Presidential Elections Threatened
THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY Conservative Association's elections have been accused of falling victim to bribery by a number of its own members.
One member, who has asked not to be named, said that his membership had been paid for by a candidate shortly before election. Another told the Oxford Student, "I must remember to pay the membership fee back." However, both sources said that they were unaware of the severity of the offence. Under OUCA electoral regulations, none of the current candidates are able to speak to the press regarding the election, and so it is not possible to publish the names of candidates against whom allegations have been made.
Certain members have alleged that the large numbers of new members joining from colleges in which candidates are standing is the result of vote buying. However the growth in membership in the run-up to OUCA elections is understood by many to be inevitable as candidates attempt to encourage friends to join the association in a bid to enhance their chances of victory.
OUCA's own electoral rules specifically state that it is an offence for candidates to 'pay for another member of the University to join the association'. Nonetheless, OxStu sources have described the fact that during elections 'some members try to promote vote-buying as being a norm of electoral success.'
Nick Bennett, the current OUCA President, told the Oxford Student that he is aware of the rumours surrounding the current election, but insisted that 'The Association utterly condemns the practice of vote buying. It is against the spirit and the letter of the constitution, and anyone found to be indulging in it will be dealt with in the severest possible way.'
He did however admit that the buying of votes had occurred in past OUCA elections: 'Vote buying has gone on in the past, but that is a legacy of three of four years ago. I will do everything possible to pursue allegations that can be substantiated, but Disciplinary Committees cannot successfully combat misconduct without evidence.'
OUCA sources, however, remain pessimistic about the possibilities of successful disciplinary action, due to the difficulties of gathering hard evidence that electoral candidates had actually bought memberships.
22nd Nov 2001