Voting stations for USUSA elections dot campus, at every college
For the first time ever there will be voting stations located at each college, as well as the Taggart Student Center and Library, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 22 and Feb. 24.
The elections committee — a group of students who run Utah State University Student Association elections each year — opted this year to have voting stations all over campus to better involve students who spend more time in the main hubs of their college, said Sawyer Hemsley, USUSA Programming Director.
“We felt that creating more voting stations with the proper information at each voting station, within each college, at certain time in the day would increase voter turnout, as well as motivate students to educate themselves on the candidates and their platforms,” Hemsley said.
The stations will be set up inside atriums and high-traffic areas of buildings for each college, with one table and two computers for students to vote at and learn about the candidates, Hemsley said. There are over 40 volunteers outside of the elections committee who will man the booths and have gone through training to help students be informed, know how to vote and to stay objective, allowing fairness to all candidates. Treats will also be provided to those who vote at any of the stations.
“A lot of students try to avoid voting, and the voting areas in general just because they feel pestered and they’re just being hounded more than anything. I know a lot of them think that (candidates) are voted into office based on popularity and not on their goals and initiatives they want to complete,” Hemsley said. “This year we’ve tried to break the stereotypes and we wanted to try to inform the students better through social media platforms and other creative initiatives.”
The college voting booths are a way for students to not only vote at a convenient spot, but to possibly take time to learn about the students who could serve on executive council and impact decisions made at USU, as well as those who could serve as senators for their college.
The committee hopes the numerous stations will boost the number of students who vote, especially those voting for their college’s individual senators who serve on the Academic Senate, said Madison Maners, USUSA’s Public Relations and Marketing Director.
“Every year, we have lower voter turn-out for senatorial positions than any other. This year we’re putting voting stations in each of the colleges so that we can hopefully reach students who may not frequent the TSC, where we traditionally have voting stations,” she said in an email to the Statesman.
Being able to raise student involvement in elections in any way is the goal this year for the elections committee.
“Last year we had an average voter turnout of 22 percent of Logan main campus students,” Maners said. “Ideally, we want every student to vote. That being said, even if we’re only able to get 23 percent of students casting ballots, we’ll feel successful in our efforts. Little steps every year can go a long way.”
The option to vote and learn about candidates at several locations is a change that could certainly help in getting more students involved and informed, said Sara Arrowood, a senior majoring in sociology.
“I definitely think it will impact students and whether they vote, by giving more access to voting,” Arrowood said. “For most students it’s about taking time out of their day, and if it will be more accessible to them, it’s right there, it’s like why not vote?”
Arrowood has participated in USUSA elections every year, especially since she usually has at least one friend who is running for a position and she wants to support them.
She also makes sure to read about each of the candidates before voting, she said.
“I have read the Statesman, in the candidate section about where they are from, their platforms and everything, I read through them all,” Arrowood said. “I plan to vote.”
Students don’t have to vote at a voting station on campus; voting can be done online from any location at vote.usu.edu.
There will also be voting stations at every elections event, including debates and town hall meetings, on Feb. 22 for primary elections and Feb. 24 for general elections. For more information about candidates and election events, students can visit: ususa.usu.edu.
— mandy.m.morgan@aggiemail.usu.edu