UvA votes | How do the CSR elections work?
From May 11th, UvA students will decide who will represent them in the Central Student Council (CSR) over the coming year, the body that helps determine the university’s direction on behalf of students. But what exactly are you voting for? Five questions about the student council elections.
Fifteen parties, 391 candidates, seven directly elected seats, and another seven ‘delegates.’ During the student council elections, which begin on 11 May, students decide who will represent them in the Central Student Council (CSR): the university’s principal student representative body. But how do these elections actually work? And what exactly are you voting for?
1. What does the CSR do?
The CSR represents the interests of all students at university-wide level. The council works on major policy issues, such as the university’s housing plans and policies surrounding internationalisation, but also on matters that affect students more directly in daily life. These include, for example, overcrowding in the University Library during exam periods, the food options in campus canteens, or the availability of Dutch language classes for international students.
These (and other) issues are discussed weekly in internal meetings. Once every six weeks, the CSR meets with the Executive Board (CvB), the governing body of the UvA. During these meetings, proposals from both the CSR and the university are discussed. Because the CSR legally holds certain rights of consent and consultation, the Executive Board is in some cases formally required to take the CSR’s position into account.
2. Who sits on the CSR?
The CSR consists of fourteen elected members. Seven of them are elected directly through the central list, while the other seven are representatives delegated from the individual faculties.
At present, the Activist Party is the largest party in the CSR: six of the council’s fourteen members come from the radical left-wing party. In addition to the Activist Party, UvASociaal (centre), De Vrije Student (liberal), and Inter (international) each won at least one seat through the central list. Through delegated representatives, Partij MFAS (Medicine), The Founding Students (Law), and Kies ACTA (Dentistry) are also represented in the central student body. Currently, Francesco Bruseghini of the Activist Party serves as chair of the CSR.
3. Who can I vote for?
This year, a total of 15 parties are participating in the student council elections, of which 6 parties are contesting the central list. Together, these parties are fielding 391 candidates for 90 seats.
The Activist Party has dominated the CSR in recent years. In the past three elections, the party – which says it aims to “decolonise, decarbonise, and democratise” – has become the largest. However, there are of course other options. The liberal party De Vrije Student, the leftist party UvASociaal, and the international student-focused party Inter are also taking part again this year. Two new parties are also on the ballot: Lampara, a breakaway from the Activist Party, and the two-person party Meteoor.
In addition, students can often vote for more local parties at faculty level. Through FSR delegates, these candidates can also end up in the CSR. However, this does not automatically mean that the largest faculty party provides the CSR delegate: last year, FNWI party Lief won an absolute majority in the FSR, but the Activist Party ultimately provided the delegated candidate for the faculty.
4. Why should I take the time to vote?
Voter turnout in student elections has been rising in recent years, but remains relatively low. Last year, 21.5 percent of students voted, compared to just 15.4 percent the year before. That is a shame, because the council’s influence is significantly stronger when there is a clear mandate from the student body behind it. In other words: the higher the turnout, the harder it becomes for the Executive Board (CvB) to ignore the council’s advice and demands.
Moreover, by voting for a party that best represents your views, you also ensure that your interests within the university are better understood and represented.
Voter turnout in CSR elections in recent years:
5. Where and how can I vote?
Voting for the CSR (and the faculty student councils) is fully digital. From 11 May, every eligible student will receive a personal invitation at their UvA email address. Through the unique link in that email, students will access a secure voting portal. They can then cast two votes: one for the central list and one for the student council of their own faculty. Voting is possible until 19 May.
The results of the student council elections will be announced on Friday 22 May in the Muziekzaal of CREA on the Roeterseiland Campus.
View the results of the past five CSR elections here:
