On Tuesday, May 5th, the Chinese candidate Chairman-elect of the Oxford Union, Catherine Xu, had her election victory revoked due to electoral fraud. As a result of this nullification, the debate society will hold a revote on Monday, the 11th.
Catherine Xu is a postgraduate student pursuing an EMBA at Exeter College, Oxford University, having started her studies in September 2023. Prior to this, she had educational and work experience at various institutions in the UK and China.
Accused of cheating during the election, she was stripped of the chairman position and permanently banned from holding any position within the society.
Established in 1823, the Oxford Union is one of the most prestigious student debate societies in the world. It has been marred by several cheating scandals in the past, with multiple chairpersons and candidates of different nationalities being disqualified or sanctioned for election violations.
In the election held in March 2026, Xu received 629 first preference votes, significantly ahead of the other three candidates. However, on the election day, Secretary Committee candidate Leo Zhou discovered multiple non-members using others’ membership cards to vote, with these votes being allegedly in favor of Xu and other Asian candidates. Zhou promptly reported this to the society.
From April 25th to 26th, the Oxford Union Election Court heard seven charges against Xu, six of which were found to be valid, including manipulating the election by using society member records, facilitating fraudulent votes, and deliberately obstructing election officials from carrying out their duties.
The court determined that on the voting day, Xu retrieved a large number of membership cards from a locker and distributed them via WeChat to individuals not eligible to vote, instructing them to impersonate other members for voting. She was also found to have conspired with another Student Union Secretary Committee candidate, Yolanda Liu.
On the voting day, Xu inquired about the voting progress through WeChat, urging caution and being extra careful.
Liu testified in court as well, stating she received six membership cards from Xu and distributed at least one on the same day.
Of particular note, after the election, Xu sent a voice message to Liu asking if she still had those cards, a message the court found particularly compelling.
While Xu’s legal team prepared a witness statement, it was not submitted, and she chose not to testify in court.
The court ruling permanently barred Xu from holding any position, appointment, or official role within the debate society, suspending her membership until the end of the 9th week of the Hilary term in 2026.
Due to the nullification of the original election results, a revote within the Oxford Union is scheduled for next Monday, the 11th.
Xu denied all charges, claiming no conspiracy existed, with evidence being “fabricated or greatly misleading,” and the punishment being “extremely severe and disproportionate.” She described the case as an “increasing political drama within the society,” and emphasized the need for a rigorous appeals process to ensure complete fairness and transparency.
Ironically, during her campaign, she remarked to her supporters, “The Union itself is far more important than the scandals that surround it, but chaos has always overshadowed its brighter side. I want to change that.”
Liu, who was implicated in the conspiracy, also faced sanctions and suspension of membership but denied cheating and planned to appeal.