Guidelines for campaigning during the participation elections at Radboud University

1. General rules of conduct

   It is important that participation elections are conducted in a decent and fair manner.

   Campaigning should be done with respect for each other and each other's views, both physically and online. In the campaign, each party focuses on the content of its own positions.

   Campaign communications and promotional activities should not use inappropriate or unnecessarily offensive texts.

   Personal attacks on one or more candidates from other political groups are not allowed during the campaign. Practising hate speech is not allowed. 
    

2. Information on candidate profile page

   After your candidature is approved by the Polling Station or the Election Commission, you will receive an invitation by email from Inkesta to create your own profile. To this, you can add a photo, election slogan and spearheads in both Dutch and English. Posting, for example, a link from the group to another website is not a problem. 
    

3. Promotional material

   Parties or one-man groups that have fielded candidates can have posters printed at their own expense. In consultation with the building managers, it can be determined where these posters may be hung.

   For more information on the use of banners, see: Banners. However, the banners may focus on the content of the campaign regarding the elections.

   For more information on campaigning on campus, see: Organise an event

   Keep the following points in mind when developing promotional materials:

   1. It is not allowed to hang posters over others' posters. This also applies to posters promoting activities other than elections.
   2. Campus & Facilities employees are authorised to remove promotional materials that do not comply with the rules, or otherwise pose a security risk. If possible, the group concerned shall first be given the opportunity to remove the material at short notice after the irregularity has been detected.
   3. Posters may be double-sided on the inside of a window. This involves attaching two posters on top of each other so that the information is visible both inside and outside.
   4. It is not allowed to modify other people's posters. This includes not being allowed to use stickers or markers to make adjustments to other groups' promotional material.
       

4. Campaign facilities and activities

   1. Candidates are basically responsible for reserving and using facilities to support their campaign.
   2. Promotional activities are possible during the election period.
   3. It is not allowed to hand out promotional material in (class) rooms/lecture halls, unless the group itself has reserved this location for this purpose.
   4. No campaigning is allowed in any areas of the campus where silence must be observed.
   5. At Radboud University, there is a no-flyer policy.
   6. It is allowed to hand out food and drinks. Here, the applicable catering and health legislation must be complied with.

   7. The following products may not be distributed under any circumstances:

      a. Stimulants and narcotics (tobacco, alcohol, drugs);
      b. Advertisements on, through or by which third parties (including commercial parties) are advertised.

   8. Promotional talks during lectures are only allowed with the lecturer's prior permission.
   9. Campaigning on digital screens is decentralised. To express the campaign for the elections, contact the faculty and/or building manager. 
      
      

5. Clearing 

   1. Candidates are responsible for removing campaign materials themselves.
   2. Election posters and flyers posted may be put up from a maximum of 2 weeks prior to the election.
   3. Election posters and flyers must be removed no later than 5pm on the second working day after the results are announced.
   4. It is not allowed to use general address lists for students and/or employees for promotional purposes. Private data should also not be used improperly for the purpose of elections. However, it is allowed to send campaign mail to e-mail addresses that a group itself already has. 

If you have any doubts about being allowed to carry out certain campaign activities, or should this guideline be violated in your opinion, please contact the Polling Station or the Election Commission at MZ [at] ru.nl (MZ[at]ru[dot]nl). 

The Polling Station and Election Commission, 2025