Voter turnout in this year's University Board of Elections student elections declined from last year's figures, but UBE officials were neither surprised nor discouraged by the numbers, pointing to a lack of controversy and competition as the cause.
According to election results released by UBE, 36 percent of College students, 34 percent of Commerce students, 33 percent of Law students and 28 percent of Engineering students voted, with these four schools having the highest percentages of voter turnout compared to the total of the school. In total, 5,732 students voted in this year's elections, compared to the 7,196 students who voted last year.
UBE officials cited fewer candidates running overall and the absence of a single sanction referendum on the ballot as reasons for the expected lower turnout.
According to third-year College student Tomer Vandsburger, chair of the UBE Rules and Disputes Committee, for the first time in four years no one tried to propose a referendum to have Honor reconsider the single sanction.
"University students feel very passionately about the honor system," he said.
UBE Chair Neha Kumar echoed Vandsburger's sentiment, noting that issue "usually brings a lot of people into the polls."
In addition, fewer candidates were competing for positions in comparison to last year, Kumar said. For example, six candidates ran for the position of Student Council president last year, compared to only three this year.
"Obviously, the more competition, the more people come out to vote," Kumar said.
UBE employed a number of new techniques this year in the hopes of encouraging students to vote. Vandsburger cited a shortened voting period from eight to five days as the main difference, which was implemented in order to "emphasize the final push."
The change proved to be effective, Vandsburger said, listing the first, fourth and fifth days as those with the greatest turnout.
According to Vandsburger, new publicity measures were effective in reaching students and encouraging voter turnout.
This year, UBE organized a new event, "Meet the Candidates," to increase candidate exposure and to help students make more informed decisions, Kumar said. On the technology front, UBE also collaborated with the Information and Technology Communication Office to make a voting guide, candidates' biographies and videos from the 'Meet the Candidates' event available directly on the online ballot.
In another publicity effort, UBE collaborated with The Cavalier Daily to produce a insert focusing on the elections, according to Kumar.
Kumar also listed Facebook ads, e-mails sent out to schools and a voter rally outside Newcomb Hall as additional efforts to "create a buzz around Grounds."
"The day after the large Facebook ad, more than 1,000 people voted in one day, which is a lot," Vandsburger said. "The publicity definitely did the right thing."
Although elections are over, Vandsburger noted that the work of the current board of 11 students is not yet finished.
Kumar added that a postelection voter survey completed by students will allow UBE to be more thorough in analyzing this year's results.
"In the coming months, we are going to evaluate the results to provide suggestions for what we can to do improve next year," Vandsburger said.
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