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MSA elections draw crowds

Scattered fliers, smiling but exhausted candidates and a crowded Fishbowl marked the first day of this semester's campus student elections.

Although voter lines stretched out the doors of Angell Hall and crowded the lobby at Bursley residence hall yesterday, Michigan Student Assembly Election Director Meagan Newman said she doesn't expect the voter turnout to be significantly higher than usual.

"Some sites were very busy. ... Bursley was busier than it's ever been," Newman said. "But overall it looks like it's going to be about the same as most presidential elections."

Candidates campaigning near the Fishbowl said the site seemed more congested than in previous elections. The site ran out of ballots at least three times, and turned away voters for about 20 minutes.

"That might drive turnout down," said independent presidential candidate Geoff Tudisco. "The odds of getting them to come back a second time are really slim."

Fishbowl poll workers said they redirected voters to other sites and replenished the ballots as quickly as possible. Newman said the election staff usually replenishes the ballots several times each day, but this year the Fishbowl workers waited until the ballots were gone before calling for a new stock.

The omission of the South Quad polling site during the day yesterday sent candidates and election staffers scrambling to redirect voters and workers. A miscommunication with the South Quad housing director caused the elections to lose its table outside the cafeteria to M-Card representatives.

"It's going to affect the students at South Quad who seek to participate in the election and it's going to affect the candidates who hail from South Quad," said Fiona Rose, Michigan Party presidential candidate.

South Quad, the biggest residence hall on central campus, opened a polling site from 4-6 p.m. last night after discussions between Newman and the South Quad assistant housing director. Candidates said the site, which will be open for the same hours tonight, could have a definite effect on the turnout and outcome of the election.

"Last year I got quoted in the Daily saying I won mostly because of South Quad," said Andy Schor, Wolverine Party presidential candidate.

Voters encountered another obstacle in elections yesterday because of the theft of 8,700 copies of The Michigan Daily from campus. Candidates said that without the schedules printed in the Daily, students didn't know where and when they could vote.

"There's no Dailys around so people don't where to vote," Tudisco said.

The MSA Election Code restricts candidates from campaigning within 50 feet of voting tables. With candidates stationed in doorways and lobbies, however, they still have a chance to influence the voters.

"You're not interested unless someone comes up to you and asks you and makes it personal," said LSA first-year student Jaileah Huddleston, who said she only voted because a candidate approached her as she entered the Shapiro Undergraduate Library to study. "If he hadn't have come up to me, I wouldn't have voted."

While some students voted because of convenience or personal appeals, others said they consistently vote in MSA elections.

"You can't complain about anything if you don't vote," said Jori Cohen, an LSA senior.

MSA President Flint Wainess, who campaigned yesterday for the Michigan Party, said student awareness about MSA and campus issues has increased in the last year.

"People are talking about MSA -- it's setting an agenda on campus," Wainess said. "More people are voting pro-actively and are making informed choices."

Liberty Party presidential candidate Martin Howrylak said that although the Liberty Party did campaign yesterday, it tried to stay away from polling sites.

"The time for campaigning is before the election," Howrylak said.

United Peoples' Coalition vice presidential candidate Johnny Su also said last-minute campaigning is unnecessary.

"I don't know whether they are voting on an informed basis if they have not been following it all along," Su said.