Expectations for this year’s student government elections were high. The referendum passed last fall, which created a directly elected Undergraduate Assembly president and vice president, was intended to increase student engagement in elections.
When the results came in, however, voter turnout did not increase significantly. Those coordinating the elections process next year should do more to challenge student apathy and get more people involved.
Reducing the number of debates could increase student participation. The debates — including the one hosted by The Daily Pennsylvanian — allowed student groups to ask the questions that mattered most to them. However, students may have felt overwhelmed by the number of debates, and as a result were less inclined to attend any. Having fewer debates could make each debate seem more important and could draw more students to attend.
Additionally, the Nominations and Elections Committee should engage in more get-out-the-vote efforts in order to bring up voter turnout. Students may have been inundated with flyers and viral videos about who to vote for, but they were less flooded with information about where and when to vote. More events, e-mails and tables set up for students to vote then and there could increase the percentage of students voting.
The reform last fall was a good first step toward increasing student involvement. But it was only a first step. There are still more revisions to make.
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