Campaigning under way to raise voter turnout

With the undergraduate student government elections beginning
today, candidates have put up their signboards, piled up their
fliers, and are gearing up for the hectic days ahead.

Candidates can now begin handing out fliers in anticipation of
the voting that will begin today at 7 p.m. and end Thursday at 7
p.m. Students can vote by logging on to the MyUCLA Web site.

Candidates belonging to slates have been campaigning
collectively in the past week, but there had been no public
promotion for individual candidates until official campaigning
began Thursday. Signboards were allowed to be erected early Monday
morning.

The campaign signs caught students’ eyes and made some
notice the elections for the first time.

“The posters catch people’s attention. …
It’s a good idea,” said Estela Barajas, a second-year
psychology student, adding that she thought the posters that
feature photographs of the candidates were the most effective.

The signboards gave visible publicity to the candidates, but
there was also concern that they did not provide enough details
about their campaign.

“I personally think the average voter is going to be
pretty confused,” said Nicholas Louw, vice chairman of the
Bruin Republicans, adding that he would have liked to see more
details on the signboards.

Each year, candidates and the Elections Board seek to increase
interest in the elections and encourage more students to vote. Last
year, close to 25 percent of the undergraduates at UCLA voted in
the elections, and that number will likely increase this year, said
E-board representatives.

The tension between different slates this year has made for a
particularly exciting election and will likely result in greater
voter turnout, said Roy Samaan, chairman of the E-board.

“The differences between the slates have been really big
this year. … You can tell that people are getting really into
it,” Samaan said.

Candidates are enthusiastic about the elections and say they
have received positive feedback from the students.

“I feel absolutely great about the campaign, stronger than
ever, actually,” said Alonzo Martin Delcampo, a candidate for
general representative running under the Equal Access
Coalition.

Presidential candidate Josh Lawson, also running with the Equal
Access Coalition, said he is optimistic about the elections and
excited about beginning to campaign.

Students running with the Equal Access Coalition all used the
same designs on their signboards to show that they are running as a
slate rather than as individuals, Lawson said.

“We thought it conveyed a sense of unity … that
we’re going this together,” Lawson said.

Candidates running with Students First! also made their slate
affiliations clear, and some have said they plan on running
collectively rather than as individuals.

“We’ll let people know what we have done for them
and what we will do for them,” said presidential candidate
Allende Palma/Saracho.

Arash Mozayan Isfahani, an independent presidential candidate,
said he is confident that students will support him in the upcoming
election and plans to hand out fliers and meet with students on
Bruin Walk to advertise for his campaign.

Independent presidential candidate Doug Ludlow also said he has
big plans for the next few days and is excited to begin
campaigning, particularly in light of the endorsements he has
received.

Also on the ballot for the upcoming election will be the Student
Voice Referendum, which will ensure that for $1.50 from each
undergraduate student, UCLA will continue to have membership in
University of California Student Association and the United States
Student Association, two advocacy groups.

Students currently pay $2 for membership in the groups and if
the referendum passes the fee will be lowered to $1.50 and
participation will continue indefinitely. If it does not pass, both
the fee and membership in the organizations will cease.