New campaign policies a boost for USU/SA candidates

Despite new voting software and no-gifting rules intended to bring more simplicity and integrity to Utah State University Student Association elections, just 23 percent of students cast a vote in 2013.

But with voting set to begin on Monday, members of the elections committee and some candidates were unfazed by the prospect of another low-turnout year. In fact, some believe a smaller participating electorate could be a good thing for Utah State.

“When we changed the voting software and campaigning regulations to exclude incentives, we were hoping to promote more informed decisions by the students,” elections adviser Linda Zimmerman said.

Spencer Steadman, a junior who is running for executive vice president, shared that assessment.

“Even with fewer voters, I’m reassured at least that those who are voting know what they are voting for,” Steadman said. “It’d be easy to vote for someone who gives you a lollipop or a coupon, but in the long run that kind of stuff doesn’t matter.”

The new system requires campaigners to have more detailed platforms, said Joshua LeFevre, a senior who is vying for a spot on the executive council as the USU/SA president.

“I feel as if this has rendered students more interested in not only who is running but why they are running,” LeFevre said.

Elections committee co-chair Shelby Frauen is pleased with the changes.

“We’ve been getting more requests for information and people coming to us with questions about the elections which has been really helpful for us,” Frauen said.

The USU Statesman has also joined the effort to promote a more informed student body with its release of a special voter guide featuring the candidates running for each position.

“We’ve never done this before,” said Statesman and USU/SA adviser Nate Laursen. “Normally we have just some copy about their qualifications and other information on the website, but the pictures add a lot of personality.”

LeFevre and Steadman agreed that the insert was a great idea to galvanize student involvement.

“I feel that the USU Statesman has taken a great direction in the voter guide this year,” LeFevre said. “I expect to see this production to become an expectation of students, essential to becoming familiar with candidates running for USUSA positions in the years to come.”

Steadman also noted that the information provided in the guides will help build awareness of the dismal candidate turnout.

“I loved that the majority of each profile was dominated with information regarding qualifications, goals and platform since these are the most important things to weigh in decision-making,” Steadman said. “It's particularly important that the general student body sees this sort of information, specifically how there are nine unopposed positions right now.”

Emi Tano, Mark Hanni, Bailee Woolstenhulme, Tess Griffeth and Eliza Welsh contributed to this report.