Candidates embrace new ways of getting out vote; Internet impacting voter turnout
Every semester the University of Colorado Student Union, CU’s student government, holds elections to determine who CU’s next student leaders will be. Controlling over $30 million dollars in student fees, UCSU is the most powerful student union in the nation. They fund and control 12 student cost centers, the largest of which are the UMC, Wardenburg and the Rec Center, and they form and debate policy that guides the campus and its students.
Despite the influence the elected members possess, it is rare for more than 20 percent of CU’s large student population, numbering near 30,000, to vote in the spring election. Fewer than 10 percent of students have historically participated in the fall elections. Two years ago, the number of students voting dipped below 1,000.
The Campus Press will break down the positions, the process and the people in an 11-part series that will run through April 20, the last day of voting. Stay with The Campus Press during this time for developments and results regarding the 2007 UCSU elections.
CU students are known for voter turnout. Unfortunately, this is not a positive statement.
In the past three years less than 7,000 students voted in the spring elections. With a campus of about 30,000 students, these numbers are less than impressive.
UCSU Elections 2007: CP’s 11-day Series
Part 1 | Rules of the race – The ins and outs of CU’s election code
Part 2 | Taking office – The elected officials and what they do
Part 3 | Repeat runners – What they’ve accomplished, why they’re back
Part 4 | An apathetic audience – What UCSU is doing to make you care
Part 5 | Showing support – A look at CU’s student groups and the candidates they endorse
Part 6 | The candidates – An in-depth look at the election hopefuls
Part 7 | The voters – Students who vote, and why they care
Part 8 | Voting trends – A look at the winning tickets of the past, and the stronghold of the campaigners
Part 9 | $30 million strong – An analysis of UCSU and how it differs from other student governments in the region
Part 10 | Autonomy – A look at the 1985 agreement that gave UCSU its power today
Part 11 | The campaign trail – Candidate experiences from the 2007 campaigning process
Last spring, a campus-wide effort started to raise voter turnout. Newspaper ads, fliers and chalkings around the university were some of the ways candidates and the election commissioner put the word out.
Another new development was easily accessible voting systems. Students were able to vote online from any computer by using the UCSU iVote Web site. The home page of CUConnect had a direct link to voting.
These new changes had a positive response and voter turnout in the spring elections was up 400 students from the previous spring elections. 5,000 more students voted compared with the 2005 fall elections and the spring 2006 turnout was the largest since 1984.
UCSU is hopeful this year’s will be even bigger. The voting site includes biographies and mission statements from each of the candidates and advertising will reach a new high.
With Facebook gaining popularity and prominence, it can be used as another outlet for candidate promotion. The candidates can start groups and put their mission statements online for all CU students to access. They can also pay to post ads for their tickets.
On Monday, April 16 students will have the opportunity to meet with the tri-executive candidates at a debate from 7-9 pm in Math 100.
“I am looking forward to the debate. I think it’s a great forum for students to go and hear what the candidates have to say.” said sophomore math major Amber Wills. “A lot of the times the candidates are just names. I like being able to find out what they stand for and what they hope to bring to office.”
Students have mixed opinions about voting.
“I don’t know any of the candidates, so how can I vote if I don’t know if their views are in line with my own?” said freshman finance major JM Burney.
“I’m definitely going to go vote this year,” said sophomore Jerry Slafkes. “I want someone who is going to represent my ideas and values in office.”
Thursday: Drawing party lines: Where do student groups fall in their support for UCSU election tickets?
