.1 r\. TMolfr in o c+orprktirnipo| monnpr
\ :&2
zmmm
: :■■ :■
MMMam
» , :- ' * ' * ( tm
b < ^ 1
^ ^ 'll
K
Bc : ::,-X": : -: : v 'VSiil
^ f'
PMBp»
r j4w
P
W
&M turnout increases
ktter-informed students, more polling sites contribute to growth
By Joey Jeanette Schlueter
The Battalion
jThis year’s election is expected to have
strong voter turnout, even more so than
year’s 25 percent turnout of the stu
nt body in the general election, election
ficials say.
Jason Jaynes, elections commissioner
d a junior computer science major, said
xas A&M had the highest percent voter
mout for colleges in the nation.
"A&M has one of the best voter
mouts,” Jaynes said, “and the elections
ive improved immensely.’’
In last year’s general election, 9,606 stu-
ints voted. This was an increase of 5 per-
nt from the 1994-1995 election, which
id 8,034 voters.
Jaynes said last year’s run-off elections
ought about 2,000 voters.
In comparison to elections in the past,
e 1990-1991 student body election had
low voter turnout of 1,752 students, 6
ircent of the whole student body.
Jaynes said the tenfold increase is due to
[improvement in the election process.
“The election commission has done a
better job of informing the student body of
elections,” Jaynes said. “Candidates’ cam
paigning has increased and, in turn, stu
dents have been encouraged to vote.”
Jaynes said the addition of polling sites
WHERE TO VOTE
Southside:
The Commons
Evans Library
The MSC
Zachry
Northside:
Blocker
The Underground
West Campus
The Wehner Building
Kleberg
Student Rec. Center
Campaign Home Page
http://stuact. tamu. edu/stuorgs/ec/
has also contributed to the increase in
voter turnout. There are nine polling places
for this year’s election.
Students can vote at the Commons,
Zachary, Evans Library, Blocker, the MSC,
the Underground, the Wehner Building,
Kleberg and the Student Recreation Center.
The University of Texas had a voter
turnout in this year’s election of 4,080 stu
dents. This nine percent of the 48,000
enrolled students at UT compares to the 25
percent turnout in A&M’s elections last year.
Becky Carreon, a staff member for the
Student Government at UT, said their elec
tion in late February was an increased over
previous elections.
The University of Houston had a low stu
dent voter turnout as well.
Theresa Coleman, a senior hotel man
agement major at U of H and assistant for
the Student Association, said this year’s
election for student government brought a
turnout of seven percent with a total enroll
ment of 30,757 students.
A&M’s students will elect their leaders
Wednesday and Thursday for positions
such as yell leaders, student body presi
dent, student senate and class council, and
Resident Hall Association president.
Jaynes encouraged all students to con
tinue increasing voter turnout by voting
this week.
The Battalion
INSIDETODAY
CANDIDATES: Students
present platforms and
statements for student
body elections.
Candidates for:
Class President Page 2
Class Vice President Page 3
RHA President Page 4
Student Body President
Page 5
Senior Yell Leaders Page 6
Junior Yell Leaders Page 7
Class Agents Page 8