Record-breaking election results bring in a crowd at The Waterfront

Last week, your new Union officers were announced after a record turnout in this year’s elections.

This year’s KCL Student Council Elections saw 2,000 votes handed in for budding council members, when only a maximum of 1,500 votes were expected.

The infamous Waterfront played venue to the event on Thursday 15^th October, with a mass of people supporting the announcement of 41 new heads of departments, ranging from dental, sports and interfaith representatives.

Eagerly awaiting the main event

As the election progressed, the enthusiastic crowd played their part – and with countless orders of “burger with curly fries” flying out of the kitchen, the announcement of each winning representative was met with cries of satisfaction.

More specifically, there were some big hitting categories – the Social Science and Societies officer nominees both brought in 325 and 393 votes respectively.

Out in front however were the International Students and Interfaith officer nominees, who raked in an amazing 762 and 1,161 votes – the highest combined vote score of the night, won by Masuma Sami.

The latter saw the highest vote of the night – 343. This was won by Momin Saqib, whose closest competitor, Ghenwa El Minawi, gained an impressive 214 votes in a tightly contested category.

Speaking to The Tab after the result, Ghenwa spoke warmly of the process, despite the result.

She said: “I thoroughly enjoyed it. King’s really celebrates democracy and values the voice of every student here.”

Nervous faces as the votes were revealed

Catching up with an onlooker supporting the voting on the night, second year English student Sally Boffey told The Tab how impressed she was with the turnout, and what this means for KCLSU. She said: “To be honest, I did not expect this sort of turnout.

“It just goes to show how important these elections and the Union is to such a large number of students, and got me interested in the whole thing, in terms of getting more involved and supporting it.”

Asked if the Waterfront was the perfect venue, she couldn’t agree more.

One of KCLSU’s official pics from the event

She said: “Obviously! Where else could be better? It’s one of King’s most famous social spaces, so it’s perfect for an election… and most other things too!”

Here’s to the new recruits.