Today, October 2nd 2026, Solent Students' Union announces that we have received a secure petition with more than 150 member signatures. Following our bylaws, this triggers a referendum on the question: 'Should the Sabbatical Officers lobby the university to amend the opening hours of the Library?'
You can find the Notice of Referenda here, and you can find our FAQ and general information on referenda, including how to participate, here.
Is this different from the elections I've seen advertised already?
Yes, it is! A Referendum is voting on one single issue, which is stated above. People who want to campaign to vote with the motion (Yes Campaigners) or want to campaign to vote against the motion (No Campaigners) will only be talking to students about the question above, and it's a single vote for all students: 'yes', 'no', or 'abstain'. Voting week for the referenda will be between the 2nd of November and the 6th of November.
Our By-Elections, for which nominations are already open, are about electing student representatives for the 26/27 year to represent your views to the university. They will tackle a wide range of issues in a volunteer capacity, and you will have the opportunity to vote for a number of different candidates in several roles. Voting week for By-Elections will take place between 26th October and 30th October, and you can find more information here.
If you wish to take part in either of our democratic processes, come speak to us in the office or email elections@solent.ac.uk