Undergraduate Student Government (USG) elections are experiencing an unusual lack of participation this election season.

In addition to the three executive campaigns -- compared to six in the past two elections -- there are 14 students running for 41 USG senator positions.

USG Head Elections Commissioner David Gelpi said these numbers are highly unusual for an election and hopes write-in votes will fill the remaining 27 seats for senators.

Write-in votes are available on all ballots and give voters the ability to choose a student that is not named on the ballot.

Gelpi said a student could technically be elected with one vote, but he has never seen a student put into office who didn't want to be there.

"I don't think it's ever happened that there's been some random person voted in that hadn't been somewhat involved in student activities," he said. "The lowest number of write-in votes I've ever seen someone get elected with was 50."

Gelpi said that more candidates are being considered on a "case-by-case basis."

Town Sen. Keith Crouse is one of many USG senators not running for re-election.

"I don't have any desire to be back in Senate," he said. "I'd rather get involved in other student groups like [the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon]."

USG Internal Affairs Chairman and South Halls Sen. Brock Coleman is running for his second term in USG office but is not surprised with the number of candidates.

"I was expecting it," he said.

Coleman said the controversy between USG and the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) might be a cause for the low turnout of candidates.

"Lately there's been so much rivalry between USG and UPUA that I'm sure lots of students are apathetic to the situation or are waiting to see the outcome of UPUA because there's a great chance that UPUA could be the recognized voice."

He said he wants to continue working with USG, but he acknowledges that the UPUA has its own advantages as well.

"My motivation is basically to stick with USG," he said. "It provides us a lot of opportunities that the UPUA cannot provide in the same fashion. But I'm still considering running for UPUA as well."

Gelpi said he agreed the lack of participation could be because of the current UPUA issues.

"Right now, because of the conflict in student government, there's been a lot less trust in student representation," Gelpi said.

"[After UPUA is resolved,] student involvement will be able to continue again," he added.

Crouse said USG issues are the reason fewer students are involved in this year's elections.

"Every year, there's less and less people wanting to get involved," he said.

"No one wants to run for an organization that they don't know or don't know what it does," he added.

Gelpi said that despite the unusually low number of candidates, the elected USG should be able to operate successfully.

"Each of the candidates is looking to become student leaders and are acting with the professionalism of student leaders," he said. "We really do have good choices."