This year, the AMS is putting forth four referenda items for students to vote on. There is also a student-proposed referendum to ask the AMS to support a student strike for Palestine.
Voting for candidates is not the only way students can enact tangible change, voting on referendum questions is another way to influence what happens within the university.
Below are each referendum questions, explained.
Creation of AMS VP student life
This referendum question involves the creation of a sixth AMS executive position, VP student life. Currently, five students compose the AMS executive team.
The approval of this item would open up a new election position for a designated VP to be focused on the mental health and wellbeing of students, events programming and extended support for clubs and constituencies.
Current AMS President Christian 'CK' Kyle proposed creating this position to AMS Council in January, where the first portion of the meeting was dedicated to discuss the position's conceptualization.
According to the AMS's website, the student society has taken a yes-stance on this referendum item.
Democratic process for new constituency creation
This referendum changes an aspect of constituency creation. Currently, separate constituencies, such as departmental clubs, are automatically recognized if its membership exceeds one per cent of the total enrolment of UBC Vancouver.
As mentioned in a February AMS Council Kyle explained that the current process is automatic. This change would require students to submit a request to be a constituency through procedures outlined by the AMS.
According to the AMS's website, the student society has taken a yes-stance on this referendum item.
Budget deadline extension for clubs, constituencies and AMS resource groups
This referendum proposes the approval of the AMS budget be moved from June 30 to August 31.
The referendum also requires all constituencies, clubs and fee-receiving groups, such as AMS resource groups, to submit a statement of revenues and expenditures from the previous fiscal year and a proposed financial statement for the current fiscal year by the end of July. This could serve as one tool to combat the AMS’s deficit, but this year, the AMS did project a surplus.
According to the AMS's website, the student society has taken a yes-stance on this referendum item.
Fee increases for AMS operations
This referendum involves two items, an increase of AMS student fees by $4.95 and the indexing of the Athletics and Intramural Benefit fee to the BC consumer price index.
The total AMS fee, excluding constituency fees, currently stands at $626.95. The new fee would become $631.90.
The additional $4.95 would be allocated toward the AMS General Membership Fee, Clubs Benefit Fund, Capital Projects Fund and Constituency Aid Fund.
Kyle said in a February AMS Council meeting that without this fee increase, significant operational and support aspects of the AMS would be unable to be maintained.
According to the AMS's website, the student society has taken a yes-stance on this referendum item.
Referendum for the AMS to support a student strike for Palestine
A student-proposed referendum to ask the AMS to support a two-day student strike to demand UBC divest from companies students say are complicit in human rights violations against Palestinians will be put to student vote on a separate ballot than the AMS general election and by-election. This ballot, according AMS Elections Administrator Sansian Tan, will be open on March 10 at midnight and will close on March 17 at 8 p.m. The result for this item will be announced on the AMS website.
This article was updated on March 6 at 4:51 p.m. to add when voting is available for the Student Strike for Palestine referendum.
This article is part of our 2025 AMS Elections coverage. Follow us at @UbysseyNews on X (formerly Twitter) and follow our election coverage starting March 3.
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