Students will choose the next leaders of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), Association of Residence Hall Students (ARHS) and the University Park Allocation Committee (UPAC) today, after two weeks of campaigning.

Students can vote from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. online at www.vote.psu.edu or from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the public polling place next to HUB Alumni Hall.

Head Elections Commissioner Diana Maxham said that while this year's decrease in campaigning might affect voter turnout, a lot depends on the last day of campaigning.

"With the beautiful weather [yesterday], and if they are really out for the last final push, if they do a good job they could get just as many votes as last year," she said.

This year, six executive tickets are competing for USG president and vice president and 24 students are vying for 27 USG Senate seats.

In the race for ARHS positions, 10 representatives are seeking 39 seats, and in UPAC there are eight seats available with nine candidates running.

Last year's elections, which included five executive tickets and 12 Senate candidates, garnered the largest number of votes in Penn State history. Of the 10,977 votes cast, current USG President Galen Foulke and Vice President Luke Adams won 3,473 votes.

The overall uncertainty about the election, Maxham said, could mean a close race.

Maxham emphasized the need for all undergraduate students to vote in the elections today.

"It's important to vote, because you're choosing the people who will be working toward making your life better and representing you to the administration, [University] Faculty Senate and in Harrisburg," she said. "USG is the voice of the students."

Elections Special Counsel Shawn Gordon echoed Maxham's appeals.

"If you take five minutes, you can say, 'I was involved and I made a difference by voting,' " he said.

Two referendum questions will also appear on today's ballot. Students will be asked if they would donate $1 each semester to fund recycling and conservation initiatives and whether USG should actively lobby administrators to cut Penn State's operating costs.

Maxham said that when a majority of students favor a referendum question, USG has a responsibility to work toward accomplishing that platform.

"If 25 percent of the student body says that everyone should wear blue on Mondays, that becomes the official opinion of USG, which they need to work towards," she said.

Voting and Publicity Commissioner Erin Grady said the head commissioners and area commissioners will be out in full force today to watch for election violations.

"The campaigns will be out [today], but I don't think we will see a huge surge of violations," she said. "They mostly just want to be seen and not get in trouble."

Gordon said students can also vote for write-in candidates who do not appear on the official ballot. He advised students to make sure they spell the candidate's name correctly, because a misspelling will not be included in the total vote count.

Candidates will gather at 10 tonight in Alumni Hall for one final election celebration.

Maxham will announce the results after midnight.