On March 31, 2026, the CSU’s elections administrator (exercising the bylaw powers of the ethics, conduct, and conflict of interest officer while the position was vacant) issued a decision that certain directors had engaged in bylaw and policy violations during a board of directors meeting on March 27, 2026.

They undertook an investigation to address concerns regarding:

• attempted interference with the election’s independent administration;
• improper use of in camera board of directors proceedings; and
• conduct that could have compromised anonymity of complainants and witnesses.

Per our board ethics and conduct policy, we are sharing that the elections administrator (exercising the powers of the ethics, conduct, and conflict of interest officer as outlined in CSU bylaws) determined that the conduct warranted removal from office. As a result, the positions of president and VP finance and services were vacated, and the 2026–27 elected term will begin with a vacancy in the elected office of VP finance and services.

As provided for in the bylaws, on April 10, 2026, the board of directors ratified an early start date for the 2026–27 president to ensure governance leadership continuity.

The ethics, conduct, and conflict of interest officer operates independently of the board of directors, management, and staff by design. This office was added to CSU bylaws following a vote by CSU membership at a general meeting in February. We are reflecting on this process and reviewing opportunities for potential process improvements.

We acknowledge and appreciate the significant contributions made by our outgoing student executives.

The elections administrator has submitted her final report and the results for the 2026 CSU general election have become official.

This year, 681 votes were cast, representing an 8.07% turnout. 

While the turnout rate is slightly lower than last year, anonymous demographic data reveals a major win for representation: we reached a three-year high in participation from domestic students and the fine and applied arts student community.

A strategic shift in engagement

This past summer, the CSU developed a five-year plan that included a mandate to increase domestic student participation in the organization without compromising the strong involvement of our international student community.

The first phase of the plan included strategies to remove barriers to participation and boost domestic voter engagement. The 2026 results show that these efforts are paying off among demographics who have been hard to reach in recent years:

• Rates of voter turnout among domestic students increased over 240% since 2024. This year, 5.6% of domestic students voted — a significant jump from 3% in 2025 and more than double the 2.3% recorded in 2024.
• The fine & applied arts faculty saw a massive surge, with participation hitting 9.4%—nearly quadruple the 2.6% turnout from just two years ago.
• The arts & sciences faculty remains a pillar of campus democracy, maintaining a steady and strong 11.66% turnout.

Meeting students where they are

If you noticed more CSU “boots on the ground” this month, that was by design. To build awareness among groups who haven’t traditionally voted over the past few years, the CSU invested in a specialized election outreach team.

These staff members conducted non-partisan, in-person outreach across the main North Vancouver campus before and during the voting period, with the goal of ensuring as many students as possible knew how to vote and where to find us.

We also knew that a single voting location wasn’t enough to accommodate students’ busy schedules. While the CSU Library Lounge remained our primary hub, we launched satellite “pop-up” voting sites across campus. By bringing voting opportunities to the Bosa, Fir, Birch, and Cedar buildings, we made it easier than ever to squeeze a vote in between classes.

What’s next?

With the final results in place, our newly elected representatives can begin taking office. Winners of currently vacant seats have the option to start their roles immediately. All other elected representatives will officially begin their terms on June 1, 2026.

If you missed out on this running or voting in this election, don’t fret. The CSU is hopeful that the momentum we built this spring is just the beginning, and the next election will be another golden opportunity for more students to step up and lead.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to cast a ballot and help shape the future of CapU!