Lessons from the 2009 European Elections
As we embark on our ‘Vote for Students’ campaign to mobilise the student vote in the run-up to the 2010 General Election, it is worth looking back to last year’s European elections to get an idea of what worked best then, and what student unions can use this time around.
Reading University Students' Union found leafleting to be a efficient way of spreading awareness of the election and the issues it was being fought on, distributing over 2500 leaflets over 3 weeks, with a final reminded leafleting session on election day itself. They also organised an ‘election bus’ service, shuttling students to the local polling station, as well as simply “grabbing students around the Students Union building to get them registered”. They found this to be the most highly effective tactic, and contributing to their achievement of a very high student turn-out in Reading.
Sheffield Hallam Students' Union developed a Unite Against Fascism group in the run up to the European elections. They similarly found leafleting sessions to be a good way of raising awareness of the elections, educating students about the key issues being fought on and registering students for the election.
UCL Students' Union found leafleting to be a great way of spreading the message, and used balloons and matching t-shirts so as to stand out (picture above).
UCL SU also learnt a useful lesson in the power of getting different political groups to cooperate: “essentially if you want this sort of campaigning to be most effective you have to get everyone (who's active and willing) working together.”
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