CSULB students not exercising their right to vote in ASI elections

Students have the chance to participate in a small slice of the American democratic pie by choosing a new student body government for Cal State Long Beach.

Associated Student Government elections will take place Monday, through Wednesday. Thirty candidates are on the ballot, competing for the twenty-six executive and legislative positions. In past elections, CSULB has seen a pallid simulation of the often criticized low voter turnout in national elections.

Voter turnout at CSULB normally peaks at 10 percent of the student body participating in campus elections. National elections attract 40 to 50 percent of the eligible voting-age population. In 1994, the Bush-Clinton-Perot race drew in 56 percent of America's voters. In 1995, at a rare apex, 15 percent of the student body at CSULB voted in the campus elections, with Carl Kemp winning the presidential seat.

"We lure the students to vote by giving away condoms, candy and T-shirts at the voting booths," said Kemp. "And still have low voter turnout."

Besides a lack of enthusiasm for the freebies, other reasons exist for low voter turnout at CSULB's student elections. According to a recent survey randomly distributed to 150 CSULB students, two primary reasons were cited for low voter turnout. A lack of polling sites was one of the major complaints. The other grievance was a lack of information on the candidates and issues.

There have never been fewer than six polling sites on campus, according to Dr. Stewart Farber, director of Student Life and Development. In the 1996 elections, the number of polling sites increased o seven. This change did not result in a higher turnout. Votes actually declined to 2,913 from 4,072 in 1995. Since each polling site costs approximately $1,000 to operate for the 36 hours it is open, the number of available voter sites will go back down next week. Sites will be located evenly throughout the campus.

"The polling sites are placed in areas where the most students are. The top three sites which bring in the most are the bookstore, the University Library and the bridge at the College of Business and Administration," Farber said.

Lack of interest in student government and a dilution of loyalty to the campus community are not unusual for a commuter campus. Full-time students compose about two-thirds of the CSULB student body.

"Part-time students don't participate as much as full-time students," Farber said.

Nonetheless, student government affects all students whether they realize it or not. The student body president is actively involved with campus policy boards that govern how curriculum is going to be presented in class.

"We almost had a plus-minus grading system on this campus. I talked to students about it and most students did not want their performance in class rated on a plus-minus system," Kemp said.

Also, the president is involved with financial boards that determine how student money is to be spent. Kemp pushes for more shuttles on campus and the extension of University Library hours.

Students have the opportunity to determine which candidate will best represent their interests by attending events such as an open forum which took place Wednesday. Several candidates took turns at the speaker's platform.

Yet, as Kemp pointed out, student attendance traditionally is scarce at such events. The irony of this situation is that a lack of information on the candidates was the other problem identified in the student survey as to why students are not voting. Kemp is not too judgmental of the students; he emphasizes that candidates must campaign to attract the student vote.

"If the candidates aren't getting the information out and presenting worthwhile issues, then you can't blame the voters," Kemp said.

The University of Maryland-Baltimore County sought a solution to its low student voter turnout by attempting to hold an on-line election in 1996, according to the Washington Post. However, the campus bureaucracy prevented the electronic voting form happening.

This electronic democracy is not too far off in the future, especially for college campuses everywhere, say political analysts. This may have a positive impact on student voter turnout by reducing the obstacles to voting.

John Garfunkel said, from the Princeton University Website, "Students run into pollsters on the way to meals. Who can blame them for not having the time to vote?

"They're either running in or running back, and few people will openly contemplate their ballot selections."

Garfunkel continues to explain that on-line voting will allow students to vote in the comfort of their own rooms or where ever they can get online, and at their own leisure. They will have time to look at all candidates, their points of view, and the issues because candidates will have the ability to link their statements to the campaign page.