

For specific questions or complaints about the implementation:

• studentischer.wahlausschuss[at]uni-kassel[dot]de

Further information:

• Electoral Office of the University
• Statutes and regulations