News
 

SGA to hold test online voting system Monday

by Lisa Street
Senior Staff Writer

The Student Government Association Election Commission will hold a mock online voting session on Monday to test its Internet voting system, which will be accessible to students during this year's SGA election.

Students can participate by logging on to www.studentelection.uh.edu between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday and providing their Cougar 1Card number and birth date to access the mock ballot, Chief Election Commissioner Jason Short said.

"We are going to hold the mock election Monday so it coincides with the candidate debates," Short said. "Students will have the opportunity to answer fun questions not pertaining to the election."

The Election Commission will distribute flyers to students next week to raise awareness about the voting process for both Internet and booth polling.

"Hopefully, when students sit down at any kiosks at the University Center, a voting screen will pop up, encouraging students to cast their votes before surfing the Web," Short said.

Some SGA candidates expressed concerns about the Internet voting system after previewing the online ballots on Friday and Saturday.

"The voting system hasn't been properly tested," Student Voice SGA presidential candidate Heron Re'chard Thomas said. "Two days is not enough time to get proper testing before an election of this stature."

SGA Vice President Jon Quintanilla, who is running for SGA president on the UH 4 U ticket, said the online voting system opens new possibilities to campaigning, but he said he has concerns with possible violations of an Election Code statute preventing candidates from campaigning within 50 feet of a polling location.

"I'm a little unclear on what constitutes as a polling location with this new system. Any computer could be considered as a polling location," Quintanilla said. "But my campaign will be heavily focused on getting the vote on the computer by using listservs."

Students may cast their votes next week by computer or at one of the five voting booths, which will be located at the UC, the UC Satellite, the Moody Towers, the Campus Recreational Wellness Center and the Social Work Building.
 

 Send comments to dcnews@mail.uh.edu