Editorial: Elections fail

As student government elections approach, it is becoming apparent that students are encouraged to be a part of a deteriorating system. They are being asked to vote in an election for which they have had little time to prepare, and are expected to understand the issues of a campus that doesn’t communicate.

On average, each student pays over $200 per term to ASPSU. In turn, ASPSU decides which projects and student groups will receive funding. For example, it determines whether the debate team gets the money to travel to competitions, and how many issues the Vanguard can afford to print. ASPSU even allocates its own funds.

ASPSU is in charge of more money than most faculty departments; roughly $13 million. Considering the weight of its decisions, it is frustrating to watch the ASPSU elections turn into a circus, and it is more disappointing that there isn’t an easy way out of this political mess.

It is the job of the Elections Board to run the elections that determine next year’s student government. Its members are selected by ASPSU as an attempt at political neutrality. But the Elections Board is failing at its job, and is just as biased as ASPSU.

The election this year was barely announced, the deadlines were cramped together and overlapped with spring break, and the majority of people involved are the same as in past years. Last election had the lowest voter turnout in 10 years, and this year threatens to beat that record.

Each year, ASPSU grows more disconnected from the student body. This needs to change. If students are more aware of the election process, then they may be more connected to ASPSU’s actions during the year, or at least know what ASPSU is.

The Elections Board should not be appointed by ASPSU; the process needs to be reformed. The ASPSU advisor, designated by Student Activities and Leadership Programs, is a good candidate to select the Elections Board members because of their familiarity with the student government. Having a faculty member determine the Elections Board removes political agenda from a neutral organization and stabilizes the system.

Another option is to rework the Elections Board guidelines to require at least two candidates for each position and to establish a minimum number of student votes in order to have a legitimate election.

A third, fantastic option is to contract out and privatize our student elections. However, if the movie Robocop has taught us anything, it’s that such an action can have disastrous results.