Voting begins in SGA elections
Cougar News Services
Today marks the first day of voting in
the Student Government Association elections. Polls are open from 9:30
a.m. to 7 p.m. today and
Wednesday.
Students may vote at six locations across
campus — the University Center, Phillip Guthrie Hoffman Hall, the Bauer
College of Business, the
Cullen College of Engineering and the
Moody Towers and Quadrangle residence halls — but must present a valid
Cougar 1Card.
Two parties — Student Voice, the incumbent,
and Student Vision — and one independent candidate are vying for spots
on the 39th
administration.
Current Speaker of the Senate for the 38th
administration and Student Voice candidate Dawona Miller is running for
SGA president against Will
Dres from the Student Vision Party and
Fabian Sifuentes, an independent.
Student Voice candidate Jon Quintanilla
was originally supposed to have competition in the vice presidential race,
but Josh Jackson, who would
have run on the Student Vision Party,
was disqualified from running.
Of the 27 races in this year's election,
only 14 are contested by two or more candidates. Provided its candidates
receive more than 50 percent of
the votes cast, the Student Voice Party
would keep at least 10 senate seats, including all five College of Business
positions and two from
Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
The Student Voice Party almost swept the
2001 election but could find itself having to work with senators from an
opposing party this time
around. The Student Vision Party is fielding
candidates for two uncontested seats, both senate-at-large positions.
Any student may vote for SGA president,
vice president, student regent and the at-large seats. Students may cast
a straight-party ballot, but are
prevented from marking any other choices
on the rest of the ballot.
Election Commissioner John Martinez said
results should be announced at 3 p.m. Thursday in the World Affairs Lounge
of the University Center
Underground.
