Student elections 2011: The candidates

In less than two weeks, students at Edinburgh's universities will be introduced to their union presidents and other elected officials for the 2011/12 academic year, and the campaign is already well underway.

A total of seven candidates are contesting the presidency at Edinburgh University Students' Association. Meanwhile, two-candidate presidential races have emerged at both Napier Students' Association and Heriot-Watt University Students' Union. The identities of candidates at Queen Margaret University Students' Union and ECA were yet to be released as The Journal went to print.

With a 25 per cent participation rate at the last election, EUSA currently have the most popular student elections in Scotland and among the highest turnout in the country. Students' unions have traditionally struggled with low voter turnout, leading some to question their legitimacy in representing the entire student body.

The National Union of Students and its regional wings will also be holding elections over the coming months. NUS elections typically take place at their annual conferences, with union delegates voting for executive candidates. Current NUS Scotland president Liam Burns memorably won the 2009 election via coin toss after delegates' votes were split 50/50.

NUS Scotland will hold their conference in Irvine on 5-6 March, while the NUS UK meeting is scheduled for 12-15 April in Newcastle.

After two years in office, Mr Burns has now announced that he will run for the NUS UK presidency. Embattled incumbent Aaron Porter, who has faced mounting criticism over his handling of the recent student protests, was initially believed to be mulling a re-election bid, but on Monday released a statement confirming that he will not be running for the presidency again.

At NUS Scotland, current depute president Jennifer Cádiz and Aberdeen University Students' Association president Robin Parker have both announced their candidacies to succeed Mr Burns. The depute president position is being contested by Stevie Wise, currently Vice President Academic Affairs at EUSA, and Graeme Kirkpatrick, President of Aberdeen College Students’ Association.