The Cambridge Union election campaigns are underway, with just one contested role for the third election in a row.

Six candidates are competing for the five positions on the Standing Committee for Easter term.

Anoushka Kale, the current debates officer, is the only candidate for Union president. Her campaign to succeed Lent president Sammy McDonald centres on improving “diversity and access.”

Her platform promises to achieve this by strengthening “ties with cultural and access-based societies” and reducing access ticket costs.

These pledges come following the Union’s decision to hike their membership fees earlier this year, with insiders blaming “years of bad financial decisions in the Union,” for the increase.

Were Kale to win the presidency, she would be the fourth candidate in five elections to become president unopposed. This string of uncontested presidential races comes after the Union faced a ballot stuffing scandal in 2023, where incumbent president Max Ghose allegedly added votes to candidates tallies after polls had closed.

The race for speakers officer is the only contested committee position, with Aliya Adebowale and Ciaron Tobin vying for the role.

Tobin pledges to introduce a “speakers box” for member suggestions, attract “more global speakers” and “increase postgraduate participation”.

Adebowale manifesto advocates for “equal gender representation,” a target of 33% international speakers, and career-oriented talks from corporate figures in “law, politics, and finance”.

Innes Morgan, standing unopposed for social events officer, aims to “build community at the Union” and boost member engagement.

Running for equalities officer, Maddie Wills proposes an “equalities debate on Thursday nights,” a push for “gender parity” and greater collaboration between societies.

Jack Peters, the sole candidate for debates officer, plans to make debates more “accessible and enjoyable” by removing barriers for student speakers and introducing new debate formats.

Voting opens after hustings on Thursday (28/11), with results to be announced on Saturday evening (30/11).