It’s Elections season at your UASU, and we are here to help demystify some of the terminology that eludes even the most seasoned of students and staff on the job. While similar in some ways, plebiscites and referenda (the plural of referendum) are significantly different in a number of others. Today, we’re doing our best to clarify these differences to help you cast an informed vote!
Why are these questions on my elections ballot anyway?
As part of the democratic parliamentary tradition, “a plebiscite or referendum refers to the asking of a political question to an electorate, for direct decision by general vote.” The nitty gritty of what decisions need to be approved by referendum at the UASU are outlined throughout our Bylaws. These include, but are not limited to, decisions like the creation or dissolution of Dedicated Fee Units (DFUs) like the Campus Food Bank, or the Golden Bears & Pandas Legacy Fund; the creation or amendment of a Faculty Association Membership Fee (FAMF); and other significant changes to Students’ Union membership fees.
Depending on the context, the terms “plebiscite” and “referendum” may sometimes be used interchangeably. But for the purposes of your UASU Election, there are some important differences.
The Similarities
Both a plebiscite and a referendum are questions posed to the membership of the Students' Union, as part of the democratic process. The questions will be presented in a format where the decision you’re making will be "yes" (to support the proposal in the question) or "no" (to oppose the proposal in the question). In any case, if you don’t want to cast a vote either way—also known as an abstention—you’ll be able to leave the question unanswered on your electronic ballot.
Members of the Students' Union may propose a plebiscite or referendum according to the Plebiscite and Referendum Procedure in the Elections Bylaw.
All possible questions are reviewed by the sitting Bylaw Committee before they can go to a vote. The committee checks to make sure that, if the question passes, any actions taken in support of the question would not violate any Students’ Union bylaws, or any federal or provincial law.
The Differences
A plebiscite is a non-binding vote. This means that the result of the votes collected is for informational purposes only. It helps student leaders get an idea of what students are thinking so they can make decisions based on the outcome of the question. Whether the question posed in a plebiscite gains more “yes” or “no” votes, all that happens afterwards is that we all know a bit more about the general student population’s opinion on the subject. To be included on the official election ballot, a plebiscite question must receive signatures of support from a minimum of five percent of the UASU’s membership before February 1 of the current year. (This would typically amount to about 1750 students.)
On the other hand, a referendum is a legally binding vote under the UASU’s bylaw. It will usually give the decision on a proposal that will significantly affect the membership of the UASU. You might also see this practise used in student groups and clubs when they amend their constitutions, for example.
Unlike the plebiscite, a referendum must receive the support of at least 15% of the UASU’s general membership before it can go to an official vote. This is about 5200 students. This threshold is higher because the outcome of a referendum has more weight than that of a plebiscite.
When a referendum passes, it means it has received more “yes” votes than “no” votes. Following the election, relevant UASU staff will complete work to realize the proposal.
No matter what the question is or what your opinion about it may be, it’s good to know what is going to happen with the information you’re providing to your UASU! We hope this has clarified the differences between these two kinds of questions you might see on your ballot.
Read about the questions that will be on the ballot for 2025 here!
If you like giving your opinions on stuff more than once a year, we would love to hear from you! While less formal than an elections-office-supervised vote, you can find many (many) opportunities to give us your thoughts through our UASU Perks app. There, you might not be deciding the outcome of a fee or the creation of a new service, but you will be helping us stay informed about your experiences on a more regular basis throughout the year.