GSA fights chronic low voter turnout

Monday, May 4, 1998

GSA fights chronic low voter turnout

GSA: Pamphlet aimed at stimulating student participation

By Barbara Ortutay

Daily Bruin Contributor

Voter turnout – or the lack thereof – continues to be a problem
for the Graduate Student Association (GSA). In recent years, the
average voter turnout rate for GSA elections has hovered around 10
percent.

This year, GSA is going to great lengths and additional costs to
attract more voters. Efforts include pamphleting graduate students,
as well as having a joint election with USAC.

GSA President Andrew Westall spent close to $5,000 of the
association money to print pamphlets outlining the contents of this
year’s ballot and to send the pamphlet to every graduate
student.

"We’ve had really low turnout in the past, and this was done to
try to increase our turnout," Westall said.

The pamphlets contained descriptions of every initiative on this
year’s GSA ballot, as well as candidate statements from all of the
candidates who were, at the time, running for GSA’s three elective
positions. One presidential candidate, Catherine Oyler, has since
left the running, and Jason Ong, this year’s vice
president-external, is now seeking re-election.

"It will contain information about what’s going to be on the
ballot, as well as a blank ballot (voters) can use to vote and
forward to be counted," Westall said.

GSA had also planned to allow voting by e-mail, but the
elections board voted 3-2 Wednesday to remove the e-mail option
from the procedure because of concerns raised regarding the
security of voting over the Internet.

GSA council members are also betting that some of the other
issues on the ballot will help to draw a larger turnout.

"We’re also hoping that the dental plans will get people out to
vote," Westall said.

There will be two competing dental coverage plans for graduate
students on this year’s ballot. The options include a mandatory
plan handled by an outside firm, and another would be provided by
the UCLA School of Dentistry. Student Health Services donated $800
to get the mandatory plan on the ballot, and the dental school gave
$2,000 in support of the voluntary plan.

The joint elections with USAC will also help GSA’s turnout; or,
at least, that’s what officials are hoping.

"There is a $4,000 cost for us to be able to do the joint
elections above and beyond what we would usually pay," Westall
said.

By doing the joint elections with USAC, GSA hopes to take
advantage of the ongoing publicity and interest surrounding
elections.

In previous years, the two elections have been at different
times. This year GSA will share nine of the undergraduate polling
stations distributed throughout campus.

"We are also putting (a polling station) in the hall of the
sciences cafeteria, and one by Hershey Hall," Westall said.

Funding for these additional costs has come from, among others,
the Anderson School of Business. In addition, $2,500 was carried
over from last year.

"At the beginning of the year, there was no money budgeted for
the election," Westall said.

GSA was owed money by Melnitz Movies for a few years – and this
year, GSA got its money. It has also faced a similar situation with
the Anderson School of Management, receiving a large amount of
money that was previously unpaid.

"This year’s election should be exciting," Westall predicts.