The Highland & Islands Students’ Association has referendum rules in place to ensure that it’s Student Referendums are fair and open.
All campaigners are expected and required to conduct all of their campaign activities within the Students' Assocation's election rules.
A copy of HISA’s current referendum rules can be found here.
HISA’s referendum rules are reviewed and approved annually by the Students’ Association’s Senior Management Team (SMT) and Board of Trustees.
Referenda Returning Officers
HISA’s referendum rules are interpreted and enforced by the Student's Association's Referenda Returning Officer (RRO) and Deputy Referenda Returning Officers (DRRO).
The Referenda Returning Officer (RRO) is responsible for dealing with all referendum appeals, including referendum complaints appeals and appeals against rulings issued the Deputy Referenda Returning Officer (DRRO).
The Deputy Referenda Returning Officer (DRRO) is responsible for the day-to-day running of the referendums, including dealing with requests for rulings and requests for clarifications or interprettions of the referendum rules. The Deputy Referenda Returning Officer (DRRO) is also responsible for dealing with referenda complaints and issuing rulings or warnings to campaigners where appropriate.
Both the Referenda Returning Officer and Deputy Referenda Returning Officer are (re)appointed annually by HISA's Board of Trustees in-line with the Students' Association's Referendums Schedule.
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The Students' Association's Referenda Returning Officer (RO) for Student Elections during the 2025-26 academic year is Peter Robertson, Charity Director at the National Union of Students (NUS).
The Students' Association's Deputy Referenda Returning Officer (DRO) for Student Elections during the 2025-26 academic year is Simon Varwell, HISA's Director of Student Engagement & Representation.
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The Referendum Returning Officer and Deputy Referendum Returning Officer can be contacted via email at referendums.hisa@uhi.ac.uk.
Clarifications, Interpretations, & Rulings
During the course of a referendum, the Referenda Returning Officers may need to issue clarifications or interpretations to help further define the referendum rules, as well as issue rulings to address something that is not currently covered by the rules.
Any clarifications, interpretations or rulings issued by the Referenda Returning Officer (RRO) or the Deputy Referenda Returning Officer (DRRO) during the course of an election will be posted on the Deputy Referenda Returning Officer (DRRO) Updates Board below.
Students and campaigners can request a clarification or interpretation of the referendum rules, or an referendum rules ruling from the Deputy Referenda Returning Officer (DRRO) anytime during the course of a referendum via email.
Referendum Complaints
Any complaints and concerns about the referendum rules and/ or referendum process should be emailed to the Deputy Referenda Returning Officer (DRRO) via referendums.hisa@uhi.ac.uk.
Complaints about referendum campaigners can only be submitted via our online Student Referendum Candidates Complaints Form.
All complaints about referendum campaigners must be submitted before the close of voting and must contain the following information:
- Details of what referendum rule(s) and/or ruling(s) you believe was broken.
- Details of where and when you believe the referendum rule(s) was broken.
- A copy of any evidence you have to support your complaint that an referendum rule(s) was broken.