ASUSU elections see close races
Four races were determined by less than ten votes in the Associated Students of Utah State University Primary Elections last week. Maybe every vote does count.
“That’s the kind of races where you just want to kick your one friend who didn’t vote,” said ASUSU Public Relations Vice President Camey Hatch.
Multiple races were decided by just a few votes, including two senate races in which one vote made the difference between a candidate continuing to the finals or ending his campaign.
In the race for Education senator, Rachel Rudd missed the final election cut with 118 votes; opponent Anika Kronmiller garnered 119 votes. Jennifer Minchey received 128 votes for the Education senator position.
The other single-vote senate race was for the Engineering senator. Ben Seaman received 52 votes, but failed to make the final election, when Chad Brown and Adam Jones had 53 and 130 votes respectively.
“An interesting thing with the Engineering senator — the write-ins totaled 54 votes,” Hatch said, noting those 54 votes could have made a significant difference in the election. “That was an interesting race as far as the write-ins go.”
In another close race for the student advocate position, Scott Mortensen received 813 votes, seven more than the 806 Les Essig received. Both candidates will move to the final election.
In other elections: Duke Di Stefano and Jonathan Hemingway will vie for the president’s position, Tyler Olson and Amanda Forman for Athletics vice president, Ashley Stolworthy and Mike Robins for Public Relations, Milo Andrus and Travis McNiven for Agricultural senator, and Justin Rees and Amberly Nielsen for Business senator.
Hatch said the student advocate, Athletics and Public Relations races would all be very strong races going into the final elections this week.
“I think the final elections are going to prove to be some very interesting votes,” she said.
With such close races, some students might be concerned about the accuracy of the computerized voting system, but Hatch said the computer-generated system is tamper-proof.
“I don’t know if that is a legit concern,” she said. “They [candidates] really want to fight it, but there is no way to fight it.”
With such a close vote, ASUSU plans to re-emphasize that every vote counts in a closely contested election.
“We are going to try to advertise where you do vote,” Hatch said. “Your vote counts.”
Athletics VP hopeful Amanda Forman said it is more important that students make their voice heard and vote than who they vote for.
“Getting people to vote and voice their opinion is much more important,” Forman said.
The need to get out and vote was echoed by Public Relations candidate Ashley Stolworthy.
“It’s important to get these numbers up for next week,” she said. “The whole political process is based on the voice of the public.”
Heading into final elections week, candidates will step up their campaigns and continue to inform the student body of their platforms.
Forman said her campaign crew will be “painting and building things” in preparation for the final push toward the office.
The most important thing, Stolworthy said, is to mobilize students to vote and for students to know that every vote counts.
“Then, whatever happens, happens,” she said.
–str@cc.usu.edu