Some student’s voting in the UCDSU executive elections via iPhone are having difficulties, the University Observer has learned.
Students using iPhones seeking to vote via links provided on social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook are not given the option to “confirm [their] vote”. Students are advised to copy the link provided and open it in a standard browser such as Safari.
Online voting is being operated by Membership Solutions Limited (MSL), who provided this statement to the University Observer:
“MSL’s online elections platform is used extensively by over 100 students’ unions and higher education institutions in the UK, Ireland and Australia. MSL understands that a small number of UCD SU voters experienced difficulty placing their votes on iPhones via a link promoted on a third party website. MSL assisted the Students’ Union in identifying the cause of this issue and we were pleased to see that as of 5.30pm on the 28th April, over 600 voters had cast more than 4,000 votes for their chosen candidates.”
UCDSU’s returning officer has stated:
“The Returning Office would also like to advise students who voted that didn't receive a confirmation email of successfully voting, to log in once again. Students who only have access to iPhones can vote through their browser and the Returning Office has no evidence of any other technical issues arising from UCD Students' Union's first online elections. If any student does have any trouble voting, I would encourage them to contact the Returning Office.”
Polls close at 9pm on Thursday, and the Returning Office can be contacted via returningoffice@ucdsu.ie