Oxford Union president-elect barred for voter fraud

Catherine Xu, a postgraduate student at Exeter College, was elected president of the historic debating society in March and was due to start the position at the beginning of the next academic year, from September.

But she has been stripped of the position by an Election Tribunal which found that she rigged the election, by orchestrating a scheme to impersonate legitimate voters in the 2026 election during the spring term.

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The student newspaper The Cherwell reported that the tribunal sat on April 25 and 26, and found that Ms Xu distributed a stack of Oxford Union membership cards to individuals not entitled to vote, instructing them to cast votes in other members’ names.

The Cherwell also reported that Yolanda Liu, who was elected to the secretary’s committee, was also found to have participated in the scheme, having received about six cards from Ms Xu and distributed at least one.

Reports say the scheme was discovered by Leo Zhou, a candidate for the secretary’s committee, who discovered students casting ballots using other members’ identification and challenged them.

The president-elect was found guilty on six of seven charges, including using membership records to influence the election, procuring the impersonation of members at the poll, and conspiracy.

A charge that she intimidated Mr Zhou was found not proven.

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The Cherwell reported her conduct was described as ‘wholly incompatible with the standards of behaviour that would be acceptable for a president of the society’.

Ms Xu was barred from holding any office, appointed role or official position in the Oxford Union, from sitting on any committees and from being nominated in any current or future election, and was suspended as a member until the end of Trinity term.

Oxford Union in St Michael’s Street. (Image: Roger Askew)

Ms Liu was found guilty of conspiracy and she was likewise suspended and disqualified from the current election.

Ms Xu and Ms Liu have both been approached by this newspaper for comment.

They have both previously denied wrongdoing, and Ms Xu told the Telegraph she ‘strongly rejects’ the findings and called for an appeal.

Ms Liu likewise disputed the findings and said she intends to appeal.

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The election will be re-run on Monday, May 11, with previously named candidates appearing automatically on the ballot except for Ms Xu.

George Abaraonye with Charlie Kirk at Oxford University in May (Image: YouTube/Oxford Union)

It is the second president-elect of the Oxford Union in a row to be removed from office, following the scandal in which George Abaraonye ‘celebrated’ the death of Charlie Kirk.

The disgraced Oxford University student lost the vote of no confidence from members of the union by a landslide at 70 per cent.

The Oxford Union has been approached for comment.