NEC hopes to 'Get out the Vote'

The group is holding an event so students can get to know candidates. This Monday, instead of shelling out for lunch at your favorite food truck or contributing to the perpetual mid-day Salad Works mob, why not grab a free hoagie or a slice of pizza on Locust Walk? And while you're feeding your face, you can take in some food for thought as you learn more about your potential class board members and representatives to the Undergraduate Assembly. Monday's pre-election "party" on College Green will be the focal point of the Nominations and Elections Committee's "Get out the Vote" campaign for next week's elections, according to NEC Vice Chairperson for Elections Mike Brody, a College sophomore. The NEC launched the campaign this year in an attempt to increase voter turnout, which Brody said has been relatively poor in the past with only about 15 percent to 20 percent of eligible voters coming out. To former candidates like UA Chairperson Noah Bilenker, the NEC's "Get out the Vote" effort is a welcome source of assistance. The College junior -- who is not running for re-election -- said he hopes that the NEC's extra publicity will lend more legitimacy to the elections. "It's all about exposure," Bilenker said. "However, by giving candidates an opportunity to speak on the Green, the campaigns will hopefully be more about the issues and less about funny posters." The event, which will take place from noon to 4 p.m., will be the voters' final chance to learn about the candidates before heading to the polls Tuesday. Elections will be held Tuesday and Wednesday. The NEC had also hoped to include a variety of performing arts groups in Monday's program, but because the event will take place during the day, many prospective participants will be in class. Although the NEC spearheaded the event, several other campus groups collaborated in the effort, according to the event's coordinator, NEC member Neha Champaneria. Champaneria, a Wharton junior, noted that the UA gave money to the event, with the Social Planning and Events Committee donating equipment. She added that the NEC is still waiting for a commitment from the Tangible Change Committee, which may provide additional funds. Besides providing a designated stretch of campus for candidates to hand out last-minute campaign fliers, the event will also provide a public forum for those candidates who choose to give a brief speech. About 25 to 30 of the UA and class boards candidates had signed up to speak as of the candidates' meeting last week, Champaneria said. But she said the final number of speakers will probably be larger, as nearly half the candidates did not attend last Thursday's meeting. Although the party will certainly be the most visible aspect of the NEC's campaign, the committee is also doing several other small things which it hopes will increase awareness and bring more people out to vote. Brody said all polling places will be clearly labeled -- by means of large banners -- this year, as opposed to past years. The five locations will be: King's Court/English House, Hill House's dining hall, Stouffer Dining Commons, Class of 1920 Commons and the Castle. The committee also plans to run all five polling places on both election days this year, as opposed to four on the first day and two on the second as in previous years. In addition, the NEC is also providing all candidates with free quarter-page fliers to distribute during their campaigning. The committee hopes that the information printed on the fliers -- election dates and locations and hours of polling places -- will dispel any confusion and increase voter turnout. As in the past, the NEC will place a large banner on Locust Walk and finance a two-to-three page candidate profile spread in The Daily Pennsylvanian Tuesday, the first day of elections. Brody said he's optimistic about the turnout for next week's elections, considering the NEC's extensive publicizing. "My expectations are up," he said. "Now that we've taken on the class board elections as well, that will inevitably bring more people out." And Champaneria added that, for her, the main goal is to build awareness, not necessarily numbers. "Our primary purpose this year is to increase awareness of student government and elections," she said. "By raising awareness, we will establish a base for future years." And if free food and revelry were not enough to bring people to the Green Monday afternoon, senior class president candidates College junior Sarah Gleit and Wharton junior Clive Correia will speak back-to-back, Champaneria said. Correia lost to Gleit in a run-off election last spring for junior class president, and this year's rematch is expected to be the most closely contested election.