Starting today, students across the University of Wisconsin campus will have the chance to choose which of their peers will represent their voices on the Associated Students of Madison for the upcoming academic year, as well as the opportunity to vote on renovating the Natatorium and choosing the new name of Union South.
Students can vote in the spring 2010 ASM elections starting today, Monday, April 12 at 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. It is expected the new members will join in the student council meeting April 21.
Voting will take place online through the Student Center and will be available on computer kiosks in the libraries and other locations throughout campus as well.
One big ballot item this spring is NatUP, which is a plan to renovate and expand the Natatorium over the next 40 years. In addition to the elections, the referendum is expected to bring in more votes, Chair of the ASM Student Election Commission Noah Pearce said. It could increase segregated fees by $54.19 a semester if approved.
For the Natatorium expansions to be official, 15 percent of the student body must vote on the referendum.
Also on the ballot is the chance to name the new union. There are four options: Varsity Union, Discovery Union, Randall Union and Union South.
With over 50 candidates in the running, the NatUP referendum and the name of the new union up for grabs, more voters will hopefully be drawn in, Student Election Commission Candidate Coordinator Renata Danks said.
Pearce said only currently enrolled students are able to vote.
To keep the votes from being unfairly counted, a student ID number is necessary, and once used, that number will not again be counted.
Despite these checks on fairness, if a candidate believes the votes were counted unfairly or there was something wrong with the process, he or she can appeal the election and has two days to do so.
Pearce said this has not happened in the past two semesters.
In past elections, voter turnout has been less than ideal, Pearce said, usually under 10 percent.
Voter turnout for the fall 2009 elections was only 7 percent. In order to attempt to bring more students to the polls, the SEC has focused on meet-and-greet sessions for the candidates.
The next one is to be held today at 11:45 a.m. on Library Mall. Alhough the candidates are not obligated to appear, Danks said it is a good venue for them to have their voices heard.
Along with the meet and greet sessions the SEC has arranged, flyers, posters and blackboard chalking are being used to make students aware of the upcoming election.
“Hopefully candidates are trying to go out and meet students,” Pearce said.
The SEC has posted a matrix on its main website, which gives a brief overview of each candidate, along with a picture. The matrix allows voters to get to know the candidates better, Pearce said.
While this is a useful tool, Pearce said he believes students should contact those running for office if they have further questions.