ASPSU seeks to increase voter participation through electronic ballots, raising awareness of candidates
As Portland State students shift into spring term with new courses and new textbooks, the student government prepares for a new election cycle. With 2012–13 student elections soon underway, Associated Students of Portland State University is getting ready to promote the election with aggressive student outreach and enthusiastic outlooks. Kicking off the election cycle will be a referendum of restructuring ASPSU on April 9. Presidential, senatorial and fee committee elections will follow, beginning May 7 and ending around May 21.
Often attributed to its commuter and non-traditional status, PSU has faced a historically low voter turnout in student elections, a trend that ASPSU wants to combat. For the 2012–13 elections, ASPSU strives to reach a voter turnout of at least 10 percent of the student body. Chief of Staff Laken Harrel said that past efforts to garnish student votes have proven to be successful, and credited last year’s ASPSU efforts to doubling the voter turnout of the previous year.
ASPSU Elections Board Chair Jesse Hansen said low voter turnout can be attributed to a disconnect between students and student government, as students “may not feel like they have a vested interest in what is happening here on the PSU campus.” In light of this understanding, he expressed that the goal this year is “to generate more interest among these demographics, and really highlight the importance of voting.”
Referencing her experience as last year’s university affairs director, Harrel said, “I was involved in elections and I learned that getting people to vote is about awareness. Very few people that I specifically explained the elections process to didn’t want to vote.”
Harrel expressed confidence in the voter turnout for this coming year, citing the Election Board’s initiatives to aggressively reach out to the diverse PSU student body. Integrating the board’s efforts, the ASPSU team seeks to reach this goal by hosting events, fliers, voting booths in the South Park Blocks, outreach to student groups and underrepresented student populations, and other methods of raising awareness.
Other changes may resurface in this year’s election process. ASPSU has produced a revised online voting system for the new year. A mock election ballot on ASPSU’s website is currently being used to test the new system. An online voting ballot would incur fewer costs and promises more efficiency and clarity. A paper ballot, in addition to an electronic ballot, is under consideration; however, according to Communications Director Anthony Stine, the Election Board does not completely support the idea.
Stine expressed concerns that paper ballots could hinder voting events usually conducted by candidates, preventing candidates from holding voting parties as they have done in the past, and lead to a higher chance of electoral fraud. He also added that paper ballots could end up being less cost efficient, less environmentally friendly, and more time consuming to process the votes. A new voting database would also be required in order to manage both the paper and electronic votes.
Hansen emphasized the value of the vote this year, saying, “We’re facing tuition hikes, and the State of Oregon is continuing to de-invest in higher education. Now more than ever it is important that the student body elect someone that they feel will represent their needs and their complaints in Salem.”
Voting for candidates is just one part of effecting change. Being a candidate is part of leading the change. “We hope to convince students that not only voting, but running for a position is a great way to improve ASPSU from their point of view,” Harrel said, adding the she expects a diverse pool of candidates and lively debate for the varied positions.
Candidacy is open to all students—the only specification is that undergraduates must meet the minimum of five credits per term at PSU. Students wishing to become a candidate are required to sign paperwork provided by the Elections Board, which will be available soon. Candidates will then attend candidate orientations throughout April. May 1 is the last day to file for candidacy.
So the Elections Board Chair is the guy who’s been writing ASPSU’s gradebook in the Spectator all year, giving them straight A’s even as they lose a third of their staff in a term. He was also dating ASPSU’s Comm Director during this time. Conflict of interest much?!?!