Turnout for USG increases

By TRACY WILSON
Collegian Staff Writer

Although yesterday's voter turnout of 5,395 did not break the Undergraduate Student Government's record high of 6,526 votes, it still was a 14.8 percent increase from last year's 4,596 votes.

Election day started out smoothly with all the polling stations opening on time except for a 15-minute delay at the HUB and Sigma Chi fraternity, 400 E. Prospect Ave., said Sam Spencer, Association of Residence Hall Students elections commissioner.

"Most people can't remember the last time so many (polls) opened on time," he said.

In the past, some polling sites have experienced delays of up to three hours, said Meghan Walsh, head elections commissioner.

Student bands Smooth Friction and Dunston Ashe helped promote voter turnout by donating their services and performing near the voting station in Pollock Commons last night.

"They wanted to give back to campus and draw people over to the polls," said Cassandra Buncie, the Office of Residence Life coordinator who helped arrange the show.

Besides space reasons, Pollock Halls was chosen as the sight for the performance because it usually suffers a mediocre turnout, Buncie said.

When the polls closed in East Halls, there were only two Scantron forms left, said Rich Mayewski, debate and publicity elections commissioner.

Also, the polling station on College Avenue in front of the University Gates ran out of ballots in mid-afternoon and had to get more, said Walsh.

The accessibility of the polling sites in residence areas can make or break an election turnout.

"Location has a lot to do with voter turnout," said Jamie Harmer, a South Halls poll worker. "There have been a lot more (voters) from Cooper and Hoyt than the rest of the buildings put together because they have to pass through the commons."

While waiting in line to vote in Atherton Hall, Dave Becket (freshman-science) said the convenient location got him to the polls.

"I just happened upon it," he said.